Swimming.

[micky]

Hi, I've used the search but couldn't quite find what i was looking for. Anyway, i really have problems with swimming. A phobea almost. the one time when I did manage to keep afloat with out any aide I was dragged towards the deeper end an almost drown. Which wasn't the first time ive had to be rescued. hehe Does anyone have any advice for me.
Any help is appreciated.
Cheers 'Mick'

[W.Mitty]

Go to your local swimming pool and ask about lessons, as swimming is done on PRMC, you will have to be learn to swim.

[druadan]

As above...get some lessons mate, most pools offer adult classes, or if they don't will probably be able to offer you some on a one-to-one basis (don't worry, they won't throw you in with the kids; and they won't laugh, you'd be surprised how many adults can't swim).

[davo141]

did swimming lessons after prmc ... average age was 12...yes i looked like a plank...4 weeks away from 'pass out!'

but i wont be hear but its taught me techinque which helps soo much!

all women know how to swim break stroke so get your mam or a female friend and ask them! no shame when your going to be royal...any means to a goal!

Davo

[bigbart]

I'm a weak swimmer too. I'm not going for bootneck but i want to do the AACC, all the advice I can give is practice. I do length after length practicing technique. It improves stamina as well. Or do lessons, like someone else said... but even if you do.. practice as much as you can. You'll get there.

[FozzyNumber4]

Don't forget that the Battle Swim Test at PRMC is not actually tested so you don't have to complete the tasks. Its designed to give you a taster of whats required during training. If you can't swim very well (and I shouldn't have thought turning up not being able to swim at all was a very good idea) don't worry too much. As usual the PTI's are going to be looking at effort and they will teach you how to swim properly if you need to during training.

Having said all that, I'd agree with what has been suggested above by way of getting some lessons. I'm in a similar position and hoping to get my technique down a little better so I'm not knackered after 1 length!

[bigbart]

I'd recommend practice over lessons. Lessons are okay, but only by pracicing over and over will you get it right.

[davo141]

but its no good practicing if your doing it all wrong!

in my lessons we where shown the proper techniques, hand posistions etc which makes it a lot eaiser than how i was trying on my own!!!

just a thought.

Cheers, davo

[micky]

Well i'm just about to ring the nearest swiming pool, find out whats what etc. Thanks for the advice. Although I should have thaught about that earlier. haha.
cheers 'Mick'

[joshualoftus]

Hey guys,
I feel sorry for you lads in the UK when it comes to swimming. During my time spent in London it amazed me how few pools there are compared to Australia, obviously the climate has a little to do with it, but I digress. Where I live in Canberra (a city of about 300 thousand), there are no less than 6 Olympic sized (50 metre) pools all within about 15 minutes from my house. In The UK I could hardly find any pools and the ones I did find are like 20 metres long, if you're lucky. When I'm in Australia I swim about 3 times a week, usually about 1 to 1.5 Km's. Swimming is awesome exercise, especially if you have injuries from running like I do (shin splints). Anyway, my whinge is over.
I would reccommend getting some lessons Micky, cause as Davo said, there's bugger all point in practicing if your form sucks. And I think that as an adult once you get a few lessons you should take to it like a proverbial duck to water, so to speak.
Best of luck mate,
Josh.

[druadan]

Yeah Josh, we are a bit short on them; normal pool size is 25m, we don't get olympic ones except in very very posh places! I've never even seen one in real life! Guess it's something to do with available space and cost of land of something!

If you can't swim or are a weak swimmer on PRMC, they simply tell you to get lessons before you start Foundation. About 80% of my PRMC were told to get lessons (fortunately not me!) - everyone except the strong swimmers with the right techniques.