This is part 1 of a collection of posts for each of my swimming levels for the Mr. Dustin's Swim Academy. If you feel like this level isn't for you. Then I encourage you to check out the other levels, or the complete list, via the swimming tag!
Similar to level 0, but for any age. Students at this point are expected to learn the three steps to swimming, attempt at doing them as best as possible, and most importantly feel comfortable in the water.
Any psychological disposition or fears should subside by the end of the level.
Introduction to the Water
I'm thinking a toddler who doesn't know what's going on, to the adult who never learn to swim. It is the same for each of them.
Maybe a little bit faster for the adult, due to communication, but not always.
You'll have to be comfortable in the water, even if you are still not fully comfortable that is okay. However you need to be able to submerge yourself, and at least put your face in the water without holding your nose (you can't swim if one of your hands is plugging your nose, and nose plugs aren't allowed unless medically necessary).
This is the time where if they were younger, you might see the instructor play a lot of games with the student. As they subconsciously teach the swimmers different things through the games!
What causes fear?
I'm not saying everyone at this level will have fear, but it is a normal human feeling to be apprehensive about a new environment.
Being in the water is a completely different feeling to being in the air-dry.
Fear can happen from the worry that you might drown, or make a mistake and drown. It could happen if you're older, due to an irresponsible family member throwing you into the water to "teach" you to swim.
So many causes, but it all distills down to a fear of drowning. It is as simple as that. What I have to say to you is, you won't drown.
From the lifeguards that are always present at 99% of pools, to the nearby patrons also going swimming, to your own fight or flight response. There are too many factors pointing to the fact that you WON'T drown, rather than you will. Statistically you won't, and when you are at this level you should be in the shallow water anyways.
How do you swim?
The first thing you should ask when learning to swim, is what are the 3 steps to swimming? The first swimming stroke you will learn is the FrontCrawl.
Everything can be broken down into 3 simple steps, every skill, and for swimming I came to these:
- 1a. Kick legs Straight
- 2a. Face Down
- 3a. Arms out of water, diving back in
At this level I do not expect perfection, but you should strive for it. The more perfect reps you do, then the sooner you will get to doing more perfect reps more often. Don't cheat and doggypaddle your way across.
If you kick, well properly, that alone will get across the pool. Simple as that. When you add your face down step, it will straighten out your body, and train your mind to stay calm. Also making you a bit more hydrodynamic, and cutting through the water better.
Finally, when you add the arms, even in a poor quality form. It generally helps with advancing forward. As you get better at the arms though, then the speed will drastically improve.
If you are still fearful...
Then you simply don't pass. This is the beginner's level, and so you will be learning the mental side of things. The literal steps you take when swimming, I'd have you repeat them verbally out loud, so that they stick in your head.
Finally, you then attempt those steps. Starting off with kicks, you can even hold onto the side, some stairs, or a kickboard. Simply getting your legs straight and moving, and not letting them bend. Then face down, then move your arms as best you can.
You'll have already learned how to hold your breath under water in this level. If you can't do that, then you can't level up.
