I've been teaching swimming for over 30 years and I built Swim Teach so that I can share all my knowledge, wisdom and experience from the thousands of swimming lessons I have had the pleasure of teaching. Take a look back through my previous newsletters and see what you missed.
Teaching Adults: small tweaks, big breakthroughs
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What’s the biggest challenge you face when teaching an adult to swim - fear, technique, or simply unlearning old habits? Hey, Mark here, I hope you’re doing well. This week, I'm tackling that sometimes tricky task of teaching adults how to swim, inspired by an article I wrote a while back. 🏊♂️ Why adapting your style mattersAdults come to the pool with all kinds of backgrounds: varying fitness, flexibility, and confidence levels. The key is to meet them where they are, not push them into a “one-size-fits-all” program. Here are a few tips I lean on when teaching adults:
If you’d like a deeper dive, you can check out the full article “Teaching Adults to Swim” here. 📚 Spotlight: My Book — Teaching Adults How To SwimOver the years, I’ve gathered many of these insights (and many more) into my book, Teaching Adults How To Swim. In it you’ll find: 📘 Learn how to identify and address common adult barriers like:
🧠 Understand Their Struggles — and Help Them Overcome:
If it sounds like something that could support your work (or a colleague’s), grab your copy here:
I’d love to hear your success stories teaching adults. Let me know. In the meantime, happy teaching. Warm regards, PS - have you missed any of my previous newsletters? Click here for a list of them all. PPS - did someone forward this to you and you're looking to subscribe? Subscribe here. |
Hi! I'm Mark, creator of Swim Teach
I've been teaching swimming for over 30 years and I built Swim Teach so that I can share all my knowledge, wisdom and experience from the thousands of swimming lessons I have had the pleasure of teaching. Take a look back through my previous newsletters and see what you missed.
How do I float, and why do I sink? It's a question commonly asked by beginners learning how to swim. Hi, Mark here. Hope all is well. Ever wondered why some people float effortlessly while others seem to sink like a stone? 🤔This week, I’m sharing two powerful resources to help you (and your swimmers) finally crack the floating puzzle: 🧑🏫 For Swimming Teachers: A Ready-to-Use Floating & Gliding Lesson Plan Teaching floating can be tricky — but with the right structure, it becomes one of the...
What if your breathing timing was the one thing holding back your whole stroke? Hi, Mark here. I hope all is well with you. This week we are talking front crawl breathing - and more specifically, the timing of your breath. If you’ve ever felt your breathing “throws you off” in front crawl, you’re not alone. It’s one of the hardest parts to coordinate - but once you get the timing right, everything flows more smoothly. 👉 My full guide is right here. 🌀 What timing means It’s not just when you...
A 30-second idea to save you prep time. Hi there - Mark here. Quick win: Set a 90-second “equipment spotlight.” Pick one aid (noodle, fins, pull buoy) and ask swimmers to name one thing it helps them feel. Then run a single drill using it. You’ll get instant engagement and clearer body-awareness without derailing your plan. 👉 Try these ready-made drills - click here. P.S. I use this when energy dips mid-session—works a treat. All the best Mark