Improving/Learning to swim

evelynswim · 20-01-2015 1:05pm

Lots of useful information in that article.

You need to find a teacher with experience and a good reputation! Find out their
experience and if possible watch a lesson given by the teacher, you will have a better
idea of what is involved. Sometimes a teacher can put someone off by not being
the right fit for the individual. There is more at stake than learning to swim! Personal development, confidence building and a personal challenge for some necessary on medical advice.

It is important to give the teacher relevant information about past experiences, good and bad so that a personal plan can be designed to suit each individual, we are all different and learn in different ways, at a different pace, different levels of fear, and a good working relationship is also important.

Group lessons are not for everyone, if you have little or no fear, it can be fun and you
will learn to swim, but if you have real fear, give yourself a chance and have a one-two-lesson or with a friend.

evelynswim · 20-01-2015 1:10pm

Lots of useful information in that article.

You need to find a teacher with experience and a good reputation! Find out their
experience and if possible watch a lesson given by the teacher, you will have a better
idea of what is involved. Sometimes a teacher can put someone off by not being
the right fit for the individual. There is more at stake than learning to swim! Personal development, confidence building and a personal challenge for some, swimming is advised for medical reasons.

It is important to give the teacher relevant information about past experiences, good and bad so that a personal plan can be designed to suit each individual,
we are all different and learn in different ways, at a different pace, different levels of fear, and a good working relationship is also important.

Group lessons are not for everyone, if you have little or no fear, it can be fun and you
will learn to swim, but if you have real fear, give yourself a chance and have a one-two-one lesson or with a friend.

evelynswim · 20-01-2015 1:32pm

To be successful you need to find a teacher with experience and a good reputation. Do a little research and make sure the person is properly qualified and experienced so that you improve quickly and gain lots of water skills in a shorter time. Find out their experience and if possible watch a lesson given by the teacher. You will have a better idea of what is involved. Sometimes a teacher can put someone off by not being the “right fit” for the individual. Most times there is more at stake than learning to swim! There are other considerations at play, e.g. personal development, confidence building, personal challenge for some, getting over a lifelong fear of water, or because swimming is now the only option, for medical reasons.
It is important to give the teacher relevant information about past experiences, good and bad so that a personal plan can be designed to suit you personally, ask about this before you decide on the teacher.
We are all different and learn in different ways, have different styles of learning and we do not all learn at the same pace. There are also different levels of fear so you may want to have the teacher in the water with you when you are having your lessons, make sure this is an option.
Group lessons are not for everyone, if you have little or no fear, it can be fun and you will improve and learn to swim, but if you have real fear, give yourself a chance and have a one-two-one lesson or with a friend.

n1st · 03-03-2015 5:12pm

For those returning to swimming I just want to share my experience.

It took me 6 - 8 weeks to make a breakthrough and the breakthrough was to STOP KICKING, that's what worked for me.

I started about 12 weeks ago, not from scratch, I swam as a kid and am now 40, I took group lessons 3 years ago too but found little improvement, breathing was always my problem.

Anyway I went back to the pool 12 weeks ago with a goal of 20 lengths. I struggled to get there for 6 weeks and then made a breakthrough, I STOPPED KICKING.
At 8 weeks I could do 20 lengths.

Every day I focussed on something different, slow down, which side to breath, arm movement.
I'm still focussing on these but at least I'm over the hurdle, I think I can do 50 lengths and am gonna try it this week.

Use youtube and swimsmooth.com to find swim techniques.

Galadriel · 04-03-2015 3:18pm

Can anyone recommend someone in Dublin for private lessons? I am currently doing group lessons and have progressed as much as I am going to at the moment due to nerves. I really feel having an instructor in the water will help me over come my fears.

milli milli · 11-04-2015 6:11pm

Hi, apologies for not reading this entire thread.
I'm in my late thirties wanting to learn to swim. I'm not afraid of the water (learnt how to surf and row so have fallen into water many a time!) I'm just a little apprehensive about putting my entire face into the water but nothing that would cause any fear.

