adult Swimming teacher articles by swim better today
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frequent Swimming issues with solutions
General Issues
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You tire very easily
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Check your technique. If okay, then possibly not getting enough air with the breaths. Try with your head out of the water breathing freely, if still tiring then fitness is probably the issue.
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Not sure if your technique is correct
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You are floating okay, but just cannot get the freestyle stroke happening
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Occasionally, I come across someone who for various reasons struggles with freestyle. Often using breaststroke arms is an easier option for them.
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Floating issues
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You are unable to float
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Try taking a deeper breath. Make sure you are very relaxed. Practice floating with momentum by pushing off the edge of the pool. Play with floating in all types of positions, your body will work it out.
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Your feet and legs are too low in the water
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More floating practice. Put your head lower in the water. Keep one arm out past the head at all times. Use your core to hold legs up. Relax your legs as they may be too tense. Put a little more effort into the kick.
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Even after a lot of floating practice you still feel you are sinking
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Try using a pair of swim fins ( flippers ) and see if it makes any difference. If it helps, practice with and without fins.
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Propulsion Issues
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You are not getting much pull through the water because of short choppy freestyle stokes
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Practice spearing the hand into the water and ensuring that it extends out in front of you. Let it stay there for a moment as you glide forward before pulling back.
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Your kick seems splashy and ineffective
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Practice relaxed leg kicks using your whole leg.
Your feet should not come out of the water. |
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You are kicking but not moving or going backwards
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Ensure your toes are pointed. Check that your legs and feet are near the surface of the water.
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Your arms crossover in front of head
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Your arms are going too deep in the water
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Practice strokes with a bend in the elbow, hand and forearm pointing down.
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You float okay but sink when swimming
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If you are swimming very slowly then make your stroke quicker. Try kicking a little harder. Feel that you are getting a good catch and pull of the water.
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Your arms and shoulders tire. There is difficulty getting your arms out of the water for the recovery
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Possibly swimming flat. Check that you are rotating side to side on each stroke. Practice one arm swimming.
How is your fitness level? If you are not used to using that muscle group it may take a little time for them to build up strength. |
Breathing Issues
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Raising your head to breathe causes your body to sink
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Practice rolling to breathe and single arm swimming.
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You are not getting enough air when swimming
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Ensure you are breathing out when your face is in the water so that you can get a good breath in when your mouth comes out of the water. Don’t hold your breath. When you roll to breathe give yourself a moment longer to take a breath in. If your stroke is too quick you might not be getting enough air in. Could it be your fitness level?
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Water keeps going up your nose
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If you are holding your breath you might actually be breathing in slightly through your nose. Don’t hold your breath. Practice swimming breathing by standing in the water and turning your head in and out of the water. Breath out gently through your nose and mouth.
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