| | Discussion: Can't put head under water in swim |
Subject: Can't put head under water in swim By: Jose G.
Written on: Thursday March 12, 2009 Message: In my nascent coaching side career, I am working
with a friend pro bono. She has thrown me a good
one as my first challenge. She isn't comfortable
putting her head under water.
Any good
suggestions from those who have worked with kids
or adults in getting past this barrier? | Subject: RE: Can't put head under water in swim By: Greg C.
Written on: Thursday March 12, 2009 Message: In a former life, I was an aquatics dir at a y,
...This may be the result of a childhood
experience..It may put her at ease for you to be
in the water with her at first. Have her start by
simply blowing bubbles, standing up with only her
face (or just nose and mouth) in the water. Be
sure that she turns to the side to inhale, as if
rotary breathing. She should try to gradually put
her face in deeper. Maybe have her do sets of 10
and then move her face, then eventually head,
deeper with each set. Then have her practice
kicking and breathing by holding the side of the
pool or your hands, walking with her. Have her
mock the arms and breathing of swimming while
walking about, working in the kick later. Bobbing
up and down is also helpful, when she's ready.
Deep breath as she jumps up and exhale as she
squats, totally submerged...(I actually do about
ten before laps, gets the blood flowing..It looks
absurd...but it works to get water comfortable..)
She needs to start with baby steps and gradually
take on a new, big step in order to put it all
together...just like a 7 year old doing the same
thing for the first time. As a good coach, keep
giving her positive words, reminding her that it
will come with practice and patience...Hope this
helps. | Subject: RE: Can't put head under water in swim By: Tonya M.
Written on: Thursday March 12, 2009 Message: Thank you for this post! I am soooo embarrassed
because I am the same way! My hubby says to blow
out through your nose? But I can't! I have always
been the type of person who holds their nose when
they jump in the pool. So any suggestions would be
helpfull to me too. | Subject: RE: Can't put head under water in swim By: Clyde W.
Written on: Thursday March 12, 2009 Message: Have her begin with her face in a sink full of
water humming with her mouth closed. That's what
I did with my 2 year old (now three) in the bath.
WIll get her used to the sensation of water on her
face.
Works for learning to tumble turn
too. If your mouth is shut and you're humming
gently, no water can possibly get in.
Of
course once swimming, you want to be exhaling
through your mouth, so this is just for the first
step.
Second step maybe try having her
in the pool with goggles on, and sink underwater
in a sitting position (you may have to help her
down). Again, have her humm with her mouth shut.
Distract her with another task (have her pretend
to sip from an imaginary cup of tea). Hopefully
you can progress from there to blowing bubbles
from her mouth. Again, this works great for young
kids too. Tell them "we're going to have a
tea party underwater". They love it and
forget about being fearful.
| Subject: RE: Can't put head under water in swim By: Cannon B.
Written on: Thursday March 12, 2009 Message: Just tell her George Clooney is under water sans
trunks. | Subject: RE: Can't put head under water in swim By: Jose G.
Written on: Thursday March 12, 2009 Message: Interestingly Clooney ploy.
Thanks all
others for the kid tips. I am figuring this is a
good approach but I need to get with her on why
it's been an issue for her.
She's a
massage therapist and will be trying to get her on
our tri club as the official muscle manipulator.
For those races she is not in she can provide the
post race rub down for our club tent. She's
actually quite fit with a strong upper body so I
think this is just one road block to a great
swimming future. In the Life Time Fitness Tri she
only managed 7 lengths (not laps) in the 10 minute
doggie paddle but still beat out 20 of the 57
other women in the field after biking and running. | Subject: RE: Can't put head under water in swim By: ontri d.
Written on: Thursday March 12, 2009 Message: Hold a broom and crack her on the head every time
she dose not put it under. She will soon place her
head in the bloody water. | Subject: RE: Can't put head under water in swim By: Sean S.
Written on: Friday March 13, 2009 Message: Hold a broom? Crack her on the head?
WHAT??????????
No, if they have a problem
blowing out their nose simply have them hum their
favorite song. Everybody can hum. While you're
humming you're exhaling out your nose. Simple,
start humming, slowly put your head. Stay
standing up, start humming, slowly sink into the
water chin first then the lips and finally the
nose. Water will not be able to enter the nose
while you're humming (air is comming
out!).
I was a diver in H.S. and used
this trick everytime I entered the water, though I
never needed to hold my nose in the first place it
helped when going into the water at 20mph feet
first, the ultimate water up the nose speed.
Never had a problem since.
Good luck, try
this it works.
The most likely side
effect is you tickle your nose once you start
exhaling in the water. Have fun. | Subject: RE: Can't put head under water in swim By: Caryl H.
Written on: Friday March 13, 2009 Message: Is she wearing goggles? If she isn't, make sure
she is. For whatever reason, kids and people (like
myself) who are uncomfortable in the water
overcome the fear of putting your face in the
water if they have goggles on. | Subject: RE: Can't put head under water in swim By: Tonya M.
Written on: Saturday March 14, 2009 Message: I don't have a fear of putting my head in the
water, it is just that the smooth flow of turning
your head and breathing from side to side. I watch
my hubby do it and just can't get it down. I'm
going to try the humming thing though | Subject: RE: Can't put head under water in swim By: Sean S.
Written on: Sunday March 15, 2009 Message: Remember if you have proper body roll while doing
the front crawl just tip your chin to the sky
ever-so-slightly. You'll get the air you need
with out the water, but the key is proper body
roll.
If you're not rolling properly do
this trick I teach new swimmers. Pretend you have
a watch on your wrist (doesn't matter which one)
and continually look at the time on your watch.
If your arm is out of the water your eyes and chin
should be too. This also helps get you in the
feel of a proper body roll during the swim. Hum
all your air out prior to getting your
"watch" out or you won't have time to
get a proper breath.
Good luck, let us
know. | Subject: RE: Can't put head under water in swim By: Jennifer M.
Written on: Sunday March 15, 2009 Message: The first thing that people get worked up about
is the concept of "holding" their breath
under water. Start with this easy exercise (on
land) four-five times a day...
Take a
deep breath in for ten second, hold it for ten
seconds, and let it out for ten seconds. Your mind
begins to realize that you can go without
breathing and you train your self for breathing
side to side without being in the
water.
The next step is to start moving
to the water. The drills take a few
forms...
The first one is done while
standing in the water. Just work on putting your
eyes in the water while doing the same drill. Take
a breath in, blow out through your nose for ten
seconds, and then come back up. Hold on to the
side of the pool if you don't have someone who can
coach you through it. Don't worry about if you
bring your head straight up or to the side when
you are done. Correct methods of breathing can
only take place after you learn the basics.
Second drill is to work with a kick
board when you are doing your laps. A lot of adult
fears have to do with the fear of getting water in
the ears because of ear problems as a child. Eyes
in the water=water in the ears. Back to the
drill... With the kick board, put both arms
straight out on front of you. For the whole
length, keep one ear in the water. For the next
lenght, put the other ear in the water. The ear
should feel like you are sleeping on a pillow.
Remember to turn your head ONLY and not the whole
body.
Now it's time to combine the two.
Using the kick board with your arms out in front
and your ear in the water, take a breath, put your
eyes in the water, blow out for three second
(count it out- one- two -three), and take another
breath.
When you are ready to add in the
arms, then go ahead. This process takes a while,
don't rush yourself!! | | Please log-in or join free to reply | |
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