Swimming advice?

[Llust]

this probably sounds like something a kid would get nervous over, but the new school year started, yay.. and like every year, i'll eventually have a swimming unit in gym class. i havent had an issue with this since middle school, but i have serious anxiety issues--so with that, being in a class of athletic people and not knowing how to swim is nerve wrecking for me. the past few years since ive been involved in the swimming unit, i'd just look stupid and out of place when we did group warm ups, did laps back and forth, etc etc just everything a typical class would do

im honestly tired of not being able to do something as simple as that while everyone watches me fail, so i'd appreciate any advice on swimming in general before i start the unit again. i already got some of the basics such as holding my breath under water, but the most i can really do is just swim with my arms by my side and stop halfway for a breath of air. i cant do any strokes or take a side breath, its just something i never got down

before asking, theres nowhere i can practice nor do i have the time to take classes. i get that the point of the unit is to improve our swimming skills, but that barely helps. i'll just use the advice to keep in mind when i actually do start the unit

 

[DarkDesertFox]

Watch Free! and pick up some tips (kidding, but good swimming anime). I know where you're coming from with the anxiety. I also have bad anxiety. Especially for gym class since I'm not an athletic person. This isn't competitive swimming though is it? You're just having fun and improving your swimming right? I'd be surprised if everyone was an excellent swimmer in your class. There's bound to be someone else struggling and wanting to learn.

 

[Llust]

Watch Free! and pick up some tips (kidding, but good swimming anime). I know where you're coming from with the anxiety. I also have bad anxiety. Especially for gym class since I'm not an athletic person. This isn't competitive swimming though is it? You're just having fun and improving your swimming right? I'd be surprised if everyone was an excellent swimmer in your class. There's bound to be someone else struggling and wanting to learn.

i've seen free and it is amazing, fabulous biceps everywhere
for my school its actually pretty rare to find some who doesnt know the basics of swimming, so there are slim chances of seeing someone on the same level as me

 

[Mariah]

In my swimming units, they put everyone who didn't know how to swim (including me) in a lane and they would just do basic stuff or nothing at all. Just pretend you can't swim at all and you can pass your unit without effort.

 

[Llust]

In my swimming units, they put everyone who didn't know how to swim (including me) in a lane and they would just do basic stuff or nothing at all. Just pretend you can't swim at all and you can pass your unit without effort.

thats not how it is for my school, so it isnt much of an option for me. we're all basically forced to participate in the same activity, otherwise we fail

 

[Mega_Cabbage]

You could take a swimming class at a local recreation center.

 

[ShinyYoshi]

Wow, I wish I had a swimming class in school. I looooooved competitive swimming, I did it for 7 years.

It's really hard for me to give swimming tips because it honestly came very naturally for me, but the best I can think of is that the more freaked out you are, the worse it's going to be. If you just take it slow and be calm, moving through the water can be simple. If anything, try and just doggy paddle if you can.

If you actually have to learn strokes, that's probably a whole different story, but without a doubt, keeping calm and cool will help you the most in the long run. Maybe try going on YouTube and looking up swimming tutorials, I'm sure there's something there that can help. I'm sorry, swimming is just something that's super hard to explain over text but if you need specific help with something I can always try my best

 

[Llust]

You could take a swimming class at a local recreation center.

i already mentioned that i dont have time outside of school to take classes, thanks though

Wow, I wish I had a swimming class in school. I looooooved competitive swimming, I did it for 7 years.

It's really hard for me to give swimming tips because it honestly came very naturally for me, but the best I can think of is that the more freaked out you are, the worse it's going to be. If you just take it slow and be calm, moving through the water can be simple. If anything, try and just doggy paddle if you can.

If you actually have to learn strokes, that's probably a whole different story, but without a doubt, keeping calm and cool will help you the most in the long run. Maybe try going on YouTube and looking up swimming tutorials, I'm sure there's something there that can help. I'm sorry, swimming is just something that's super hard to explain over text but if you need specific help with something I can always try my best

thank you^^ learning the strokes isnt required, but it is something we go over for a day or two. i heard doing strokes makes side breathing easier if thats true. i honestly want to try just side breathing and not using any strokes..even if its not the proper way to swim, i'd much rather do that instead. idk why but i always feel like im doing it completely wrong when i try doing strokes so i gave up on that haha

 

[Mairmalade]

Does your school's pool have open hours at some point?

 

[Llust]

Does your school's pool have open hours at some point?

we have a swim club from what i remember, but everyone in it is expected to know how to swim

 

[MyLifeIsCake]

As long as you can keep your head above the water and do basic strokes, you should be good. I've been complimented that I can swim well, and trust me, I can barley do a quick doggy-paddle. Just remember to take breaths between strokes, unless you plan on growing gills sometime soon.


Don't ask me about diving though, I can only do a belly flop.

 

[That Zephyr Guy]

I've always found it relatively simple to swim if you just let you body do the work - more easily put, your body is naturally buoyant, so as long as you keep breathing you shouldn't go under in a swimming pool. You just need to stretch your body out across the water, let yourself float, and focus on moving the water behind you.

