Water Safety Instructor (WSI) Practice Exam

How can an instructor assist a student struggling with the back float?

1. By providing a flotation device

2. By demonstrating different breathing techniques

3. By using a cuddle position and hip support

4. By encouraging them to swim faster

The correct answer is: By using a cuddle position and hip support

Assisting a student struggling with the back float can be effectively accomplished by using a cuddle position and hip support. This method provides comfort and stability for the student, allowing them to feel more secure while they are in the water. The cuddle position involves the instructor supporting the student from behind, which helps to prevent any anxiety about balance or the water. Additionally, providing hip support ensures that the student's body remains in the correct position, facilitating a relaxed state necessary for achieving and maintaining the back float. In this scenario, other methods, such as providing a flotation device, may not address the fundamental issues the student is facing in terms of body orientation and confidence in the water. While demonstrating different breathing techniques can be helpful, it focuses primarily on breathing rather than on the physical positioning that’s crucial for mastering the back float. Encouraging the student to swim faster would likely be counterproductive, as it can increase anxiety and prevent them from relaxing into the float. Therefore, using the cuddle position and hip support not only aids the student physically but also helps build their confidence in executing the back float.