I'm a swimming teacher

[Starlitestarbright]

Hi feel free to ask me any questions. I teach learn to swim 3 upwards and school swimming.

PuttingDownRoots yes the framework isn't swimming focused until about stage 7. Where I work we have amended and added extras. For example stage 4 swimming they have to do 25metres frontcrawl and 25 metres backstroke, 10 metres butterfly and 10metres breastroke. Our stage 5 they have to swim 50 metres frontcrawl and 50 metres backstroke, 25 metres breastroke. Stage 6 is technique although they should have a good breathing technique for frontcrawl so working on arm stroke and refining it with drills same for breastroke, backstroke abd butterfly. Stage 7 is stamia and maintaining good technique. We do 100 metres 3 strokes 200 metres to strokes. We also do bronze gold silver and honours working towards 300 metres 400metres and 800metres. Majority of places do tend to add additional achievements for their stages.

MrsJessePinkmann
It's hard to say without actually seeing him swimming. If he is streamline in the water face down legs up blowing bubbles with big arms? If that was the case he would be atleast our stage 2 or stage 3. If he was doggy paddling then it could be he needs to work on his aquatic breathing and buoyancy inorder to process successfully to frontcrawl arm pull and leg kick. Best bet is speak to the teacher their could be a reason.

since Covid and lockdown it is now very difficult to get swimming lessons locally. My kids are on the waiting list but have not been able to access classes. I am not a strong swimmer myself but can get by. Any tips or resources of how a parent can help teach their kid how to swim?

MrsJessePinkmann can he swim with a. Float on his back.

Nearly choked on my drink laughing at the accuracy of this

Hollyhead
Do you take him swimming. If so try him in slightly deeper water with you if it is safe to do so. The reason he's sinking is because when he's breathing he's not kicking his legs fast enough maybe even keeping his head out too long. With my stage 2s we get a woggle and I tie it in a knot so it's a motorbike wheel, they hold the handle bars and kick across they work on lifting their head up and kicking then putting their face straight back in. I always say the floor is Lava.

Glitterkitten24 they is a massive shortage of teachers when lockdown hit many got jobs elsewhere. It's very hard to get decent teachers at the moment as the hours can be limited. You can try and teach them although sometimes kids don't always respond well to parents. Depends on the age of the childen but I'd make it fun to begin with get sinkers or toys and see if they can collect it off the bottom of the pool, get them to hold onto the side stretch out and kick their legs. You can buy woggles and get them to hold under their arms with a gap like a u shape and get them to kick across.

He does his big arms, he can cuddle a float on his back while kicking and moving well.

He can do a star float and hold it for a good minuet. He can a lot fetch rings/hoops off the floor. His water confidence is off the scale.

MrsJessePinkmann
Sounds like he needs to be in atleast a stage 2 speak to the teacher.

Thank you for your advice.

MrsJessePinkmann you're very welcome

Sorry I missed this, he’s not too bad on his back, I guess he can breath easier.
He also seems to want to swim under the water more than on the surface when he’s on his front.

It's not necessarily the case that you can't swim strongly or for long distances with your head out though. As a sixth former my friend and I did swimming for PE and used to swim about 800-1000 m every week non stop with our heads out so we could chat while doing so!

I'd still say being able to swim 25 metres with your head out without struggling makes you a stronger swimmer than someone who can swim 10 m with perfect technique. But my daughter was put with kids who couldn't swim at all simply because she wouldn't put her face in.

I have two questions if you have the time.

1, do you think it's essential for kids to complete all the levels if they aren't wanting to compete at any point?

2, what age should a child start lessons? My youngest has just turned 4 and is happy in the water but doesn't want to go in without me and start lessons. Will this hold him back at all?

Thanks!

And yes, funniest thing I've read for a while and I couldn't agree more!

DD10 is in Stage 6 but had a few months off due to other commitments. She’s gone back into Stage 6 and on her first lesson back her teacher said she’s swimming like a club swimmer!
what does this mean and if she wanted to go further what’s the next step?

Sorry, just to add, I feel I can’t ask the teacher as the next lesson starts immediately and she’s not the friendliest towards me! 😬

DS has just turned 3 and been having lessons since last summer. He has just moved up to classes where I’m not in the water with him (circumstances rather than him really being ready). Although he’s a good swimmer he’s not great at listening to the teachers and taking instruction, he just wants to do his own thing and jump in all the time.

Do you think it’s worth preserving with the lessons or take him out until he’s a little older. He loves the water but I’m worried without having the lesson to go to he will hardly gave chance to get in the pool as I have a newborn and can’t go swimming with them both alone.

Middle aged lady here. I LOVE swimming. I can swim. But how do I get really good?

adulthumanfemalemum are taking about breastroke by any chance? I see many adults swimming this with their heads our I don't get it personally your not doing much work on your muscles but you can maintain some level of body position because of the leg kick. I can't see how you could swim the distance you described doing frontcrawl and keep a conversation going without being utterly exhausted. Personally I like quality over quantity. I'd rather have a strong frontcrawl and short distance then several lengths of mediocre swimming with no face in and no technique. I suspect many swimming teachers will be the same as me.

Solow12 you could look at a club there's different levels, theres amateurs clubs which you would start at and they would assess you move you along their lanes. Usually a club will have a feeder club to a more higher level standard of swimming usually your invited to try out for it totally depends on your local area. However if she's had alot of time off it's something that would need commitment and going to sessions every week. If you don't and miss several weeks that stamia is lost.

Hopingforbetterluck I'd take him out if he's struggling to follow instructions see how he develops in the next 6 months then try again.

SunnyDaysAheadGang
Practice practice practice. What are you wanting help with in particular?

Interesting thread! I start my level 2 swim teaching course next week. How many hours a week do you work and what do you earn?

How long usually stage 1 swimming lessons last? till moving to next stage?

I have a question please!

My child is older but has never done swimming lessons, I’ve taught him to swim myself and we go a lot so he is competent. Can swim 10m underwater but I thought would benefit from some lessons to improve and progress. Local swim school has said they will automatically put him into stage 2, rather than anything higher. This seems pointless to me and a waste of money when he can already swim. They’re refusing to budge as they don’t want him to lose confidence if they place him too highly. Is there any logic to this? He’s very confident in water, swims in the deep pool on holiday etc.

Thanks so much x

isthisit83 I work 24 hours a week, 5 days a week Monday- Friday I do school swimming in the afternoon 1-3 then learn 2 swim on the evenings. I work back to back to my dh so I do the school run and have the mornings off. I get £9.50 for school swimming which is a disgrace and £12.75 for learn to swim it is contracted hours. Previously I was self employed for a swim school and was on £15hr no holidays and if the pool shut I didn't get paid. I'm in the North East. I do think we need to get paid more especially school swimming for the responsibility we have. I'm also aware I'm lucky I have the amount of hours I do not many teachers get as many house.