Beginners woes

Question
Hi,

I am 31, and bit late in life, decided to take the plunge. However last few classes (have had 8 of them) with a coach hasn't been very effective. I learnt to float, and then kick with legs and move forward. Post that learnt to "crawl", keeping the hands inside water throughout. The challenge was when the coach asked me take my head out for breathing. He urges me to take it completely out, in fact raise my whole upper body. This essentially means that my lower part goes down and sinks. Have been trying to do this for four sessions without any reprieve.

My basic physics knowledge suggested that this didn't sound right, reading on the net- kind of corroborated that. However I do see other fellow class mates being able to do it, when they bring their head up, and can keep it up, and swim (similar to dog swimming!). What could I be possibly doing wrong? Am I over thinking this?

Any tip would be great, thanks

Patrick

Answer
Sorry about not getting to you right away. I got this on Saturday and didn't have access to a computer till now.

Ok, you're right. In my opinion the coach is not teaching you correctly. So there's three parts to your answer; 1. What the coach is doing. 2. How to do what the coach is teaching you. 3. How to do it the way I would have you (which is the best ;-)  )

So quickly, the advantage of lifting your head is that the mechanics of breathing in front is a little bit easier than breathing to the side. But when you teach it, you teach bringing the chin forward and barely lifting the head. Even then the butt drops and causes problems.

To do it you need to be able to scull with both hands in front. Try it sitting down on a step to get the hang of it. Keep both arms in front, drop the fingers to about 45 degrees and both both arms out to the side and back in. Try not to pull back or press down. Pulling back will get you moving forward but you won't get up for air. Pressing down will get you up but then you'll quickly sink and go under like the Titanic.

I would try it with swim fins. They will give you enough support with a pull that unless you're really doing something wrong you'll be able to get a breath (assuming your breathing technique is ok which is a big assumption.) I'd say about 90% of people can get a breath like this when using fins.

But you still need to learn to roll to the side and breathe. You should be able to hold on to the side and turn your head to breath at least 10 times without a problem before you're ready to start swimming and breathing.

If you can, then get those fins (they make it much easier) and grab a kickboard. Hold the kickboard so that the round part is in front and you grab the back part. Then kick 25 yards. When you need a breath, roll your body and your head to the side and breathe. Then roll back down and kick. Repeat. Repeat. Repeat. You have to get good at this step.

Then the next step is to hold the kickboard with your left hand, pull with your right. When your right hand gets to your hip, roll to the side and get your breath. Then bring the right arm forward and hold the kickboard and kick. (most right handed people breathe on the right side)

The next step is to pull with the left hand and don't breathe. Then pull with the right, roll and breathe. Again practice practice practice. Fins really help.

The next step is use a smaller kickboard (break one in half) or a tennis ball. This keeps both hands out in front and lets you roll to breathe.

When you've mastered the tennis ball do it without anything. By now you should be able to roll (not press down because then you start to sink which sucks). It becomes a matter of practice, breath control and some conditioning. After a while you'll be able to take off the fins.

There's more to it than I just gave you but it's enough. I've taken swimmers from being afraid to swimming 25 yards with this progression in less than an hour. Others take a lot longer. It depends on the fear factor and being able to relax. Best of luck, let me know if you have further questions.  Ron