What first lessons would you give to an adult who completely don't know how to swim?

Answer 1

I am a professional lifeguard and swimming instructor. The first thing that I teach adults is to relax in the water. Getting used to being in the water is a big step. We then work on getting their faces wet. Then we move to breath control, taking a breath of air on the surface, putting their face in the water and "blowing bubbles" out under water. Many adults are terrified to put their faces in the water. After we get comfortable with the water, I start teaching them to float on their backs. There is only a small percentage of folks that cannot float. Most can, it may not be pretty, and it may not be flat, but they float. Once you get that skill, the rest comes pretty easy. I usually get adults jumping off the diving board within the first two lessons, to show them that they will come up to the surface and then have them float on their backs and kick to the side. After we cross that the rest comes pretty easy.

Answer 2

What i would suggest, is start slow. Stay in the shallow water, and try to swim where you're still comfortable. There, you'll be able to put your feet down at any point if you're sinking.

Practice holding your breath underwater. A lot of adults who don't know how to swim, have close calls because they accidently breath underwater. You can, of course, let air out underwater (blowing bubbles) but you should learn your level of endurance.

Also, there's no shame in taking a couple of swim lessons. Ask at your local public pool about their swimming program. They should have instructors that are good at working with adults, the more experianced "high level" instructors generally do. By High level, i mean they teach advanced classes. You want them because they'll be able to explain to you more the mechanics of swimming, why things work, and how to stay above water. Teachers who usually teach "beginners" are mostly just good with kids.

Most importantly, do your research. You can learn a lot about the mechanis of swimming just from reading about it. The link below should help.

If you have kids, or think you might one day, please take this very serriously.

Answer 3

Ok you are asking the right person. I have given swimming lessons before and the very first thing that they need to learn is how to float. You had to lear how to crawl before you walk right. Well If I was on a ship that was going down and I did not know how to swim I would rather float.

Floating will teach the person breath control. Breathing out will make them sink and breathing in will keep them afloat. It will also help them loose their fear of the water due to it hitting their face. When you are teaching them how to float keep your hand on the midle of their back and support them if you have to. Tell them to spread their arms and bring their feet up. Have them do that several times just to get the hang of it. They pass floating after they are able to do that for 3 minutes without help.
The Next step before swimming is treading water. Again have them do that for 3 minutes before learning how to swim. Good luck with your friend

Answer 4

"Doggie paddle", which is using the arms and legs by moving them back and forth in swimming to stay a float. This is a natural motion to start swimming. Do this in the shallow end of the pool. Do not go anywhere in the pool where the person cannot stand up and have their head above water, this is very important for their safety and to minimize fears.

Also, practice floating (still in the shallow end) on the back. It is easier to float if the swimmer takes in a deep breath of air and holds it for a moment while beginning to float.

Answer 5

1. learn to trust that your body can float
(a good trick is to stand in the water, take a deep breath and hold, bend at the waist and have your hand grab your ankle)
automatically, if you haven't eaten a huge breakfast, your feet will rise from the pool bottom and your back will skim the top of the water.
2. learn to float and kick. pools built for learning how to swim will have a ledge at water level that you can grip while getting your body to float. you can use floatation devices but it's better to hold on to a fixed edge.
3. learn how to put your face under water and breathe out thru your mouth and not the nose.
4. tread water
5. take professional swim lessons. usually not very expensive.

Answer 6

Teach them that they can float, and how far they can keep their head above water, depending on how much air they have in their lungs.

Then teach them to tread water (kick legs, and move arms back and forth)

Then teach them to exhale under water, come up, and take a breath (I *hated* that part of swimming lessons when I was a kid)

They have to learn all that before doing something like dog paddling, or real swimming.

.

Answer 7

The following are basic progressions for a swimmer used in swimming lessons.

1.) Movement in water (walking or running)
2.) Front & Back floats
3.) Front to Back floats (like a pancake flip)
4.) Front and Back glides (no kicks)
5.) Front and Back glides (with kicks)

Best of luck!

Answer 8

If you live in the U.S., try the YMCA or YWCA - they usually give lessons at a very reasonable price. Also, the Red Cross offers them.

Check with a local swim club or private swimming pool; they sometimes offer lesson too.

Answer 9

Way i learned my old man threw me in and said swim or drown i learned to dog-paddle real quick ( some people were raised by parent whom were also scared of the water so you might have a tough time) My suggestion take em to deep-end and throw em in

Answer 10

Start with floating then a kick board. After that treading water and the doggy paddle until finally they start to fully incorporate their arms in the crawl stroke.