Swimming Lessons. Where do I start?

SwimmingNewbie left this mess on Thu, 24 Jul 2003 21:11:04 GMT for The Way to clean up:

Quoted message said:

At the risk of sounding redundant since I just happened upon this group, I am looking for the best
way to get acquainted with the water.

Is the local YMCA a "tried and true" option or should I look elswhere
(i.e., private instruction) for more quality training. I would probably feel a little
self-conscious if I took lessons at a public pool where usage time is a factor (i.e., people
looking at their watches as they wait for my lesson to finish up so they can use the pool).

First off, congratulations! Just learning to swim, whether you keep at it or not for training, is a
wonderful experience and accomplishment.

For basic in-water instruction, the local Y is the best solution. One can learn technique by
watching video and reading books, but you still gots to get wet. Don't sweat the "usage time" issue.
These classes are scheduled, the schedules are posted, the classes are regularly held at the same
time, and the instructor has proprietary rights for the time period set aside (at least for the
lanes you are in). All swimmers have been where you are right now. No one was born swimming (except
maybe those Russian babies in the delivery experiment way back in the 60s).

Private coaching, by the way, would not eliminate this issue for you, since, guess what? They use
public pools, too, and more than likely won't be able to "reserve" a lane for your instruction,
except at some ungodly hour. So in many ways, it might be worse, since there will be swimmers all
around you.

Yes, if the pool is crowded, there will be people eager for time to hurry. The difference is, unless
you run over, they'll respect the lesson time.

Tao te Carl

"It takes a village to have an idiot." - Carl (c) 2003

"SwimmingNewbie" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

In the above post any good learning web sites there are attachments that should interest you.

I learnt to swim in the sea side when I was little, so I dont want to make the wrong assumption to
comment, but...

swimming pools have a deep and a shallow end (about 3 feet feet), so if I was you, to start I'd just
go for a session to get used to the water, (entering in the shallow end!)

ang

SwimmingNewbie said:

Is the local YMCA a "tried and true" option or should I look elswhere
(i.e., private instruction) for more quality training. I would probably feel a little
self-conscious if I took lessons at a public pool where usage time is a factor (i.e., people
looking at their watches as they wait for my lesson to finish up so they can use the pool).

If that sort of pressure will be distracting, you might want to start at a friend's pool, is one is
available. Start or stay in the shallow end and work on your comfort level.
--
Jason O'Rourke www.jor.com