I’ve had a lot of hits lately on the former SquidKid entry about Lap Swimming Fundamentals, so I thought I’d revisit the topic. I’ve also had parents as of late shyly whisper as they watch their kids take a lesson that they wish they could learn to swim better, or correctly. Here’s to you learning how to swim 25-yard pool laps correctly using the freestyle stroke:
- You’ve seen all you need to know — now get in and mimic it. Swimming is a lot of doing, not thinking (which only leads to over-thinking and isn’t helpful). You learn how to swim laps correctly by being physical, not mental.
- Start and stick with the pattern ONE ARM, TWO ARM, NOW BREATHE. That means with face down, you move one arm (lefty) straight down and around and stretch it out in front; now move the other (right) and as soon as righty reaches behind you (with that lefty stretched in front), rotate your entire body to the side and breathe with left ear in the water. Repeat. Repeat. Repeat. Blow out and breath in at appropriate times.
- Go slow with the upper body and use straight-leg kicks to stay horizontal. Swimming is repetition. Keep counting out so you can train the body. Go to fast and you’ll swallow water or feel compelled to stop. Do everything within your power to NOT STOP until you get to the other end.
- Success in freestyle swimming in built one lap at a time. That means making it from one side of the pool to the other is your first goal. On your second session, making from one side to the other without being extremely winded or out of breath is your next goal. And then you try to do 4 laps comfortably, then 8, then 12 …
- Comfortable swimming comes from practicing and practicing only. And it also comes from tons of patience and stick-to-it-ness. You have to first go slow to eventually find that good pace you’re envying in the swimmers you watch.
Don’t worry about looking silly or like you don’t know what you are doing. If you’re trying to do this in a lap pool, I guarantee the other swimmers are too busy doing their own workout to care what you might or might not know about the freestyle. And have you seen some “experienced” freestyle swimmer’s styles??? This is the hardest part about teaching adults to swim: They care too much about what other people might think of them and they use these excuses to keep them out of the pool. Remember swimming is physical, and therefore physically rewarding — so reward yourself with the spirit of trying!
Tags: freestyle, lap swimming for the first time, swimming correctly
Thursday, July 31, 2008 at 12:05 am |
I think you should also tag this with adult swimming. You only seem to have one entry with that tag, though, so maybe you’ve given it up?
Thursday, July 31, 2008 at 3:17 am |
I’m very cerebral with my swim instruction, which is why I only teach adults. Kids don’t respond well to that kind of instruction until they’re 12 or 13. At the youngest. Usually.
Disadvantage, of course, is exactly what you said: they start overthinking it. I almost always hear my clients say “It’s just so much to keep in mind!” And yes. It is. But if that’s impeding their progress in swimming . . .
I’d like to hear more about that. I don’t know how to teach it any other way, but I want to be as effective as possible in my instruction.
Thursday, July 31, 2008 at 8:25 pm |
Another timely post. I have an adult that I am teaching right now that is SOOOOOO over thinking things. He has over thought himself out of being able to breath. He has all the physical parts down right…shoulder rotation, head turning appropriately etc. Every time he takes a breath he follows that by standing up and saying he isn’t doing it right. Frustrating for both of us! As usual, it is just nice to know that this problem is isolated to me and my students.
Any suggestions for how to break past this situation? He keeps telling me that I make it look so easy. Well…I have been swimming for 37 years or so…I have a lot of practice. He has made huge improvements but he doesn’t see any of that because he is stuck on the rotary breathing in freestyle.
Friday, August 1, 2008 at 3:39 am |
Leslie … I find most adults to act this way too! I just keep the message the same and repeat it over and over again. I try phrases like, “your swimming will improve naturally through doing again and again and again” or “you’ll eventually get comfortable but you’ll only achieve this through doing.” Same message, different words. Some phrases/words click better than others.
Keep it simple to combat their need for complexity. It’s like subliminal messages — advertising experts say we need to hear the same message 5 times before it sinks.
Friday, August 1, 2008 at 3:41 am |
Amy: I’m learning about ‘tagging’ — hence me not figuring out how to do it quite right yet!
Tuesday, August 5, 2008 at 8:53 pm |
Just wanted to check in and let you know that my adult student that was struggling so much with rotary breathing FINALLY got it on Monday. Yea! After reading this post he and I had a discussion about how he really needed to trust me that the only way he was going to get it was by getting in and doing it and not stopping after every attempt to tell me he wasn’t doing it right. It took the entire 30 minute lesson of swimming back and forth and back and forth and back and forth but in the last 5 minutes it finally clicked for him.
Now to work out the kinks in the timing of his breastroke…
Monday, August 25, 2008 at 6:48 pm |
I am a swim instructor and would like to know whether you should breathe on every 2nd stroke on your left when swimming competitive freestyle.
Monday, August 25, 2008 at 8:02 pm |
Hi Martin:
To answer your question, for the most part I’ve found the correct side to breathe on depends on your student. Right-handed people tend to do best when breathing on their right side (left ear in water). Left-handed, the opposite.
When I teach beginners, I have them breathe in the middle of their second stroke. Later, I teach every third stroke, which has you breathing on opposite sides.
Then, as skills advance, opposite side only. And then every forth stroke (especially in sprint exercises).
There are two goals for this: One, to find the pattern and/or side that works for you; and two, to be accomplished on breathing on either side so all upper body muscles are fully developed and you cannot detect their “good” side from their “bad” side.
Thanks for asking …
Wednesday, June 24, 2009 at 5:56 pm |
I’m starting lessons next week. I’m a little nervous, and your advice really encourages me! Thank you!
Saturday, September 26, 2009 at 12:00 am |
I used to teach both kids and adults and the best part with adults is they really, really want to do this. It’s not their parents wanting this for them, so they seem to be more motivated. A kiss on the cheek a woman gave me after being able to swim her first lap across the pool at age 65 is something I will always remember! I started a blog about what this sport does for me, not in the fitness aspect, but more for my well being. I’d love for you to comment as to how it helps you.
http://www.jacquelinet.wordpress.com
Friday, November 27, 2009 at 8:25 pm |
Hi Tina
Tried to friend you on facebook, but only found you through this site. When you post pics, let me know where I can view them.,
Thanks!
Theresa