Can you tell me how to tread water. I am currently learning to swim but the pool is too shallow to learn this technique. Can I learn this in shallow water and if so how do I do it?
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How do I learn how to tread water? What is the best technique to use?
There are a couple of different techniques that can be used when treading water but the most commonly used is a vertical form of breaststroke.
Another technique for treading water uses the eggbeater leg kick. This is most commonly used in synchronised swimming as it allows the body to remain level and appear almost stationary above the water surface. Technically the eggbeater leg kick is more challenging to master.
Normal breaststroke in an upright position is relatively easy to tread water with. Instead of the legs kicking around and backward as in breaststroke, they must kick downwards allowing the body to remain upright and the head above the water surface.
The arm action is the also a similar breaststroke arm pull but with a more downward movement to help balance the leg kick and keep the body upright and once again the head above the water surface.
If you are new to treading water then you may find it hard work and it is not uncommon to become tired and out of breath after only a short period of time. Treading water for 30 seconds can be a challenge but with practice you will be able to build it up and in a short time you will find treading water for 3 or 4 minutes relatively easy.
A good exercise to practice is to swim a few lengths of your pool at your normal pace but stop at regular intervals along the way to tread water. Ensure you do not place your feet on the pool floor or hold onto the poolside. Tread water for maybe 20 to 30 seconds and then continue on your way. Repeat this 3 or 4 times on each length.
Very quickly you will find treading water becoming easier.
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Is there an easy way to start swimming from treading water? My daughter is in school carnival and is doing 25m swim in free/breast/back strokes but they have to start from centre of pool holding onto rope then swim to starting blocks. She is excellent swimmer but this seems to hold her back as she has nothing to push or jump off from. Is there any tricks to getting a good start from treading water?
This is an unusual way to begin a swimming event! It is difficult to get a good start from treading water and there are very few magic tricks! It relies heavily on a strong kick and some good arm pulls to generate the momentum needed to get going.
In order to get a good start from a treading water position your daughter has to get her body into a horizontal position as quickly as possible. Sometimes a couple of large butterfly/dolphin leg kicks can generate some power and when they are performed with the head down, the body will become horizontal quickly and begin to move.
Partial submersion can also help as the body always moves faster underwater. She could try taking a deep breath and moving off under the water, swimming the first few meters the same way as if she had started from a dive from starting blocks.
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