Swim class #3

We did some repeats from Monday today as well as a few new things. I had to see how long I could stay underwater. Since I keep popping up, Coach John had me cheat and hold on to the ladder to stay down. I stayed down for 18 seconds the first time, and 23 the second. He was impressed. What I need to learn now is how to blow out all my air and then stay down. That's going to take some practice.

We did the picking up rocks thing again. I'm having trouble going face first. I am going to have to get over that. We practiced pushing off the wall, and I'm still having trouble getting my body below the water to push off.

Coach John taught me the backstroke today. That was neat! It was a little tricky trying to remember what to do with my legs and arms, but I think I was getting the hang of it. We did some kicking drills both with fins and without. One thing is for sure, it is way faster to have fins on. Then we did the same drills that we did last time. I swam with one arm out front, just practicing my breathing. Then I did slow switching of arms, and then finally I swam the length of the pool.

I got stuck partway down the lane. I breathed in some water. Rather than have me stop, Coach John said to roll over and continue with the backstroke until I could regain my composure and then flip over and continue. Then I did two laps freestyle, no fins, no problems!

There are several things to tweak. Coach John wants to work on my arms. I'm not bringing them to the front correctly. My kick needs to get stronger. I am supposed to get tired kicking down the pool. I have to keep my head and my body on edge when swimming. I can't pick my head up out of the water. It should be just a turn of the head not an up and out. Even with all the stuff I'm not necessarily doing right, I'm still doing really well. I am super thrilled!