I'm looking for an 8-10 week program and my question is this - if you have one lesson per week and it's advisable to practise a few times a week independently, do you have to join a gym (with swimming pool) as well as take the lessons?

I'm really trying to keep costs down and am not a gym-goer so would only be using the pool for the practice.
Do hotel pools do a deal where if you join, they will throw in swimming lessons?
Sorry to sound ignorant about this!

DvB · 15-04-2015 4:16pm

Firstly, great thread, thanks one & all.

I'm in a similar situation to many on here, always had a fear of the water & never thought I'd get to the stage where I could put my face & head under, managed to conquer that particular fear last year (other than still managing to get some water up my nose which admittedly freaked me out slightly) on holidays with our 3 yo twins & decided to bite the bullet & take lessons...

Starting my first ever swimming lesson tonight in the NAC & am both excited & nervous at the same time, my wife thinks I'll be fine as she reckons I look far from nervous when standing in the water & messing with the kids in water but I still have that fear of letting go & trying to float or lift my feet... I'm determined to do my best to get over this & genuinely feel if I can get over that I'll love the whole experience... so fingers crossed it goes well & I manage to make some progress. I just hope I'm not the only lame duck so to speak starting tonight as I'd hate to feel like I was the only one starting out from scratch.

Reading this thread has given me a whole new perspective on breathing & how important it is (well obviously, but you know what I mean) & I think if i can control that rather than panicking I'll be half way there.... at least I hope so.

RonanP77 · 25-04-2015 11:19pm

DvB wrote:

Starting my first ever swimming lesson tonight in the NAC & am both excited & nervous at the same time, my wife thinks I'll be fine as she reckons I look far from nervous when standing in the water & messing with the kids in water but I still have that fear of letting go & trying to float or lift my feet... I'm determined to do my best to get over this & genuinely feel if I can get over that I'll love the whole experience... so fingers crossed it goes well & I manage to make some progress. I just hope I'm not the only lame duck so to speak starting tonight as I'd hate to feel like I was the only one starting out from scratch.

How did the lesson go? I started doing lessons in December and was nervous going to the first one, I thought I'd be the only absolute novice and would make a show of myself. It was fine, most of us were at the same level. I'm still at it now and it's going well but I haven't fully lost my fear of the water yet. Progress has been slow enough for me but I'm up to doing 25 or so lengths of the pool each lesson now with either front crawl or back crawl.

DvB · 27-04-2015 8:12am

RonanP77 wrote: »

How did the lesson go? I started doing lessons in December and was nervous going to the first one, I thought I'd be the only absolute novice and would make a show of myself. It was fine, most of us were at the same level. I'm still at it now and it's going well but I haven't fully lost my fear of the water yet. Progress has been slow enough for me but I'm up to doing 25 or so lengths of the pool each lesson now with either front crawl or back crawl.

Had two lessons now, the first one started off at a pace I wasn't expecting though in hindsight that wasn't a bad thing, in 45 minutes the instructor had me doing stuff I never imagined I'd be able to do. Namely gliding across the pool with my legs up, kicking all the time with my face under water & exhaling at a nice steady rhythm. Struggled at the end of the first lesson with the standing up from a face down position, instructor said I was trying to do it too fast & for was not getting the coordination right. Second lesson started slowly as I got a tad nervous with the breathing exercises in the warm up but soon got a bit of confidence back, still struggled a bit with the standing up from face down position but fine with it from the dead man's float which I got the knack of quicker than I ever thought possible.

I'm still nervous, & I don't see that changing in this first course of lessons if I'm honest, but I'm seeing progress & that's encouraging. If I can comfortable with the standing up I reckon It'll give me the confidence to push on. I'm easily the biggest novice in the class, the rest could already do the basics if not more & seem to be progressing at a far greater pace, they can do full widths for example where I'd have to stand up (badly) a couple of times & have yet to start using my arms (am just gliding & kicking for now) but to be fair the instructor is great & gives equal time to us all despite being at varying levels of competency. I'll be sticking with it though, thats for sure.

