Here is my story:
I am a 63-year old male who is looking to started swimming instruction. I was very afraid of the water growing up and avoided swimming lessons througout childhood and adolescence, although my two younger siblings learned without trouble. I was the typical shy, glasses-wearing nerd-type, tall and thin, with mostly intellectual interests. I did try several sports when young but didn't do well at any of them. I gave those up by tenth grade and have only walked for exercise since. I had zero water experience exxcept for some summertime wading in lakes.
I didn't learn to swim in high school, since none of the local high schools then required it. I often wonder what I would have done if they had.
After watching the 1972 Olympics, I finally decided to face my fear and, at age 27, enroll in an adult swimming class. Despite a humiliating experience in the first session ("OK, let's everyone swim down to the end of the pool and back.") I persevered and kept coming. That first session I submerged for the first time, simple but very scary. We worked on very basic skills. It took some courage just to open my eyes underwater.
I worked on the basic stuff, but never enjoyed it. There was minimal emphasis on building confidence and relaxation before moving on to stroke mechanics. We were introduced to deep-water adjustment skills, which I was not really ready for. They included descending the ladder to the bottom in the deep end, deep-water entry, and jumping off the diving board. The last two were terrifying. All I could think of was to get back and grab the side as soon as I could.
I never got totally comfortable with my face in the water. Every time I was in a prone in the water I thought of what it was like to drown.
Being in the prone position in the deep was especially scary. I just couldn't do it.
I took swimming classes off and on for about ten years with only modest success. I did learn the elementary back stroke and back crawl, but couldn't do any storkes on the front. I was given a kick board to practice the flutter kick but, despite much trying, couldn't move an inch. Strangely enough, I could kick across the pool, slowly, without using a board.
Parents
Former Member
This is a great thread... for people who are in your situation, as well as instructors who are trying to teach them. I hope you will continue to update it from time-to-time so that folks will continue to benefit from it.
The first thing I mention to anyone of any swimming level is:
Can you float on your back with your toes out of the water?
Once you can accomplish this you are well on your way to having a well balanced stroke... and IMHO good balance is one of the most important aspects of good swimming. (Most people, especially those without natural buoyancy, can only do this with their arms straight out "over your head" .)
Sounds like you finally got an instructor that will work for you (and a facility as well). They are spot-on with getting you able to float first... with confidence. Once you learn that you will always be able to stop and rest in any depth you can't stand in... whenever you need to. Once you get your confidence up, I believe the rest will be easy.
As you've pointed out, once you get motoring in the water the temperature will become less of an issue... which will make it easier to find facilities to practice in. It is fun to just float around and goof-off though... I do it all the time... I just simply enjoy the comfort of being in a near zero-g environment... especially a liquid one. We live on a "water planet", and we are made up mostly of water... it makes perfect sense to me to be able to take pleasure in that.
;)
This is a great thread... for people who are in your situation, as well as instructors who are trying to teach them. I hope you will continue to update it from time-to-time so that folks will continue to benefit from it.
The first thing I mention to anyone of any swimming level is:
Can you float on your back with your toes out of the water?
Once you can accomplish this you are well on your way to having a well balanced stroke... and IMHO good balance is one of the most important aspects of good swimming. (Most people, especially those without natural buoyancy, can only do this with their arms straight out "over your head" .)
Sounds like you finally got an instructor that will work for you (and a facility as well). They are spot-on with getting you able to float first... with confidence. Once you learn that you will always be able to stop and rest in any depth you can't stand in... whenever you need to. Once you get your confidence up, I believe the rest will be easy.
As you've pointed out, once you get motoring in the water the temperature will become less of an issue... which will make it easier to find facilities to practice in. It is fun to just float around and goof-off though... I do it all the time... I just simply enjoy the comfort of being in a near zero-g environment... especially a liquid one. We live on a "water planet", and we are made up mostly of water... it makes perfect sense to me to be able to take pleasure in that.
;)
