Swimming Tips?

[Statik]

Hey guys, so I need to pass a swim test in order to go on a course I want at work, the test is as follows

 

Jump in with a life jacket, swim a lap (one end to the other, across the width, then back up the length, not just there and back), then jump in again without a life jacket, tread water for 2 minutes, then swim to the end of the pool. It doesn't sound bad, but I'm a shit swimmer, and wearing a full longsleeve jacket and pants while doing it makes it way harder.

 

I tried just floating today in the pool, but I suck at it. But I think I should be okay if I just lean back, focus on breathing in through my nose, out through my mouth, and I can keep my face above water (my ears are always submerged while treading water, basically just my face is above.) Then basically just give it as far as I can doing backstroke, and if I need to switch between side stroke and freestyle for a break.

 

And for the first lifejacket portion, I plan to just go slow as fuck, and relax, as to not gas myself for the "hard" part. Other than that does anyone have any tips?

[Bananasplit_00]

take your time with the lifevest and dont focus any effort at floating. the lifevest will put you on your back so backstroke should be the best option during that so you dont have to fight the lifevest. during the non lifevest part use breaststroke for the best endurance. good luck and i hope you pass  

[yathis]

life vest is easy, just do your strongest swim

[captain_to_fire]

Personally, I'd enroll myself to a swimming class. That's what I did.

[BlueChinchillaEatingDorito]

Don't drink pool water.

[minibois]

With the life vest you want to use your arms to steer and legs to do most the work. Swimming in clothing requires strong leg movements,but also strong arm movement to keep you afloat

[dalekphalm]

If you have access to a pool, do a mock test, exactly like you'd have to do for the real thing. Focus on the non-lifejacket part. Have someone there to assist in case of an emergency. It might be embarrassing if you accidentally drown while practicing for the test.

 

If you cannot do the test while practicing, I'd enroll in swimming lessons to see if they can strengthen your weak spots.

[TVwazhere]

Dont drown. 

Drowning means an automatic fail, and you dont want to fail

[Froody129]

With clothes especially you wanna focus on making longer and more deliberate movements instead of the frantic ones that will probably come naturally. I would recommend watching some videos on basic breaststroke (not competitive since it's faster but uses a lot more energy). It's hard to explain until you feel it, but you need to move with the water and not against it

[minibois]

5 hours ago, TVwazhere said:

Dont drown. 

Drowning means an automatic fail, and you dont want to fail

"Oh and you would also die, which kinda sucks."

[yathis]

14 hours ago, BlueChinchillaEatingDorito said:

Don't drink pool water.

I'd have to totally agree with you there.

"They" say a public pool has fecal material (solid waste material from humans) in it.

https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2013/p0516-pool-contamination.html

http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/health/2013/05/16/fecal-germs-in-public-pools-should-you-worry/

 

 

[Statik]

I didnt have time for lessons, so I was just looking for pointers. I basically drowned for the last 10m, but I passed.

[Thunderpup]

i know you have passed but i am going to suggest doing a lot of practice. If you are going to be working around water; it will be beneficial if you know how to swim in the event you fall in without a life vest and no one is around.

 

 

[TVwazhere]

On 7/11/2017 at 9:20 AM, TVwazhere said:

Dont drown. 

14 hours ago, Statik said:

I basically drowned

WHAT DID I JUST SAY!?!?!

 

[Statik]

9 hours ago, Thunderpup said:

i know you have passed but i am going to suggest doing a lot of practice. If you are going to be working around water; it will be beneficial if you know how to swim in the event you fall in without a life vest and no one is around.

 

 

Yeah, the course I'm going on is using water craft, and we'll be jumping out into water, I believe we have some sort of lifevest/suit on but I'm not sure. And our rucksacks act as flotation devices I know. I plan to start swimming lots after course.