I a getting back into swimming due to a foot injury - have been a runner for a while. I swam as a child mostly for fun but did compete for a Y team briefly. I can remember not doing very well but I don't think I ever received much coaching. I have recently (over the last month) really gotten back into swimming and am taking an intermediate adult swimming class to work on technique.
So far so good - I am starting to get interested in joining a master's swimming group this fall. I am now wanting to learn how to do a flip turn. I realized yesterday that I have two hurdles to overcome. The first is the swimming underwater on my back part. I am working on that part now and have a pretty healthy fear of water going up my nose. There is also something scary about being on my back under water. I want to overcome this and am looking for some advice. I need some exercises to try or something to think about to psych myself up for it. Breathing face down does not bother me at all - I never have a problem exhaling through my nose in that position. I hum all the time which helps. Any advice? (The second hurdle is the flip but I really think the first is the big one I need the most help with - will be asking my teacher for more help, but it's hard to get individual attention.)
Parents
Former Member
I'm trying to think and really the only time your "underwater on your back" is pushing off the turn in backstroke. Try going into the shallow end, push off the wall "under water on your back" arms over your head (hands hands lapover one another) and just streamline as far as you can and repeat. Or you can just go to the bottom of the pool lay on your back and stay there until you have to come up for air.
To keep water from going up your nose you can either blow bubble out the mouth, or what I do when I come out of a backstroke turn I turn my lip up like I smell something really bad until I surface.
A freestyle flip turn is just a summer-salt. Start by going as far into the deep end until you can just touch bottom any where in the pool - but far enough from the wall not to hit it. Then just do summer-salts sometimes someone will have to help by flipping your feet over while your doing it. People tend to summer -salt off to the side, you want your feet to go directly over your head. It will take a few time, but then you'll get it. After you can get the feel of doing it - start to swim toward the wall, it's okay if you flip turn to soon and can't push off, next time just get a little closer. You'll get the feel of it, once your feet touch the wall turn onto your stomach and push off. Keep repeating until your comfortable.
I'm trying to think and really the only time your "underwater on your back" is pushing off the turn in backstroke. Try going into the shallow end, push off the wall "under water on your back" arms over your head (hands hands lapover one another) and just streamline as far as you can and repeat. Or you can just go to the bottom of the pool lay on your back and stay there until you have to come up for air.
To keep water from going up your nose you can either blow bubble out the mouth, or what I do when I come out of a backstroke turn I turn my lip up like I smell something really bad until I surface.
A freestyle flip turn is just a summer-salt. Start by going as far into the deep end until you can just touch bottom any where in the pool - but far enough from the wall not to hit it. Then just do summer-salts sometimes someone will have to help by flipping your feet over while your doing it. People tend to summer -salt off to the side, you want your feet to go directly over your head. It will take a few time, but then you'll get it. After you can get the feel of doing it - start to swim toward the wall, it's okay if you flip turn to soon and can't push off, next time just get a little closer. You'll get the feel of it, once your feet touch the wall turn onto your stomach and push off. Keep repeating until your comfortable.
