How To Swim Free Style (thank you EAP)

First things first, you need to find a body of water, preferably a pool, to swim in. You also need to get clothes on that won’t drag too much or else you will be slow regardless of how well you swim; suggested clothes would be a swim suit for both the boys and girls. Goggles are optional but are recommended for eyes to stay open and not be irritated by chlorine in the pool or other debris in various bodies of water. Check that you have everything on correctly, and that you have no other accessories on that would cause drag (i.e. bracelets, watches, etc.). Once you have all needed materials, including the pool, get into the shallow water.

One of the most important parts of freestyle is floating on top of the water. To accomplish this lay on your back and keep head backwards. DO NOT LOOK UP! If your head moves up your feet will drop and your body will be submerged under water. Once flotation on back is complete, flip over with your head under water. Keeping the same exact position is key when floating on your stomach. Now that you know how to float let’s get into how to kick; toes need to be firmly pointed so that your leg is straight. Go back into floating position and kick your legs but keep your leg straight with only a little bend in the knee with each kick. You should now be able to go some distance with your body straight on top the water and just kicking your legs. 

By now you have half of your stroke down but we still need the pull, which is done by the arms. You need to lie on your stomach, as before, and keep your hands in front of you. To begin, pull one arm back; while doing this push as much water back with your hand as you possibly can and break the surface of the water.  As you pull back, you should be turning, which would make your other arm stretch out as far as it can go. THE TURN SHOULD START AT YOUR SHOULDER AND FLOW DOWN YOUR ENTIRE BODY! This is called completing the stroke. That is a rough example of how to pull. To perfect the pull, flip up your wrist when it breaks the water’s surface; this will give a lot more power and it is proper technique. To make sure your arms are going back far enough, glide your thumb across your thigh every time your arm comes back.  Always keep your hand in a cup like form, this will allow you to push more water out of the way and won’t slap the surface of the water as it goes in.

Once you have accomplished this, you need to know how to breathe. Simply take a breath TO THE SIDE of your body, NOT THE FRONT. It should be into your armpit when your arm is in the arch above the water. Make sure you breathe into the arm that is in the stroke, not the one that is recovering (the one in the water). This cannot be accomplished correctly if you do not turn as instructed. We now need to put everything together. Float in the water with your head down, and then start taking strokes (this is just called pull). Start your kick while you are in the pull, it should just flow together. 

Now you can successfully swim freestyle with good technique. Remember to float and to keep your head down. To have a powerful kick, try not to bend your knees too much. Always carryout your stroke, if you don’t carryout your stroke it won’t get you anywhere and it will be choppy. Good technique requires less energy and makes you faster. That’ll help you escape a killer great white or just beat your friend at the pool.