Inquiry Questions
1. What are the first steps one should take to learn to swim?
Through my research and experience, the first steps should be to get the proper gear: goggles, swimwear that you feel comfortable in, paddle board or noodle. My mentor is the one told me that my mindset, as I begin learning how to swim, was going to determine my outcome. He was correct. This became my focus from that point on. From my experience, finding a swimming pool where you will feel safe and comfortable swimming in is also extremely important.
2. How do breathe when you are swimming?
This was my shortcoming. When using the goggles that covered my nose, I didn't have to many problems; however once I went in the water without the goggles, it was a different story. The most consistent information that I learned through my research was to exhale through my nose and mouth, while underwater, and inhale through the mouth as I tilt, not lift, my head above the surface of the water. As recommended, I practiced some breathing drills in the shower and in the pool. This is the part that I definitely have to continue working on to improve my swimming.
3. How long does it usually take to learn how to swim?
No where in my research did I find a definitive answer to this question. It all depends on what type of swimmer you are striving to become and how many hours a week you spend practicing. In five weeks, 2-3 hours a week, I learned how to float, and swim freestyle. I must admit, my form isn't perfect and I need to work on my breathing, but I surpassed my personal goal.
4. Is learning to float important to learning how to swim?
Floating as a prerequisite to learn to swim wasn't implicitly stated in any of my research, but it was mentioned several times how floating would be beneficial in taking those first steps in swimming. I did ask my mentor, and he stated that I didn't have to, but that it would greatly increase my comfort in the water, and benefit my efforts in learning how to swim. Some of my research videos were just on floating, which were extremely beneficial. Learning to float was one of my first tasks in my project.
5. Is there a “proper” form?
Yes, there is "proper" form. for swimming freestyle, the breaststroke, the backstroke and so on. Form has to do with the extension and rotation of the arms and legs, and the movement of the body, according to the style of swim, in order to properly propel your body forward. I focused on the freestyle form, since I was a beginner. On triradar.com, I found an excellent article that had several step-by-step pictures of what the arm and hand movement should look like when entering the water, in the water and exiting the water. That really helped me as a reference point when I was actually in the water.
6. How important is conditioning?
Most of my research was focused on beginning adult swimmers and they didn't touch upon this topic very much. Some of my video research covered some drills to perform before swimming, which I found helpful. Through my experience, I do believe that conditioning is important. Treading water and propelling your body forward in water isn't an easy feat. I would leave my 1 1/2 to 2 hours swimming lessons exhausted.
7. What do expert swimmers advise to someone learning how to swim?
Have a growth mindset and overcome fear of water are the two pieces of advise I received from my mentor, a swim instructor and a great article, "Adults Struggle to Overcome Lifelong Fear of Swimming" by Michael Popke, that started me off on the right track from my project. As I mentioned in an earlier blog, I had never considered mindset to be part of this process. I believe in this concept, but I never made the connection to this project until the first conversation I had with my mentor. That was his only piece of advise he gave me to start. In Popke's article, he discussed how some adult swimming programs begin with drills and learning different forms. He states that programs for beginning adult swimmers need to start by helping the new adult swimmer overcome their fear of water and building their comfort in the water.
Popke, M. (2009, April 1). Adults Struggle to Overcome Lifelong Fear of Swimming. Athletic Business.
1. What are the first steps one should take to learn to swim?
Through my research and experience, the first steps should be to get the proper gear: goggles, swimwear that you feel comfortable in, paddle board or noodle. My mentor is the one told me that my mindset, as I begin learning how to swim, was going to determine my outcome. He was correct. This became my focus from that point on. From my experience, finding a swimming pool where you will feel safe and comfortable swimming in is also extremely important.
2. How do breathe when you are swimming?
This was my shortcoming. When using the goggles that covered my nose, I didn't have to many problems; however once I went in the water without the goggles, it was a different story. The most consistent information that I learned through my research was to exhale through my nose and mouth, while underwater, and inhale through the mouth as I tilt, not lift, my head above the surface of the water. As recommended, I practiced some breathing drills in the shower and in the pool. This is the part that I definitely have to continue working on to improve my swimming.
3. How long does it usually take to learn how to swim?
No where in my research did I find a definitive answer to this question. It all depends on what type of swimmer you are striving to become and how many hours a week you spend practicing. In five weeks, 2-3 hours a week, I learned how to float, and swim freestyle. I must admit, my form isn't perfect and I need to work on my breathing, but I surpassed my personal goal.
4. Is learning to float important to learning how to swim?
Floating as a prerequisite to learn to swim wasn't implicitly stated in any of my research, but it was mentioned several times how floating would be beneficial in taking those first steps in swimming. I did ask my mentor, and he stated that I didn't have to, but that it would greatly increase my comfort in the water, and benefit my efforts in learning how to swim. Some of my research videos were just on floating, which were extremely beneficial. Learning to float was one of my first tasks in my project.
5. Is there a “proper” form?
Yes, there is "proper" form. for swimming freestyle, the breaststroke, the backstroke and so on. Form has to do with the extension and rotation of the arms and legs, and the movement of the body, according to the style of swim, in order to properly propel your body forward. I focused on the freestyle form, since I was a beginner. On triradar.com, I found an excellent article that had several step-by-step pictures of what the arm and hand movement should look like when entering the water, in the water and exiting the water. That really helped me as a reference point when I was actually in the water.
6. How important is conditioning?
Most of my research was focused on beginning adult swimmers and they didn't touch upon this topic very much. Some of my video research covered some drills to perform before swimming, which I found helpful. Through my experience, I do believe that conditioning is important. Treading water and propelling your body forward in water isn't an easy feat. I would leave my 1 1/2 to 2 hours swimming lessons exhausted.
7. What do expert swimmers advise to someone learning how to swim?
Have a growth mindset and overcome fear of water are the two pieces of advise I received from my mentor, a swim instructor and a great article, "Adults Struggle to Overcome Lifelong Fear of Swimming" by Michael Popke, that started me off on the right track from my project. As I mentioned in an earlier blog, I had never considered mindset to be part of this process. I believe in this concept, but I never made the connection to this project until the first conversation I had with my mentor. That was his only piece of advise he gave me to start. In Popke's article, he discussed how some adult swimming programs begin with drills and learning different forms. He states that programs for beginning adult swimmers need to start by helping the new adult swimmer overcome their fear of water and building their comfort in the water.
Popke, M. (2009, April 1). Adults Struggle to Overcome Lifelong Fear of Swimming. Athletic Business.