 

[Mega_Cabbage]

i already mentioned that i dont have time outside of school to take classes, thanks though

Sorry, completely missed that part. Back stroke is always available. You can breath anytime you want to since you're facing the ceiling and it's easier to stay afloat in your back.

 

[Yumei]

So you've watched Free!...then maybe this doesn't sound so silly: trust the water.
Mmmm since you've ruled out swimming practice, there are other physical things you can do to improve, like jogging, yoga, breathing exercises. (Hey, Rei did it.)
As for advice, think about what you can and can't control. You have do this class. Well, no, not if you happen to break a leg. Okay, that's a bit much, but the point is that there are some things you can do.
For starters, you can try to look at specific things that bother you and think about why it has that effect on you. Maybe you can have a different perspective, and ease that brain. If it's more than one thing, break it up into sizable chunks, like: People staring/judging? The water? Balancing? Swimsuits? Not having enough air? Being too slow or clumsy?

This is very personal, so the awesome part of it is that you're part of the solution.

& once class starts, you'll have plenty of people to ask there, too. Don't be afraid to ask them; you're brave enough to ask us. ^^

 

[Hypno KK]

It's hard to give you much advice since swimming is a physical activity. If you're having trouble, I suggest talking to your teacher or another teacher at your school. They can give you advice and help you and even if they can't, or if you still suck, it will at least show that you're putting in the effort and hard work.

Are you just having trouble timing your breathing with your swimming?

 

[Luxsama]

Tell your teacher you're on your period. huehue

 

[Vizionari]

I do agree it's kind of hard to give swimming advice (I've been on a competitive team for around 6 years and in varsity for my high school swim team; I've been a swimmer my whole life basically lol), but they usually seperate those who can't swim into a more basic group of people and they teach you basic stuff (at my school they made it the "beginners group" and put them in the shallow end). I'm sure that the teachers have some sense that there are students who don't know how to swim, so I wouldn't worry about it too much

 

[tui]

I feel you, I was one of the lesser athletic people in physical education classes, and the way I got around it was to just make a joke of my mistakes and be lighthearted about it. Afterall, your swimming ability is none of their concern and chances are not all of them know how to swim that well. One of my friends, who now plays for the junior england women's team, was good at everything but could not swim atall, so athleticism =/= ability to swim. I have friends who are the complete opposite aswell.

Swimming is one of those things you have to practice before really being able to get the hang of it, but if anybody does belittle you or be cruel then rise above it, because afterall, it will look much worse on them than it will on you.

 

[Celestefey]

I know this might seem a bit daunting for you but, the best thing to do is talk to the teacher. Like seriously... It's just going to save a lot of embarrassment and hassle for you. I know that you're all expected to do the same thing but maybe the teachers AREN'T aware that you don't know how to swim, or that you are not confident in swimming. That's okay. I'm sure they have dealt with other students similar to you. If you talk to them and at least communicate with them that you'd like a bit more help, I am sure there would be no issue? If you can, ask if you can hold onto a float at first. If you have a small float you can hold onto, you can stay on that for buoyancy, but practicing putting your face underwater and practice how many counts you need to breathe on, and etc. It's how I was taught actually too. Once you've strengthened up a bit more, you can maybe hold onto the float with one hand and just start doing a front crawl stroke using one arm, but you still have the float to rely on. Remember to change the float over to your other arm in the other length. It's all about strengthening yourself up and getting used to the patterns. Your body will get used to it eventually. It's just like learning how to ride a bike. you just have to keep practicing over and over until it feels comfortable and natural for you. And don't be afraid. Chances are there are probably weaker swimmers like yourself in the class - fair enough they may be stronger than you but, we all are different.

If people make fun of you for not being able to swim strongly, then they're really shallow (hah, water puns!). Don't take notice of them. Easier said than done but, to be honest, people will respect you a lot more if you go in and try your best and try to stay positive. If people make fun of you despite not being very athletic than they are just *******s - plain and simple. This is coming from someone who used to be made fun of in PE, too. of course, in our school swimming galas I usually won my races, but they never made fun of me then... It was always when someone would throw a ball at my head, or when I had to do running or play a ball game or something that people would laugh at me. But actually I was one of the people who was always positive and friendly and tried to have fun despite hating PE. x3 And because of that I remember I got a day off school to go on some special sports day thing where we got to go trampolining and swimming and stuff, and basically just did tons of fun sports activities that I enjoyed. ^^ The teachers picked like the best pupils in the class to go on it. of course I was never good at PE but, I was always positive and (sometimes) tried my best. So really if your teachers see that then they will praise you for that. ;v;

 

[sock]

Don't be afraid to talk to a teacher about it. Or even just a family member or friend. If you can talk to us, you can do it, and it really could help, they might be able to sort something out for you.

Tbh, people who make fun of you are complete d***s. Not everyone is (or should be expected to be) good at everything. That would just be unfair.

As for actually being in the water, staying calm and letting yourself float is probably the best way to feel more confident. Remember, it's safe to try and be in control of the water, if that makes any sense. There will always be people watching to make sure nothing bad happens.

By the way, I really admire you for carrying on all this time, I don't think I would be able to.