Fewer and fewer children can swim safely.
An already tense situation was exacerbated by the corona pandemic, say swimming instructors and lifesavers from the district.
Bad Tölz-Wolfratshausen - Almost 60 percent of primary school students cannot swim safely.
This was shown by a study from 2017.
And the situation just got worse.
It was “a disaster” this year, says Maiko Alpers, chairman of the DLRG Geretsried.
The volunteers were able to complete a swimming course block with 30 children.
Then came the first lockdown in the spring.
In autumn there was another attempt, "We managed to get one more course by bending or breaking," said Alpers.
But everything is not easy.
Frightening: Almost 60 percent of primary school children cannot swim safely
Normally 120 to 150 children learn to swim at the Geretsried DLRG every year.
This year it was just half.
"The situation is dramatic," says Alpers.
“We're struggling anyway.” He says he has to turn children off again and again - even from the immediate vicinity of Geretsried - because he simply doesn't have a place in the courses.
Alpers also sees the problem that a small number of courses increases the fees, which not everyone can then afford.
"Swimming must not become an elitist sport."
Sabina Simmeth from the Wasserwacht Kochel has had the same experience.
"We have already had to cancel children from Bichl and Benediktbeuern because we are simply full with the children from Kochel, Walchensee and Schlehdorf." The corona situation is now worsening.
“I have endless inquiries,” says swimming instructor Silvana Wetzel from Bad Tölz.
This year she was able to hold individual lessons in a few cases, the group courses were canceled.
“That is very difficult.” If operations can be resumed, she and her colleagues will first continue with the courses that were canceled.
"Swimming is vital." It is not possible to offer more courses.
This fails due to the spatial possibilities alone.
“In winter, we used to go to the Wiessee bathing park,” says Wetzel.
This is now being demolished and rebuilt.
There are hardly any alternatives.
"I have to hope for May, as soon as it gets warmer, we'll train in the Rottach outdoor pool."
"Swimming is vital."
Robert Klingel, chairman of the DLRG in Wolfratshausen, also emphasizes the problem of the lack of bathrooms.
“Swimming pools are closing everywhere.
It can't work like that. ”When the new inter-communal indoor pool opens in Geretsried, the Ascholdingen pool will be closed.
This year he was able to relocate adult swimming courses to a lake.
But you can't do that with children who are just learning to swim.
The planned teaching pool in the primary school on Hammerschmidweg in Wolfratshausen is a bright spot.
But it will take a few more years before this is completed.
He is very grateful for the support of the Mayor of Dietramszell, Josef Hauser, who made the use of the Ascholding swimming pool possible in 2020.
At least some children could have learned to swim that way.
A lot has been considered for this.
Due to the corona restrictions, it was no longer possible for the swimming instructors to come close to the children - which is especially necessary for beginners.
So they organized a swimming course in which an adult caregiver went into the water with the child and the swimming coach gave the instructions from outside.
DLRG Wolfratshausen would like to increase the number of courses
But is it even possible to increase the number of swimming courses?
According to a study quoted by Klingel, around 100,000 children did not learn to swim in 2020.
“You have to catch up on that first.” Especially with the many bodies of water in the district.
It was already tight beforehand.
“The children stood in line for the courses.” But the DLRG Wolfratshausen would definitely like to increase the number of courses.
“We have our plans.
We are ready as soon as we can go back to the baths. "
Reinhard Oberleitner, who is responsible for the baths at Tölzer Stadtwerke, considers it difficult to make the opening times of the baths longer in order to accommodate more courses.
“We cannot hold courses during public bathing times.” The risk that the children are “swumbed over” by swimmers is too great.
Oberleitner himself leads the swimming courses, which the city offers all children free of charge.
"But I can't do that during my working hours at the municipal utility," says Oberleitner.
He also sees a "huge problem" with the more or less completely canceled year 2020. Of course, he thinks about how as many courses as possible could be held in 2021.
"But our experience is that, for example, courses are rarely accepted during vacation periods." Nevertheless, he is optimistic: "Every child will have the chance to learn to swim."
There is also a lack of qualified swimming instructors
Sabina Simmeth from Kochel sees the situation as "very dramatic".
Because in addition to the lack of swimming areas and the great demand, there was also a lack of qualified swimming instructors.
But she is pleased that at least Kochel is a good example of how it could work.
In addition to the water watch's swimming courses, which are offered twice a year, it is very important to the head of the primary school, Jakob Dondl, and the parents' council that primary school students learn to swim.
Therefore, swimming is an integral part of everyday school life.
In the mornings they go to the Trimini.
With such models, Simmeth wishes, the problem could be counteracted - if perhaps other communities join in.
Alpers urges that all children should come out of primary school as safe swimmers.
“Anyone who cannot skate safely will fall.
If you don't swim safely, you will sink. "
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