What are the initial steps involved in performing a swim test?

The initial steps involved in performing a swim test focus on assessing swimming skills and endurance. This step is crucial as it provides an understanding of the individual's swimming capabilities, including stroke efficiency, speed, and overall comfort in the water. By evaluating these skills, the tester can determine whether the individual meets the necessary safety and performance standards required for various water activities.

Assessing swimming skills also helps identify any areas needing improvement, ensuring that swimmers are adequately prepared for more challenging situations in water environments. This initial evaluation is essential in determining if a swimmer is fit to participate in organized water activities or if they require additional training or lessons.

The other choices do not align with the primary purpose of the swim test. For example, watching from the shore does not provide any information about the swimmer's capabilities, while encouraging free swimming and offering swimming lessons first can be counterproductive in a testing scenario where establishing current skills is the priority.