I've been teaching swimming for over 30 years and I built Swim Teach so that I can share all my knowledge, wisdom and experience from the thousands of swimming lessons I have had the pleasure of teaching. Take a look back through my previous newsletters and see what you missed.
Top 5 ‘Need To Know Basics’ BEFORE Learning Swimming Technique - Plus, A Lesson Plan For Boosting Confidence
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Are you a beginner? A boost to your confidence will skyrocket your swimming abilities. Are you a swimming teacher? Check out a confidence-boosting lesson plan. Hi, Mark here. I hope that you’ve had a great week and all is well. I am starting the week off with some confidence boosting. This week, I am covering the basics of learning to swim that need to be tackled before fine-tuning any actual swimming technique. Essential Confidence Boosters For Beginners1. Discover your level of buoyancy Understanding how buoyant you are will help determine if you are a floater or a natural sinker. It’s all down to your relative density. To learn more about relative density, click here. 2. Learn how to relax Easier said than done, I hear you say. Not at all. It just takes time. A combination of floating, gliding and breathing at a comfortable time will lead to you being at one with the water. For more in-depth information on how to relax, click here. 3. Learn how to glide Gliding is the missing link between floating and relaxing. If you can glide through the water from a push from the poolside, then you are halfway to mastering one of the most important parts of swimming - streamlining. Find out more about gliding by clicking here. 4. Stopping and standing mid-swim An often forgotten skill when learning how to swim, stopping and regaining an upright standing position from a front (prone) or back (supine) swimming position is vital. Click here to discover a simple explanation, along with some clear diagrams. 5. Learn how to submerge Although this is number 5, it is arguably the most important of all swimming tips for beginners. If you can learn how to hold your breath and let yourself sink down underwater (within your depth, of course), you will not only discover a whole new world of peace and quiet down there, but the more you do it, the more you will begin to relax. Going underwater is explained right here, so click and discover. Teachers, start your week off with a FREE Confidence Building Lesson PlanCheck out this 30-minute confidence-building lesson plan tailored to boost the confidence of nervous, anxious children. Taken from my massively popular book 101 Swimming Lesson Plans, (Click here for a preview.) there are plenty more lesson plans where this one came from. Need More Lesson Plans Like This One?Check out 101 Swimming Lesson Plans that cover everything from first entering the swimming pool to swimming all four basic swimming strokes to an advanced level. I have also included swimming lesson plans written specifically for adults. Click here to find out more. That's it for this week. Stay focused, stay in touch and stay safe. Happy swimming! Cheers Mark ps - did someone forward this to you? Subscribe here. |
Hi! I'm Mark, creator of Swim Teach
I've been teaching swimming for over 30 years and I built Swim Teach so that I can share all my knowledge, wisdom and experience from the thousands of swimming lessons I have had the pleasure of teaching. Take a look back through my previous newsletters and see what you missed.
'Why do I get so out of breath when I swim?' - one of the most commonly asked questions in the pool. There are 2 very common breathing mistakes that many beginners learning to swim are guilty of. Hi, Mark here. I hope you've had a great week. When it comes to breathing technique, whichever swimming stroke is being attempted, there are two common mistakes that many adults make. Breath-holding Breathing too late What happens when you hold your breath? Breath-holding is an unnatural act for a...
How do I float? Why do I get so tired? Am I too old? As a beginner learning to swim, you have many unanswered questions, and as a teacher, you are constantly being asked them. There are a few that get asked more than others. Hi, Mark here. How are you? I hope all is well. How can I stand up mid-swim? How can I swim without getting tired? How Do I Float? These are just some of the most common questions I get asked. I have listed the most common questions and links to more detailed answers. I...
Do you think you've got your front crawl timing and coordination all wrong? There is a good chance it is actually okay. Confused? Read on. Hi, Mark here. I hope all is well with you. What Exactly Is 'Timing'? When we talk about timing, we usually refer to the number of leg kicks per arm pull cycle—that is, how many times our legs kick in the time it takes for our arms to complete one arm pull cycle. Which Timing Pattern Works For You? Some timing patterns will suit some swimmers better than...