> Swim Technique / Workouts> Help for Novice Swimmers

If You Are Afraid to Swim, Why Would You Get Into the Water?
It has always been thought that if you're uncomfortable or afraid in water, you just need to learn to swim. But if you're afraid in water, why would you get into it? Why would you want to put your face in? Why would you volunteer to take your feet off the bottom and try to swim? For over a hundred years, the common practice used for swim students who were afraid of the water was to start from the premise that if you practice something uncomfortable long enough, it will become comfortable.

Should I Swim All of my Swimming Workouts at a Slow Pace?
I am now swimming over 1-hour at a relaxed pace. Once in a while I mix up my swimming speed in the pool for 5-10 minute increments. Is swimming at a slow pace every day effective? Once swimmers reach a general level of fitness, they must do more to increase the challenge of the swim workout. Adding more distance or duration is one way, but not always the best. How much time does someone have in a day to swim? In most cases I recommend swimming a variety of speeds in a swim workout instead.

About 10 Things You Can Do to be a Better Swimmer
There are many things that you can do to swim better. This to do list of 10 ways to swim better could help any swimmer improve in the water.

About A Fish out of Water
Running and swimming benefit each other - and mixing the two in a race is fun!

About Fins - or you can call them flippers
Ways that working out with these foot-enlargers can make you a better swimmer.

About Flip Turns
Swim to the wall. Turn around. Swim to the other wall. Turn around again. There are lots of ways to do that turn, but competitive swimmers all use flip turns - they are faster and, once learned, easier than open turns. They also give swimmers a little more confidence in themselves, and in their ability to hold their breath.

About Ideas on Improving Swimming Technique
Teaching swimming technique is not an easy task. Nevertheless it seems to be precisely technique which separates a good swimmer from a poor one. So what exactly are these problems which it is so difficult for the coach to solve in training technique?

About Shaping Up for a Triathlon Swim
A reader asks - "I have my bike and run training figured out, but can't get the swim portion locked in; do I do long swims, short sprints, focus on technique, or something else? I hear something different from everyone I ask?" My answer - the obvious cop out, all of the above!

About steps to swimming
So, you want to improve your swimming ability or swim competitively, but aren't sure about the next step - or you have taken time off and want to "get back in the swim?" How should you start, and once you do, what next? Here are a few things to keep in mind as you splash through the pool

About Swimming - something for everyone
Water sports like swimming offer opportunities for relaxation or exercise for each of us.

Transpersonal Swimming Institute - Fear of Swimming Conquered
The Transpersonal Swimming Institute is an adult swim school, teaching afraid students to be confident in water and to swim with year-round classes in 3 US-cities and 1-week classes in 6-vacation spots. They also have a book and a video on conquering the fear of water (Compare Prices on the book "Conquer Your Fear of Water" or the video "The Miracle Swimmer").

About Swimming in a Triathlon
The first leg of a triathlon is the wettest, even on a rainy day. But it should also be the most enjoyable and relaxed part of the race. A good swim can lead to a great race, regardless of your ability to move through the water.

About the Freestyle Kick
A reader asks "The best distance swimmers use a 6 beat kick. Should I use it, too?"

About Training Plan - 8 Weeks to Increased Fitness
You are a swimmer, and have the basics of a swimming workout figured out and want to be a better, but other than getting in the pool, you feel like a beginner?

About Your Favorite Story From the Pool Deck
First hand accounts of funny, motivating, or just entertaining stories from the world of swimming.

Are you a committed swimmer?
Swimming is a wonderful exercise for everybody. Properly done, it can be most pleasurable, allowing the physical expression of fluidity, grace, power and stamina. A Shaw Method teacher (who is trained to understand and communicate the deep enjoyment of swimming) could help you become a committed swimmer.

Backstroke
Backstroke should be swum almost completely on your side to ensure that you are rotating enough. Rotating allows you to pull more water, and so go farther.

Breastroke
Remember that the key to breastroke is that your pulling and kicking are coordinated. Also, keep your hips very high in the water, and touch with two hands on every wall.

Build up to swimimng one mile in 6 weeks of workouts
Young or old, fit or not, six weeks seems to be the most common length of time it takes to be able to swim a mile without stopping. It requires swimming three times per week and the willingness to be somewhat uncomfortable while stretching your aerobic capability. This series of swim workouts will get you swimming one mile in six weeks. (Ruth Kazez)

Butterfly
Butterfly can be an extremely fast stroke---if it is done correctly. The most important aspect of butterfly is to get the timing of breathing and kicking down correctly.

Fish Links Swim School (Australia)
Our swim school is dedicated to providing quality swimming lessons for children from 3 months of age.

Freestyle
When you breathe in freestyle, only allow your mouth and one eye to come out, and keep your head slightly forward. Bring your other arm out of the water and do your stroke as the first arm swings under your body and by your hip.

Fun Strokes - Corkscrew, Sidestroke, & Mermaid
These strokes are meant purely for fun. They can be used in warmdown, games, or however else you'd like! Have FUN!

How to Master the Top 5 Challenges to Breathing in Freestyle Swimming
The most common question I hear in the triathlete world about the mysteries of swimming efficiently usually involves something with breathing. In freestyle, it is the first step to get your body position right. Then, for many, you throw in breathing and everything goes haywire! This has to do with lack of balance, using your head instead of your core to breath, and a few other factors.

Individual Medley or IM
The Individual Medley, or IM, is one of the most interesting and fun to watch events in swimming. It allows the swimmer to develop and compete with all four strokes. This makes it also one of the most difficult events to compete in. The order goes Butterfly, Backstroke, Breastroke, then Freestyle.

Learn to Swim Without Fear
My understanding of a swimming teacher is they need to have a proficient knowledge of scientific principles, physiology and psychology; coupled with the ability to apply them to the individual is vital. Thoroughly understanding these elements allows the teacher to work within the capabilities of the non-swimmer or swimmer both physically and mentally, adapt the strokes, and achieve a comfort level within every session.

Starts & Turns
Starts and Turns are a very important part of racing. They are the beginning and the end! In a sprint race they can tell whether you win or lose, improve your time or not, achieve your goal or not. There are three main types of USS of individual race starts, and there is a turn for freestyle, butterfly and breaststroke, and backstroke.

Swimmers, Are You Out of Swimming Shape?
Swimmers, have you taken a break from swimming? Do you feel out of swim shape and feel the need to get back in the swimming pool and get that swim fitness back quickly? Here are some tips to help you get back to feeling in the swim of things.

Swimming for Fitness and Exercise
You followed the Zero to One Mile in Six Weeks plan (also linked from this page) and can swim a mile. That's good enough because you want to swim for exercise, you have no interest in racing and you're not a triathlete or any other kind of athlete. You want to enjoy doing what is good for you. You're bored. Now what? (Ruth Kazez)

Swimming Glossary from Ruth Kazez
A glossary of swimming terms, acronyms, definitions, and abbreviations for swimmers.

The Adult Learner - Help for Swimmers from Ruth Kazez
Tips and insights for adult swimmers from Ruth Kazez. Ruth's insights and points of view are great for self-taught swimmers, but they are equally valid for coached swimmers. This article looks at the basics of each stroke and how to get in the swim.