Adult Beginner swimmer Cannot Let Go

Hi Mark, I need some help - my adult beginner swimmer cannot let go!

I'm teaching an adult 1:1 who is a complete beginner - he is short and lean and muscular so is not buoyant - he has struggled with basic getting to feet from front and back but has improved. He is frustrated as he can't / won't let go - as in kick with arms out in front without a float or noodle and be able to right himself - he wants to hold the wall / rail, or use noodle - I have pulled him on the noodle but he won't let go. Think today's lesson was number 6. Any help please?
Thanks

Hi there,

Thanks for getting in touch.  Sounds like you've got your hands full there! Lesson number 6 - he sounds determined, which is good.

Rewind this a few stages and take swimming out of the equation for a moment.

Firstly, how comfortable is he with having his face submerged? If he's not comfortable, then that is your first hurdle to overcome. Once you have that sorted, move on. Have him float face down in a star position, holding your hands to begin with.  I know you say he's not buoyant, so you will only have a few seconds each time you do this. The wider his star shape, the more balanced he will begin to feel.

Allow him to stand up using you as support.  Ensure he stands up in a slow, calm and controlled way.  Repeat this again, but loosen your grip and encourage him to loosen his grip on you. Again, stand up in a calm and controlled way - no rush or panic.  Keep repeating this until he can float without using you as support. Place your hands under the water where he can see them, as reassurance, but encourage him to stand without touching you.  Keep practising this until he becomes comfortable.

When he's ready, have him repeat this near the poolside, again without using the pool edge to help him stand.
From there, you can progress to gently pushing off the pool floor towards the poolside and repeating the movement to stand without touching the edge. Start close enough to the poolside so that he's got some reassurance, but far enough away to allow for some kind of short glide. No actual swimming strokes needed, just gentle movement.

As he builds up his confidence with moving and standing, you can venture away from the poolside, lightly pushing off and gently moving or slowly swimming towards you in front of him. Stopping and standing whenever he needs to.

The whole point in all of this is to allow your man to become comfortable with his buoyancy, however little that may be (and he will have some buoyancy!), and comfortable with how his mind and body behave in the water. This is not about simply swimming with or without support. He needs to feel his way into this.  Reassure him that the water is trying to support him, not pull him down under. He has to play his part in helping the water support him!

This may take one lesson, or it may take several lessons.  Either way, patience and determination will win. Adults are notoriously slow at learning to swim, but they can all do it with the right encouragement and support, which you clearly have.

I hope I have helped in some way, and I wish you both all the best.

UPDATE:

Hi Mark. He is now comfortable and can sink without panic and exhales under water! Fab lesson today.

But now getting feet down from star float on back! Good with a noodle but still lacks confidence without the noodle.

Thanks for your help!!

My reply..

Wow - that's fantastic!  Thank you so much for sharing this with me. Glad I could help in some way.

Feet down from a supine position - they nearly always arch their back and then it all goes wrong! He needs to dig deep with his arms and hands (palms facing forwards and then upwards) as he brings his knees up towards his chest. Have him imagine there's a chair under the water that he's going to momentarily sit on just before he puts his feet down and stands - and if his face goes under slightly at first, that's fine too.

Good luck.

what to do when your adult beginner swimmer cannot let go?

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