How To Swim

The Basics of Swimming

Swimming is something everyone should pick up. However, there are a select few who don't know how to swim. They can range from never hearing of the activity, never getting the chance to practice or even being too afraid to enter the pool. No matter what one thinks of swimming, the basic steps are fairly simple, easy to start, and one should definitely learn as soon as possible. 

Preparation

In order to prepare to swim, you should first check what you have and whether you feel you are ready to dive right in. Some necessary items you may need are swimsuits, goggles and a swimming pool. Extra items that could be useful can range from swim caps, flippers or even swim tubes. Before you practice swimming, there are three things that you absolutely need. 

First: Confidence

In order to start swimming, the biggest thing you need is to have confidence. Don't be afraid of the water, it's not going to hurt you. If you practice the steps correctly, you will not drown. 

Second: Know your limits

It is always a smart idea to know your limits. If you are beginning to learn how to swim, it is most advised to start at the shallow parts of the water. This is so you can get a feel of what it's like being in the water. It is so you can get used to the water. After you feel that your fear of drowning has been lifted, it is ok to slowly start moving into deeper ends of the water. Take your time, everyone has their own limits and pace.

Third: Buddy up

Practicing swimming on your own can be scary or even dangerous. That's why it is important to have a buddy or someone you can trust who knows who to swim. They can help you whenever it's needed and also fix the errors you make. They can also save you if things go south. 

The Basics: 

To swim, it's not rocket science. The steps you need to take are fairly easy. But as we all know, practice makes perfect. There are only 5 steps to learning how to swim. To become a better swimmer, you should use those 5 steps, practice, and then apply them to the common strokes in swimming. 

Step 1: Breathing 

When it comes to swimming, the way how you breathe is important. Most strokes require that you bring your head out of the water to breathe. Breathing is important in swimming because it is what helps you stay afloat under water. To practice breathing, you should first inhale air through your mouth. Next, submerge your head underwater at breathe out through your nose. You want to breathe out under water for 5 seconds. Afterwards, you should bring your head out of the water and take a deep breath through the mouth. 

Step 2: Floating

The next step you should practice while swimming, is learning how to float. Being able to float on water is important because you don't want to sink or drown. To float, you want to put your hands out in front of you or on the side. Next, put your head under water and look and the floor or your feet. Finally, you should use your legs to push yourself forward till you are parallel to the floor of the pool. You should hold this position for at least 5 seconds. Remember to still have your head in the water, looking at the floor of the pool.   

  

Step 3: Kicking

If your goal is to reach the other side of the pool, just floating around will not take you there. You need something to push yourself forward in order to reach that destination. This is where kicking plays a role. It is important to know how to kick so you can propel yourself forward. There are different types of kicking but the most basic one is called the egg beater. To practice this, it is best to use the support of the wall. Assume the position of a float, and keep your hands at the edge of the wall. Then bend your knees, but do not go past your hip. Kick in the motion as if you are riding a bicycle. Your legs should be alternating when you kick. 

Step 4: Pulling 

The second to last step in learning how to swim is called pulling. This step can also be where you learn how to do your first swimming stroke: The Freestyle or front crawl. To perform basic pulling, it's best to practice while floating. Keep your hands straight out, pull the water with one hand, then lift your hand above the water and place back in front of you. You want to practice this by alternating between left and right hand. 

Step 5: Combining

The last step in learning how to swim is putting everything you have learned into one being. You want to be able to float, use your legs and arms to propel yourself forward with the right techniques, but most important of all, taking breaths at set intervals so you don't lose air or drown.