DvB · 03-06-2015 12:44pm

Quick update on my lessons (or lack thereof) managed to make it to my third lesson after a gap of a week to allow for the national championships in the NAC, the extra week break seemed to have a big impact on me though as my nerves came back badly, to the extent that I was unable to repeat the exercises I'd been able to do two weeks previously... this I must admit left me very frustrated & disheartened as I'd really felt I was doing well after the first 2 lessons. The thing is, I've been away on holidays & missed my next 2 lessons and am wondering if going back to complete the last three (of 8 in total) is worthwhile or whether I'd be better waiting for the next round of lessons & start from scratch again?
Whilst away on holidays I did manage to get into a pool 3 or 4 times (which was bloody cold!!) but never managed to get much of a chance to do even the basic stuff (other than controlling my breathing/exhalation under the water) so its really 4 weeks now since I had my last (unsuccessful) lesson & am wondering if I'm a lost cause?

Anyone else ever been in this position or experienced something similar? I felt determined & excited at the outset but seem to have been unable to control my nerves (not helped by the timing admittedly) to the extent now I'm wondering if I need a fresh start or if I should give up & accept the fact I'll never be able to swim...

Any instructors here who've had beginners as pathetic as myself? & betetr still ones that managed to conqueor their fears?

RonanP77 · 03-06-2015 1:10pm

DvB wrote:

Anyone else ever been in this position or experienced something similar? I felt determined & excited at the outset but seem to have been unable to control my nerves (not helped by the timing admittedly) to the extent now I'm wondering if I need a fresh start or if I should give up & accept the fact I'll never be able to swim...

Go back for the last few lessons and when you get there, relax. Everyone doing lessons has bad days. I certainly had a few lessons where I felt I took a big step backwards. I've been doing lessons for 6 months now and I'm still afraid of the water but I'm doing alright.

The thing I notice with most people is that if they think about it too much they'll tense up and it'll go badly. Take your time, keep trying, don't put so much pressure on yourself and you'll be grand.

DvB · 03-06-2015 1:20pm

RonanP77 wrote: »

The thing I notice with most people is that if they think about it too much they'll tense up and it'll go badly. Take your time, keep trying, don't put so much pressure on yourself and you'll be grand.

Funnily enough, my instructor said that exact thing to me, that I was over thinking it & making too big a deal of it, tensing up & then making it so much harder... to be fair she's great & very encouraging, I just seem to be obsessing about it & mixing that in with my nerves is a real stumbling block.

Thanks for the feedback though, at least I know I'm not the only one that hasn't managed to get over a fear of the water in a few lessons.

MaryGreen · 30-07-2015 10:39am

Does anybody know if the prices for group lessons are the same now?

Mickiemcfist · 03-09-2018 11:40am

Don't want to start a thread for this question & have tried searching. I'm planning on starting to swim more often at Seapoint in Dublin, what do people do with their car keys when they go swimming on their own? I'd just be conscious of leaving them with my towel/bag if I'm in the water for an extended period of time.

Ryder · 03-09-2018 3:24pm

Mickiemcfist wrote: »

Don't want to start a thread for this question & have tried searching. I'm planning on starting to swim more often at Seapoint in Dublin, what do people do with their car keys when they go swimming on their own? I'd just be conscious of leaving them with my towel/bag if I'm in the water for an extended period of time.

I put mine in a tow float and bring them with me. Although I have never had my bag interfered with there

irishmanmick · 02-10-2018 3:57pm

Hi folks,

I've been doing group lessons down the local pool since May. I've progressed really well from not being able to swim at all, to be able to swim a 25m length of the pool.

I'm still very weak on the front crawl, to the point I'm completely out of breath when I finally get to the end of the pool (when I make it on that stroke).

I work near the NAC & I was thinking about jacking the group lessons and joining NAC. I think time in the water would really benefit me & was thinking I might do a couple of private one to one lessons.

What is the NAC like for a novice swimmer? I'd be keen to stay within my depth if I could, or at least swim in a lane with a rail.

