Teaching an Adult to Swim

[CoolBee]

A friend of mine has asked me to teach him to swim.

I'm not qualified to teach swimming, but in this neck of the woods, there is no such thing as 'public pools' and no such thing as 'swimming teachers of adults'.

Does anyone have any good resources we could check out on the internet re breathing, technique etc? I don't think "copy me" is going to work!

PS he has zero body fat so I'm worried he might not be able to do it as I had a friend years ago with no body fat and he used to sink all the time and never did learn to swim. Me, I have plenty of 'natural bouyancy'.

[ginkgo]

I know that he has 5% bodyfat since below that he would be dead. So I have that also and that makes me get cold easily unlike chunkier (fatter) people. But I am a great swimmer. The bodyfat gives you the ability to lie like a dead fish and float.

So first get him in water that is not over his head. First he will learn that he is great at holding breath and swimming underwater. Have him do that. He holds his breath and swims underwater like a fish.

Then you can teach him to tread water. You can use hands and legs to tread water. I can tread water with just my legs and no arms or just legs. But he can use both. That prevents him from drowning.

Then you can teach him to do the doggie paddle and other swim techniques that he will never use like the breast stroke and backstroke. The only thing that causes people to drown in still water is panic. The guy who knows how to swim does not panic.

Who is qualified to teach a dog to swim? The dog just follows instinct. Man also has that instinct but when he in water and says to himself "I do not know how to swim and will drown" he panics and drowns. Grasshopper (kung fu student) had to walk a plank like a balance beam over water and he had no problem. Then he had to walk the plank above acid that would burn him. He fell in, but he did not burn. It was really water. The master said that his fear pulled him into it.

Are you qualified to teach a baby how to creep (like a worm), crawl or walk? I am qualified and officially certified to teach people to fall off of a log. But I can't get any students.

[ssandra]

You could try with him wearing a life vest until he has got the movements under control.

This way he can practice without (you) fearing to drown.

And yes, I think in part it is as simple as "copy me", although it would also take some explanation.

Get him on a picknick table with just his upper body on it. Show him how to move his arms and legs and correct him if he is wrong.

Throw him in the water with the life jacket and voila, he is swimming

After a while, when he manages to go back and forward you can go without life jacket.

Make him hold on to something that floats with his hands so he can practice what his feet should do.

When he has that under control tell him to let go with his hands...


Remember to practice a lot once he learned how, otherwise he will forget when he accidentally falls into water and that is not the intention here.

[davidchung]

Here are some videos you may find helpful:

How to Swim: Video Series | eHow Videos

[CoolBee]

Thanks I'll pass the video links on.

That's a good point about the bodyfat and feeling the cold - I know he will feel the cold so I have emailed him and said he might need to consider buying a suitable swimming top (neoprene or something) as the pool is outdoors and a suitable robe for when he gets out the water.

I need to find out where we can get floats here so I've put a couple of messages out for that one. But yes good point. Not sure I'll get him on the picnick table to practice strokes

[funchy]

Have him wear a lifejacket and use a foam kickboard for now. I'd also suggest working in shallower water. You don't need to be in deep to swim. This way if he gets uncomfortable, he can just stand up. I'd also suggest working in water without a current, if possible.

[CoolBee]

We will be in a pool but its a private club not public so there won't be currents to worry about. However, there are no life guards so I will definitely be keeping him to the shallow end even though he's pretty tall.
I think if he can find a neoprene vest that would be good because it's got a bit of flotation in it as well as keeping him a bit warmer.

[samanthajo]

Hi, I'm new to these forums, but stumbled upon your post and wanted to contribute my thoughts. I'm a Red Cross certified Water Safety Instructor, which encompasses teaching children and adults to swim. The curriculum has six levels. The descriptions are available here, "http://www.beachmont.org/ministries/swimming/2009swimminglevels.pdf."

Most adults are capable of propelling themselves in the water. In my experience, the single most important thing to teach someone with very little body fat is that their kick is just as, if not more important than their arm movements. I've known a few sinkers who use their arm muscles to pull them forward, and they wear out quickly. Most adults won't panic in the water, but you're making a good decision if you utilize the shallow end.

This article is pretty accurate, but you can obtain Red Cross and other organizations "learn to swim" literature on amazon.com, as well.

How to Teach Yourself to Swim - A Guide for Adult Beginners - Associated Content - associatedcontent.com

Make sure there's a way to contact emergency authorities, just in case. :-)

[JMonkey]

The key is getting breathing techniques right. Most people can pick up front crawl fairly easy, practing coordination and you're there. But the breathing is always a pain, swallowing water and such.

Also get him to practice holding his breathe under water, it helps improve lung capacity and useful in times when you can't get to open air quickly.

[ssandra]

Originally Posted by CoolBee

Not sure I'll get him on the picnick table to practice strokes

If you do, don't forget the camera!