How to Swim Properly

Swimming is a fun sport that many people want to learn. I will give directions about how to swim freestyle. It's a common stroke that many people know. It is also the easiest, usually taught first to beginners. However, if this doesn't interest you, I will go into more challenging things in swimming. In my video, I will run through the basics of all four strokes, tips, drills, tools, treading, skulling, diving, and turning. By the USA Swimming Organization, swimming is the act of moving through water using the body's natural flotation and combined arm and leg motions. It's a popular exercise that can help develop the entire body, and is especially useful for therapy and as exercise for people with physical disabilities. Whether you already know how to swim or starting from ground up, this website is very useful for anyone interested. I have swam ever since I was four years old, so this website is definitely reliable. I've combined my love for swimming and my experience to create this. So let's learn!

Thing to Know About Swimming:

• Swimming is NOT doggy-paddling
• The four strokes are freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke and butterfly
• Practice is KEY
• Don't forget to breathe
• Technique helps creates speed
• Playing in the pool is NOT swimming
• Safety is always first
• Respect other swimmers by circle/lap swimming
• Breaking your stroke before you touch the wall will disqualify you in a swimming competition (more about that later)

Visit the USA Swimming Organization website by clicking the picture below!

Instructions for Freestyle

First few things to note is that your arm should be bent. Your head should be facing down, looking at the bottom of the pool. Your kick should be straight, but no knee-locking. No bicycle kicks at all! This is NOT doggy-paddling. Take it seriously!

1. Try taking 5 pulls, slowly blowing bubbles
2. Turn onto your back
3. Float for 5 seconds
4. Remember to take a breath before entering again
5. Turn onto your stomach and repeat
6. Do this drill until you master it
7. To learn how to take a breath, lay on your side with your arm closest to the water by your ear and your other arm by your side
8. Your arm closest to the water should be like your pillow
9. And your arm by your side should be like a blanket
10. Practice and try on both sides
11. Once you get it down, then bend your arm that was by your side, to touch the water and turn
12. Rotate and start your next stroke
13. Continue to repeat
14. Start by taking breaths very often (i.e. every other stroke)
15. Then increase the amount of stroke you take in between breaths
16. Taking breaths every odd stroke (i.e. every 3, 5, 7, etc.) is better to help you maintain good technique on both sides
17. One side of your googles should in the water when you are taking a breath
18. It's very hard to maintain even as a more advanced swimmer, so don't fret if you can't do on the first try
19. Also, a reminder that throughout all these directions, you should be kicking
20. Bicycle kicks look like you are riding a bike, so don't do it
21. It also slows you down

Equipment

• Kickboard
• Goggles
• Swim cap
• Swimsuit
• Swim parka
• Fins
• Paddles
• Techsuit
• Snorkel
• And MORE!!! (Continue to explore more good equipment and share with your friends!)

Watch this full length video for more detailed information, drills, and more! Just a heads up, it's pretty long, since I'm going into more details. I tried to shorten it as much as possible, so I split them up into smaller sections so that it can fit into your schedule. Here's a preview below!

Click here for more details!