Thanks

stesaurus · 11-05-2019 2:26pm

I've been doing one to one lessons for a few weeks now. Progress is really slow but I've lost my fear of water and no longer tense up. Being shown how to push up from under the water and stand was huge for me as I'd always have panicked before.
My problem now is floating. No matter what I just can't do it. I'm thin with strong legs from running and I'm short. Not a huge deal of fat on me, so I think this is my problem. From reading up it seems unlikely my body will float naturally so maybe I just need to focus on my stroke and kick and the movement will come.
Anybody similar stature have any advice?

Vexorg · 14-05-2019 1:30pm

Hi

Only started swimming after a many years so not an expert, and not totally sure what you are asking, but regarding floating do you take a good breath - hold it and lay on your back in the water? have a look at these links www.google.com/search?q=how+to+float+in+water+for+beginners

NIMAN · 03-01-2020 10:48pm

Family got me swimming lessons for Xmas.

Never swam. Always had a fear of water as a youngster, can't explain why. Always got a note to get me out of swimming at school.

Only since I started Sun holidays with kids in the last handful of years have I got over the fear and will now get into pools ok. I don't mind walking up to my chin but can't keep my head under water or hold my breath. I'm am embarrassment !!

So a bit apprehensive about starting the lessons. Think they are 1 to 1, and don't want to appear like a big baby. Hopefully it will work out as id love to be able to jump into a pool in the heat and have a swim, like my young kids!

irishmanmick · 07-01-2020 11:21pm

NIMAN wrote: »

Family got me swimming lessons for Xmas.

Never swam. Always had a fear of water as a youngster, can't explain why. Always got a note to get me out of swimming at school.

Only since I started Sun holidays with kids in the last handful of years have I got over the fear and will now get into pools ok. I don't mind walking up to my chin but can't keep my head under water or hold my breath. I'm am embarrassment !!

So a bit apprehensive about starting the lessons. Think they are 1 to 1, and don't want to appear like a big baby. Hopefully it will work out as id love to be able to jump into a pool in the heat and have a swim, like my young kids!

I was the same - never learnt to swim and just stayed away from water.

It was only watching my kids learn, and seeing their fearlessness that made me decide I finally work up the courage to try. So I did swimming lessons for like a year. I'm still a terrible swimmer, can't go out of my depth but now at least I can enjoy being in the pool with my kids.

When we went to France on holidays spent the entire holiday in the pool, either playing shark or giving them water taxis. It was the best craic. So delighted I did the lessons. Even though I've now stopped, with coaching the kids GAA team, work & college, I haven't got the time for them at the moment. But plan to go back to it, learn how to swim properly. Would love to do a triathlon one day.

It's hard at first, feels like you're getting nowhere. But bit by bit, your confidence will improve, till eventually, even before you would call yourself a 'swimmer' you lose that nervousness in the water.

Don't worry bout looking looking silly, everyone starts somewhere. If they're 1 on 1 that even better, the swim coaches are well used to people being nervous in water.

Enjoy the lessons, they'll be the best present you ever got.

PatrickSmithUS · 16-01-2020 10:52am

I've been swimming for about three years now, after I joined the local triathlon in 2017 and learned the front crawl.

I've always had a difficulty in getting tired/breathless and have only completes one 400m Super Sprint in the pool.

I breath every 3rd stroke of alternating sides. What would people suggest? I tried only breathing out through my nose last weekend and was definitely better that way.

cruizer101 · 16-01-2020 11:09am

Every 3rd stroke on alternate sides would be the best. That said for open water triathlons I've heard it recommended to have flexibility to be able to change it up to every 2 or 4 strokes on one side, the reasoning being if swimming in the sea you may have waves approaching from one side so useful to be able to breathe just on the other side.

Surprised you found breathing out nose only better, I wouldn't have thought it would make much difference. Are you breathing out fully under water so only inhaling when face out of water?

PatrickSmithUS · 16-01-2020 11:11am

cruizer101 wrote: »

Every 3rd stroke on alternate sides would be the best. That said for open water triathlons I've heard it recommended to have flexibility to be able to change it up to every 2 or 4 strokes on one side, the reasoning being if swimming in the sea you may have waves approaching from one side so useful to be able to breathe just on the other side.

Surprised you found breathing out nose only better, I wouldn't have thought it would make much difference. Are you breathing out fully under water so only inhaling when face out of water?

