profile

Hi! I'm Mark, creator of Swim Teach

The hardest swimmers to teach? Adults.

Published 1 day ago • 1 min read

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 matters

Adults 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:

  • Stay calm, relaxed, informal. That tone helps them relax and trust you.
  • Adjust expectations & be flexible. What works for one swimmer might not work for another.
  • Use tools—but don’t let them become crutches. Fins or paddles can help in early stages, but gradually wean them off.
  • Praise progress (even small gains). At the end of each lesson, call out something they improved, however minor.
  • Explain the “why.” Adults often want to know why certain techniques work—kicks, body position, stroke timing.

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 Swim

Over 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:

  • ✔️ Step-by-step lesson plans specifically designed for adult learners
  • ✔️ Psychological strategies to overcome fear and anxiety
  • ✔️ Practical pool exercises that deliver real results
  • ✔️ Real-world insights from experienced adult swim instructors
  • ✔️ Tools to build trust and create a safe, welcoming environment

​Instantly Preview my book here.​

Understand Their Struggles - and Help Them Overcome:

  • Fear of deep water
  • Body consciousness and embarrassment
  • Negative past experiences with swimming
  • Physical limitations or lack of coordination

If it sounds like something that could support your work (or a colleague’s), grab your copy here:

​
​Buy Teaching Adults How To Swim eBook → right here​

​I’d love to hear your success stories teaching adults. Let me know. In the meantime, happy teaching.

Warm regards,
Mark

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.

Read more from Hi! I'm Mark, creator of Swim Teach

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...

1 day ago • 1 min read
The complete beginners guide to swimming

Does your confidence fall apart at the thought of swimming in the deep end? Hi, Mark here. I hope all is good with you. If the thought of swimming in deep water makes your heart race - you are not alone. Many adults feel anxious about venturing beyond the shallow end, and the good news is: it’s completely normal and totally conquerable. Whether your fear stems from a bad childhood experience, feeling out of control, or just the unknown lurking beneath, you can work through it — gently and at...

8 days ago • 1 min read
101 Swimming Lesson Plans for swimming teachers

The quickest way to lose a swimmer’s focus? Predictability. Hi, Mark here. Hope you’ve had a good week in the pool. Let me ask you something… Have your lessons started to feel a little predictable? It happens to all of us. We find a structure that works, a few drills that get results, and before long we’re repeating the same patterns week after week. But variation is where the magic happens. When we keep lessons fresh: Pupils stay engaged and curious Confidence builds more naturally Progress...

8 days ago • 1 min read