Do you feel that despite regular visits to swimming pools, your child hasn’t improved their swimming ability? Or have you noticed them gasping for breath and exhausted after swimming just a short distance? At Sports Generation, our coaches often detect common mistakes among new swimmers who previously attended other swim schools. We believe these mistakes hinder progress and become ingrained habits if not corrected. Let’s explore the top five common mistakes we frequently observe in swimmers.
5 common mistakes swimmers make
1. Sinky Legs for Front Crawl and Backstroke
Body position is crucial in swimming. ‘Sinky’ legs cause excessive drag, slowing you down and expending more energy. Achieving a flat body position is vital for ease in front crawl and backstroke. Relaxation, especially in your legs, is key to attaining this position.
2. ‘Super bendy knees’ kicking For Front Crawl and Backstorke
While you might assume vigorous kicking increases speed, relying solely on the lower half of your leg leads to inefficient progress through the water and quicker fatigue. Maintain relatively straight legs with a slight bend, initiating kicks from the hip rather than the knees. Practice rhythmic kicks with relaxed ankles and pointed toes. Note: This doesn’t apply to breaststroke, where bent knees and flexed toes are essential for powerful kicking.
3. No bubbles under water
Submerging your face in water feels markedly different from being on land, leading us to instinctively hold our breath for protection. The absence of bubbles from your nose or mouth underwater signifies the need to inhale and exhale upon resurfacing for breath. This habit often results in inadequate air intake and disrupts swimming rhythm. Hence, frequent practice of ‘blowing bubbles’ is integral in swimming lessons, commencing with non-swimmers. Even experienced swimmers tend to hold their breath when concentrating, necessitating constant reminders to check for bubbles. Once this becomes second nature, you’ll swim longer, faster, and without the exhaustion of heavy breathing upon cessation. Who would not want that?
4. Lifting head to breathe
What’s wrong with lifting your head to breathe, you might ask? Everything! This action disrupts your body position and rhythm; excessive head lifting breaks away from streamline form, causing your legs to start sinking. As you’re aware, sinking legs impede your speed. Therefore, learning to turn your head to the side for quick and efficient inhalation is essential to mastering the front crawl. Keeping your head level with the water enables seamless breathing during front crawl.
5. Moving Arms too fast
This might seem counter-intuitive, but slowing down initially is key to swimming efficiently. Pulling your arm out too quickly results in shorter strokes, causing faster fatigue without covering much distance.
Most bad habits stem from inadequate quality swimming lessons. Swimming is a lifelong skill, making it crucial to rectify incorrect techniques early. Our knowledgeable coaches can help your child unlearn these habits and improve their skills, ensuring a lifetime of efficient and comfortable swimming. We look forward to welcoming you poolside!
For information regarding our approach and availability contact us or call us 0208 940 9431.