I think so and I def find it easier breathing out nose only and in through the mouth. I would have been very nervous in the water over the years so do my best to stay calm.

I have big trouble going slowly and not tiring myself.

NIMAN · 20-01-2020 4:42pm

I've had 2 lessons so far and going ok.

Might be a stupid question, but relates to the last couple of posts.
When you're swimming properly, do you breath out while your head is under the water, then turn your head for air, or do you hold your breath under the water and then come up for air?

khalessi · 20-01-2020 4:51pm

I come up for air, turn head sideways till nose mouth out of water, take a breath, face down and blow out slowly as I swim and repeat in time with strokes.

When I was learning this, my coach suggested that I practise at home putting my face in sink full of water blowing bubbles and lift head out of water to get a breath. As I progressed I blew the bubbles and was turning head to side to get a breath, then face down blowing bubbles again while standing. For me it helped.

NIMAN · 20-01-2020 6:09pm

khalessi wrote: »

I come up for air, turn head sideways till nose mouth out of water, take a breath, face down and blow out slowly as I swim and repeat in time with strokes.

When I was learning this, my coach suggested that I practise at home putting my face in sink full of water blowing bubbles and lift head out of water to get a breath. As I progressed I blew the bubbles and was turning head to side to get a breath, then face down blowing bubbles again while standing. For me it helped.

OK so this is standard practice I'm guessing.

Is there any reason why you can't hold your breath while your head is in, as opposed to blowing out?
(maybe I'll get the answer to this at my next lesson)

irishmanmick · 20-01-2020 10:35pm

NIMAN wrote: »

OK so this is standard practice I'm guessing.

Is there any reason why you can't hold your breath while your head is in, as opposed to blowing out?
(maybe I'll get the answer to this at my next lesson)

I had a real problem with this when I was learning to swim. The reason yiu can't hold your breath under water is you won't be able to take in air when you come up for it. You need to release your breath while under water, so that when you opo your head up you take a breath in.

Can't take that breath in if your lungs are full, and you'll end up breathing out above water and breathing in when your head is back under

AngryHippie · 21-01-2020 5:09am

I swim with both trickle and explosive breathing, depending on where I am in my set.
During warm up, I will usually breathe explosively to ramp my heart rate and CO2 content, then after a quick rest I will switch back to trickle while I rack through my set.

Plenty of sprinters swimming in a straight arm breathing every 2nd stroke explosively

NIMAN · 25-01-2020 9:26pm

irishmanmick wrote: »

I had a real problem with this when I was learning to swim. The reason yiu can't hold your breath under water is you won't be able to take in air when you come up for it. You need to release your breath while under water, so that when you opo your head up you take a breath in.

Can't take that breath in if your lungs are full, and you'll end up breathing out above water and breathing in when your head is back under

Thanks, the OH actually answered it for me before you replied, but thanks.
I suppose its common sense really!:rolleyes:

irishmanmick · 26-01-2020 12:34pm

NIMAN wrote: »

I suppose its common sense really!:rolleyes:

Tell that to my brain when I have my face under water!

NIMAN · 27-01-2020 1:51am

Agree, logic goes out the window when you are under water.

I'm hoping its early days yet, and it will become second nature the more I do it, without having to concentrate on it when I'm under.

fryup · 09-06-2021 5:30pm

had a swim in the shannon today nearly died:o

can't remember june water temp so cold

28-06-2021 6:46pm

Where can you learn to swim during covid?

wrstan · 06-07-2021 2:44pm

Swim Ireland do a number of open water programmes

DeirdreMalone · 28-07-2022 11:55am

Just saw this reply from 2021: Swim Ireland requires that you be a member to participate in any of their sessions.😥

ax530 · 26-01-2024 5:10pm

I recommend the Swim for a mile program.

Coaches & clinics available meet others who often end up continuing to swim together when it over

Improving/Learning to swim

Comments

"I will honour Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year" - Charles Dickens

"I will honour Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year" - Charles Dickens

"I will honour Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year" - Charles Dickens

"I will honour Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year" - Charles Dickens