I can't swim very well; i can barely swim at all.. help?

Question

My parents never made me take lessons when I was really young, like most parents do. (around ages of 4 or 5 they start). Well; I didn't start to take lessons till I was 12. =/
I was in a class with a bunch of little kids and believe me I sucked. It was so hard, I took lessons for two years and well I didn't pass the one grade. So, I can float a little and do the breast stroke but not well. Worse part, I can;t tread deep water at all, i'll stink, can't do freestyle, side swim, back swim, whatever can't.
Problem is, I;m going to be a freshman next year and I'm taking summer gym because we have to swim. I'm afraid of embarassing myself since I cant swim and with all the other people who can I'm gonna humiliate myself. it's madatory to swim. =[ I'm scared.

=/

I'm 14 now but I doubt I still remember how to do the breast stroke. =/

It's too late to take classes; Summer gym begins right after schoool lets out.

Answer 1

If it is mandatory to take swimming then they should have a section for those of you who cannot swim. Your gym teacher or whoever will be teaching the swimming portion now has a good reason to help you out - its her JOB! In order to make swimming mandatory, your school must provide proper instruction. Chances are that when you go tot he pool your first day you will be swim tested. Based on your abilities the class will be broken into smaller groups, each with an instructor and level. The groups will go their own ways and work on their own skills. Don't look at this as a scary situation but rather as FREE swimming lessons! You will be with a qualified instructor on school time. Relax, take your time and look at this as an opportunity to learn. You could walk away from summer gym knowing how to swim and that'd be better than anything I ever learned in english or math!!!

Don't be afraid of being embarassed. You've got the will to learn so think of this as your opportunity. Get stoked about learning to swim!!! When your friends ask say "yeah I can't really swim well but I'm hoping this class will help me out!" What can they say to that?? I'm sure there are things you can do that they can't do so well. Keep that in mind ( =

Good luck!!!

Answer 2

I have been on the local swim team since i was 4 and I was sooo scared to swim, but finally, i got over it. Sry i can't like come over there and teach you how to swim, even though i would like to. If i were you, maybe find a friend who has a pool, or find a place with a pool that u can use. If anything, try your best to learn. Dont be embarrased if you get laughed at by other kids, just think " ya well it is either i die from not swimming, or put up with humiliation." Just remember like Nemo says " Just keep swimming"!!!!

Answer 3

You can learn to swim if you are really determined to learn. I was 11 when I first attended a school with an indoor swimming pool. I was stuck in the shallow end with 2 other nonswimmers. I was embarassed and so I overcame my fear of the water by practicing staying underwater in my bathtub. Later I did learn to swim at Boy Scout summer camp. Two years later I earned my swimming merit badge.

Answer 4

At your age you will need adult swim lessons.

And you know you need to do this.


It starts with you making a decision that"I WILL get over my fear and try my best"
"I WILL SWIM!"

Check out your local YMCA or City Parks and Recreation Department or local community center pool.

Ask for somenone who specializes in Fearful Adults, who has training, experience, and patience. Not everyone who teaches children's swim lessons has what it takes to work with fearful adults. This is a specailized skill.

This is not about getting rid of fear, this is about having COURAGE. Courage is when you have fear and you work THROUGH it.

You have to understand that you will have a small degree of fear whenver you try something new. Courage is the inner strength to try anyway, and know there a way out.

Small steps, one thing at a time.

Tell your instructor exactly what you are afraid of, and they should be able to tell you their plan to help you. You should feel safe at all times.

And if it's not a good match , try someone else until you get someone you feel safe with.

I admire your courage for taking on this challenge!

Answer 5

Check into swim classes at your local YMCA or neighborhood pool. My 9 year old brother died drowning when I was 6 years old. Every summer after that my parents made me take swim lessons which I hated and never passed. I was TERRIFIED of the water. Finally when I was 10 or 11 I made up my mind to get over the fear and over a couple of weeks taught myself to swim.

Take it slowly and one day at a time and ignore anyone who teases you. You will be swimming before you know it!

Answer 6

some of the cross training u can do to help u with ur swimming is running and wieght lifting u can also do some bike riding when u swim free make sure u extend ur arms and keep ur finger together when u pull have ur elbow just slightly bent and use ur shoulders one of the best things to help u with ur swimming is to make sure u have a strong steady kick and when u swim make sure u rotate that is one of the most important things that and kicking will improve ur swimming incredibly trust me with this i've been swimming for 8 years now and i placed top 25 in the state i swim year round one thing that will help u alot is just being in the water and getting used to it to be able to tred water use the brest stroke kick and move ur arms back and forth vary quickly one other thing that will really help ur swimming is if u stream line of the wall so when u puch off the wall do a nice steady dolphin kick and hook ur arms together with ur head inbetween and squeaze then make sure u pull with the arm that is on the bottom that way u can have a better brake out and you will go farther

Answer 7

i learned how to swim when i was 14 by joing a swim team they taught me all the strokes and how to breathe and stuff like that....you should join a team...do a swim team search for your area....it will also keep you in great shape...swimming works every muscle in your body!!!

MUAH*

Answer 8

take some swim classes or just keep trying dont let people making fun of you hurt your feelings!!!

good Luck
\
i know you can do it