The Swim Teach Weekly 1–2–3

One teaching goal. Two ways to communicate it. Three phrases to try.

Hi there, Mark here. Hope all is well with you.

Welcome to this week’s Swim Better Weekly - one small change to make swimming easier.

The problem

Do your legs sink when you swim front crawl, leaving you feeling as though you’re dragging them through the water?

This creates extra resistance, making every length feel harder and more tiring than it needs to be.

Why it happens

​Your body position is strongly influenced by where you hold your head. If you lift your head to look forwards, your upper body rises and your legs naturally drop.

Keeping your head relaxed and looking down helps your body settle into a flatter, more balanced position.

Try this in the pool

Practise a simple push-and-glide to discover how a balanced body position should feel.

1. Push gently away from the wall with both arms stretched in front of you.
2. Look straight down at the bottom of the pool, keep the back of your neck relaxed and allow your body to lengthen behind your hands.
3. ​Glide without kicking and notice how keeping your head still helps your hips and legs remain closer to the surface.

Practise this for around 5 minutes before trying the same head position during a short, easy front crawl swim.

A quick safety reminder: never swim or practise alone. Use a supervised pool and stay within a depth that feels safe for your current ability. If you’re nervous or unable to swim independently, practise with a qualified swimming teacher or another responsible person close by.

Watch out for…

Try not to force your head down or press your chin tightly against your chest.

This creates tension and makes swimming less comfortable. Instead, relax your neck and let the water support your head while you look naturally towards the bottom of the pool.

Remember

Look down, lengthen out and let your body float.

Want more help?

A good body position is the foundation of an easier, more efficient front crawl.

​How To Swim Front Crawl contains clear, step-by-step guidance and practical exercises to help you improve your balance, technique and confidence in the water.

See you next week,

Mark
Swim Teach

P.S. Don’t worry if your legs don’t rise immediately. Stay relaxed, practise little and often, and notice the small improvements.

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