Getting into swimming?

Question

hey i am in 8th grade right now, i play basketball and football, center in basketball, and tight end in football. I am 6 ft 3 and very tall for my age. Anyway, i have been told a lot that i have a swimmer's body and that i should try it (broad shoulders, long arms, long legs, flat feet, etc) anyway, i was thinking about getting into swimming but i dont know how good i would be...

i took swimming lessons when i was little and i know most of the strokes, just i probably dont have very good form, and i dont know the associated kicks

i was also wondering how i could get good before or during high school ( i dont wanna suck and look like a retard in the pool) or if you think i would be good

i am/have been lifting weights the past months if that means anything

thanks for all the advice guys, my dad was a big swimmer in high school and won a bunch of high school medals and things, so i figure he would know what hes talking about if he helps me out on swimming.

Answer 1

you would be good

Answer 2

High school swim teams are generally very competitive, but there were definately people on my team this year that had never swam (swum?) before, so it probably wouldn't be too bad if you just joined the team.
Or, if you don't want to do that, you could sign up for swimming lessons at a community center or something.
There are also tons of swim videos that you could borrow and watch that work on the strokes and stuff.
As for how good you would be... I'm not really sure.

Answer 3

well I'm taking lifeguarding lessons right now, and like you, i havn't taken swimming lessons in years. I'm in 10th grade, i took them in P-K to 3rd grade when my school closed down and i went to another school without a pool. Anyway, when I got there we had to swim 550 yards in the pool using a brest stroke and the front crawl/ freestyle stroke. needless to say, my stroke was a complete disaster, i didn't even remember how the strokes were done until i looked it up on youtube the day before the physical test. So my instructor told me to come in on Mondays (my classes are Thursdays and some Wednesdays) to get some extra practice. i literally fixed mosty of my problems overnight on the first monday, and now I'm right up ther with the rest of the class, i only got one question wrong on the written test i took last night. So if you have a basic idea of what the strokes are, you should be alright, but if i were you, go to your local gym if they have a pool, or another public indoor pool, and see if they offer any classes, i'm 100% sure it would help, my stroke is still not perfect, i still have to work on using my left arm more effectively, and kick just a little faster, but i"ve got it down atleast 95%. You'll do fine. As for weight lifting, don't bother, it won't help you much. You'll work out the muscles you need for swimming while swimming. weights will make your arms sore and you won't be able to swim as well, thus creating bad habits later on. I'm not saying don't lift weights, but i mean do it in moderation, like don't lift weights the day before you swim. go to the gym and swim for a 1/2 hour a day or so. I go on Saturdays right before work. So i swim 3x a week total.

Answer 4

ummm its extremely hard to tell if people will be god at swimming or not. its mostly technique though, so.. i dont know.
the most sure way you have to get good before high school is to join a very competitive team. you have to realize that you cant expect to get good if swimming is just going to be a side sport. you have to actually devote time towards it. and then there gets to be the point where your not going to improve unless you practice like 6 hours a week.

aside form that, it doesnt matter if you make a fool of yourself in the pool, swimming is for your own purposes, it could be just as beneficial to you as it is to someone who has been swimming for years and years.
so i hope this helps, and good luck.
oh and if you do join a team, you will learn the proper kicks and strokes and everything pretty quickly, but getting good will take time.


oh and talldarkandhyandsome just incase you see this, your an idiot, and i hate you

Answer 5

Go to your local swimming pool and start doing training. Just say your like a late bloomer and just need help getting your technique perfect and work hard for half a year. Do at least three times a week and your will be good in half a year- a year.

I mean, you have to have natural talent. Just because your look like a swimmer doesn't make you one so go and try, and you will soon find out...

P.S lifting weights will help a lot.

Answer 6

Ok, start in the spring, not the winter because it is colder, and your body likes warmer weather. Get someone to help you learn your strokes like a close friend. Someone that you like to be around that knows how to do them properly without pulling the wrong muscles.
There are different types of strokes used for different things. If you were stranded in the ocean you would want strokes that don't take a lot of energy. Another type is for races which, in this case you will use more muscles and more parts of your body will help you.
The different strokes are: the butterfly (used for races, uses a lot of energy), the breast stroke (don't be fooled by the name it is very helpful), the side stroke, freestyle(races most of the time), and some others that I forgot.
There are also different kicks for the strokes. For the breast stroke there is a froggie kick where your legs are like frog legs, kinda. Then there is the scissor kick for the side-stroke, and then for the butterfly your legs are like a dolphins tail; they go in a wave motion. For the other strokes your legs will just go up and down. To help move you forward.
Out of all the strokes, I would say that the butterfly is the hardest for me because I have no upper-body strength whatsoever, but you might be able to do it. Your arms go in a giant circle around next to your hips and your head. You kinda have to lift your body out of the water. While doing all of that your legs are doing the dolphin kick. Most of the time everything on me is sore. :O) . Hope I helped.

Answer 7

Sorry if this sounds obtrusive, yet a modern-day with regards to swimming? Even some thing much less costly, like a swim cap or goggles would in all possibility be ok. in case you dont like that concept, see in the experience that your interior reach activities save that deals with swimming supplies present vouchers-if so, only provide him slightly income voucher type.

Answer 8

Join a local ymca swim team & try it out.
If you are 6'3" you will touch out people in races and usually are faster pushing off the wall in flip turns.
Try out all the strokes for best times at 25,50,& 100yards(or meters). keep a list of yer best times & try to improve on them. Get some DVD's from the library on swimming, they help with technique. It doesn't matter how good you are as a freshman all you need to do is practice & improve technique & then your times will improve with experience.
I am only 5'9" & weigh 175lbs but I keep up with faster swimmers because of good technique. I swim masters swim meets for best times & ocean races which are 1 mile races.

Answer 9

take a refresher course at your local recreation center, or ask a friend that has a pool, look in yellow pages under swimming and you might find some place that you can pay by the hour, practice some laps , enjoy yourself, build up your swimming endurance and then try out for the school team. i am sure you will do fine and make the team, just have fun and enjoy yourself...

Answer 10

well you had the same situation as me if you have any friend swimmers ask then to train you and teach you all the techniques of each stroke and working out for swimming will help if you do the right work outs. for ex. do soulder work outs light weight 40 reps 2 sets of 40 and then go on to another 4 shoulder work out then move to legs with light weight and reps of 40 2 sets then finally work your core because the stronger your core is the stronger other parts of your body get and it will improve any sport you play

Answer 11

Your thinking of all the reasons not to do it. Your young enough to do what ever you put your mind to, and besides swimming is the best exercise you can give your body, and it's a lot of fun, next to horse back riding. GO FOR IT, if you don't like it don't fool yourself with so many excuses. Where there is a will there is a way, where there is no will there are excuses.

peace