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.)
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... 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....
There are a variety of ways to do a flip turn when approaching the wall on your stomach. One of them involves rotating as you flip, which means you will not be face up in the water very long. Your instructor or coach should be able to help you gradually learn this technique. Breaking any swimming technique into basic parts and becoming confident in each individual part before you combine them all together is the general principal behind the American Red Cross method of swimming instruction (as well as most all other useful methods).
Your instructor or coach will probably also have some tips for overcoming your fear of getting water up your nose (as well as swimming on your back). You may be able to come up with some ideas of your own, you just need to get creative and try to think outside the box.
The first thought I had was for you to do some kick drills on your back (any kick will do, flutter, whip, or dolphin). Hold onto a kick-board (for support) with your arms out straight in front of you as you kick on your back. As you get comfortable with that, then try pressing your shoulders down so your face is momentarily submerged. You will need to blow air out your nose to keep the water from coming in. Work up to it slowly, and be patient.
If your fear is extreme enough you may want to also wear a flotation belt for extra security and support. You could wear a flotation vest instead if necessary, but this will make it difficult to get your face under water.
I regularly use a modified version of this drill (no kick-board with a dolphin kick on my back) to help with my fly practice, and also to practice being face up under water. The undulating motion of the dolphin kick makes it easy for me to regularly dip my face under water. I don’t have a problem with flip turns, but in coming off the wall for backstroke I frequently cannot let the air out slow enough, and find myself racing to the surface for air. With regular practice however, I’m much better at it now than I was a few years ago.
... 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....
There are a variety of ways to do a flip turn when approaching the wall on your stomach. One of them involves rotating as you flip, which means you will not be face up in the water very long. Your instructor or coach should be able to help you gradually learn this technique. Breaking any swimming technique into basic parts and becoming confident in each individual part before you combine them all together is the general principal behind the American Red Cross method of swimming instruction (as well as most all other useful methods).
Your instructor or coach will probably also have some tips for overcoming your fear of getting water up your nose (as well as swimming on your back). You may be able to come up with some ideas of your own, you just need to get creative and try to think outside the box.
The first thought I had was for you to do some kick drills on your back (any kick will do, flutter, whip, or dolphin). Hold onto a kick-board (for support) with your arms out straight in front of you as you kick on your back. As you get comfortable with that, then try pressing your shoulders down so your face is momentarily submerged. You will need to blow air out your nose to keep the water from coming in. Work up to it slowly, and be patient.
If your fear is extreme enough you may want to also wear a flotation belt for extra security and support. You could wear a flotation vest instead if necessary, but this will make it difficult to get your face under water.
I regularly use a modified version of this drill (no kick-board with a dolphin kick on my back) to help with my fly practice, and also to practice being face up under water. The undulating motion of the dolphin kick makes it easy for me to regularly dip my face under water. I don’t have a problem with flip turns, but in coming off the wall for backstroke I frequently cannot let the air out slow enough, and find myself racing to the surface for air. With regular practice however, I’m much better at it now than I was a few years ago.
