Question:

I can't swim, ugh please help.?

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Ughh I hate this. Ok so I'm 15 and I'm a girl.

I have the most competitive friends ever. They aren't really even my friends. We just stick together because all we talk about is sports. Outside of school we're too busy doing our own sports to even hangout. Actually they aren't even my friends, we're just there to push each other.

So for the past 2 months we've been basically ripping each other's necks out for this "Most Athletic Female Award" (I'm not even kidding, like actually killing each other for it). So it turns out today my gym teacher tells me I'm going to get it.

Now, I can't swim, so how could I accept this award?! I'm too embaressed to admit that I can't swim either, because of the reputation and position I'm in and hold.

So one of my "friends" happens to be a lifeguard and is pulling a pool party. I got myself out of that, but I realize that I actually have to learn how to swim.

Does anyone have suggestions on how I can learn? I'm not asking any of my "friends".

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  1. The body just naturally floats so keep this in mind and don't panic in the water.  When you panic you move around and kind of sink yourself underneath.  You can float on your front or back.  Then just look around and see how other people are swimming and try to move like them.  Try it in the shallow end of coarse.


  2. You don't even really have to learn. Just start going to your local YMCA and paddle around the water. As long as you don't fear water, you have nothing to worry about!!

  3. Go to a YMCA across town and sign up for swim lessons there.  You'll learn to swim quite well fairly fast (I went from beginner to lifeguard in a year) ... but do have a 'private' sit down with the coach and tell HER you don't yet know how to swim ... and I hope this 'award' is worth the h**l you have had to go through ... IF you do get it.

  4. a couple of years ago i didnt know how either.

    i had taken classes and everything but i still didnt know how.

    i learned by myself.

    go to a pool and just start trying to swim in the shallow end. just pedal your arms and flap your feet and  youll get the hang of it!

  5. can you bellyfloat? that is the first step...then

    2. float on your stomach..put your arms out in front of you and kick your legs

    3. once you get the hang of this, start using your arms to propel you

    4. i could go into great detail if u want

    5. message me if u want specific, detailed help

  6. You can take beginner lessons at most YMCA's or indoor swimming facilities.  Usually for free.

  7. got to a local public [or not] pool and ask ur parents or siblings or any other relatives. or you can read this:http://www.wikihow.com/Swim

  8. Swimming is easy, it just takes time.  Just because your friends is a lifeguard doesn't mean she knows how to swim well at all. I swim in college and I am also a lifeguard and most people i work with are not good swimmers at all.  You just have to be able to fake your way through the water. If you are athletic then you should have no problem learning how to swim.  It is not about strength it is about form.

  9. Lol. What a quandary! Well, the best answer is often to the most obvious, IMO. Try taking swimming lessons (outside of town if possible), at least until you're able to stay afloat without drowning. Believe me, trying to teach yourself is both unnecessarily dangerous & difficult.  A vacation perhaps? A short sabbatical if you will? Then at least you'll be able to tread water & can just claim that you've had problems in the past with water getting in your ears, that you've just never been a very strong swimmer, bad experience in your past, ect, ect.... There is of course the possibility of just telling people that you can't, though judgeing by your competitive streak, you'd rather overcome an obstacle, than be burdened by it. Best of luck to you & yours!

  10. Go to a public pool with a REAL friend.

    Start in the shallow end, to get used to the water.

    Then, go in about armpit deep, and practice treading water.

    To tread water you move your legs like youre riding a bicycle and you move your arms horizontally side to side at the same level.

    Then practice holding your breath and swimming to the bottom. Open your eyes under the water so you can see where the bottom is.

    Then move to the deep end and jump in. Youll float to the surface. Do this a few times. Try treading water there. But dont exhaust yourself and stay close to the edge.

    Finally, look up how to start doing laps, using techniques such as the breast stroke and others.

    You cant learn all of this in a day, but if you keep practicing youll get better and faster at your laps.

  11. You'll learn, its kinda instinct to stop your self from drowning, if you have seen people swim, you can learn, you just might not be the best at the beginning.

  12. I'd go to the county YMCA or have someone from another county who teaches teach me. But the best idea is to have that life guard friend help you, for if they are a true friend they would help and not speak a word of it. Just my feelings on the matter. Remember something is only an issue if you make it one.

  13. well if you now someone who has a pool and you wont feel embarresed maybe you would want to use swimmies so then you could get use to it or try going in a pool that is not to deep so u can at least swim!!if u want to swim in deep water not useing swimmies...try pretending to bycle in the water and that keeps you from sinking!

  14. To begin learning how to swim get to a pool.  Get a kickboard it looks like a mini surf board if you can't find one ask the guard. To begin learning any stroke you are going to start with drills.  Drills are the parts of a stroke broken down into small segments.  You always begin with the legs. Flutter kick- up and down small and fast toes pointed. When one foot is up the other down. Kick from the hip not a lot of knee bending.  Ask the guard how you are doing.  When you can do a 25yd indoor pool, 25 meter outdoor pool in 20sec for short pool or 25-30sec meters pool you are ready to progress. you are going to hold the board arms straight on top.  Your belly is facing the bottom of the pool Do not pull your body onto the board. Next hold the bottom of the board do the flutter kick with face in.  You are going to blow bubbles and when you get air it is through the mouth not nose. Practice before being on the board. Try dunkin donuts.  Hold the side of pool and submerse self blow bubbles come up get your air and down again.  Be able to do that 10x before trying on board.  Now you let go with one hand, pull down fingertip to bottom of pool and turn head to side keep 1 ear in water get your air, put face back in before hand returns to board kick the whole time.  Keep practicing. Then alternate arm pulls. Isolate (called catch-up) right arm left arm right arm breathe.  When you can do 1-2-3 breathe coordinated on board take board away.

  15. No way you can learn to swim without hard training, for me it came naturally, for you may be not or may be yes, you got to look for it. Just go into the pool and try to do free, and brass/crol... don't bother to do butterfly it is not an easy thing to start out with. It will take some time but good luck, I know you will get the award

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