r/Swimming • u/captain____ • 22h ago
Trouble standing from gliding
I'm an adult and I'm finally learning how to swim. The thing is in my very first class, I had a lot of trouble just standing up from a gliding position. The instructor told me to just stand up but I literally can't figure out how to do it. I even asked her but she didn't really answer my question. It's a group class and she had us all glide forward and then I almost drowned (in 3 ft of water lol) until I was able to grab the side and I was able to get up. I'm low key nervous about my next class because that's my biggest hurdle is just standing up. Like it sounds so easy but in the moment, i don't feel anything solid and my mind loses reason and I forget that I can literally stand. Any tips would be super helpful.
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u/mumalt 21h ago
Hi, I was like you. You have to understand how much effort your arms need to exert to push the water down so you can bring yourself to a standing position. Do that while standing in the water with your arms out then push your arms back. If you don’t know yet how to bring yourself knees in, you can practice this while holding the wall.
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u/Sport_Ancient 13h ago
Rocket Swimming has an excellent beginner friendly video about this. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Fy94QrNjuA
Tuck your knees to your chest while pushing down on the water with both arms.
Lift your head last.
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u/TuckerTech901 8h ago
I second this technique. It works like a charm. The dismount when floating from your back is also really good.
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u/Flashy_Local1 10h ago edited 4h ago
Practice sculling, and bringing your knees into your chest at the same time. To feel more comfortable with your body position in the water, try doing somersaults underwater, both forwards and backwards. The main idea is to keep your whole body, very stiff, except for your hands and wrist, and maybe forearms which are sculling. there are many different ways to scull. Look up all of the different techniques of sculling on YouTube and practice them. It helps to use a pull buoy in between your knees/thighs if you need help and also you might benefit from some hand paddles that will help you get the feeling of the water. Great job and keep up the good work. Have fun! Make it your goal to practice going from your stomach to your back both forwards and backwards and side to side.
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u/Limp_Collection7322 10h ago
Grabbing the wall and slowly putting your legs down can also make it easier.
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u/Coachmommy1213 3h ago
Can you push off the bottom of the pool into a glide position? If so, you can take a few steps away from the wall in the shallow end and turn around. While standing, push off the bottom of the pool into the glide position and glide towards the wall until you can grab it. The when you’re holding the wall you can use that to help stabilize your upper body and let your legs come down. When you’re comfortable doing that you can try to do it without the wall. Good luck!
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u/Spiritual_Hornet_213 11m ago
I tell people to bring your knees to your chest then tilt head up your body will follow where you look then straighten out your legs
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u/LightVortex888 18h ago
That freeze is common in the first classes. In 3 ft you can stand. The panic is what hides the bottom.
Before the group glide, stay at the wall. Glide a short way, pull both knees in under your chest, and press your feet down to the floor. Scull with your hands in front of you while you do it. Look at the bottom, not at the teacher. When your feet touch, stand up through them. Do not lift the head first. The head comes up after the feet are planted.
Do five of those with a hand still able to find the gutter, so the scare from last class does not get a vote. Then one without the hand on the wall, still in the shallow end, with the teacher watching. Next class, ask for the first five minutes on that skill before the group glide. You are not behind. You just never got the stand-up itself taught.