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.
When your usual explanation isn’t working…
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Hi, Mark here. Hope all is well. You know that frustrating moment in a swimming lesson. You explain the skill. …and the swimmer still looks confused. It is easy to assume that the exercise is not working - or that the swimmer simply cannot do it yet. But sometimes, the problem is not the skill. It is the words. One swimmer may respond to a clear, direct instruction. Another may need an image they can picture, a rhythm they can follow or a physical sensation they can focus on. A nervous swimmer may need completely different language again. After more than 30 years of teaching swimming, I have learned that progress does not always come from changing the exercise. Often, it comes from changing the explanation. That is why I created my newest resource: The Swimming Teacher’s Phrase Book Inside you will find hundreds of practical, poolside-ready phrases covering:
For each teaching moment, you can choose from direct instructions, gentle reassurance, imaginative cues, feel-based prompts and short rhythms. So, instead of repeating the same words again and again, you will always have another way to explain the skill. Say it differently. Help it click.
The complete digital edition is available as an instant PDF download for £19.99 GBP (converted to your local currency when you click through). Not sure whether it is for you? Read the free preview and see exactly how it works. Happy teaching, Mark |
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.
Have you ever wondered why one person can lie back and float almost effortlessly, while someone else sinks the moment they stop moving? Hi, Mark here. Hope all is well. For beginners, this can be incredibly frustrating. It is easy to assume that you are doing something wrong - or that you simply “can’t float”. But floating isn’t a test of swimming ability. Body composition, lung capacity and the way we position ourselves in the water all affect buoyancy. Some people naturally float higher...
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...
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...