Early skills

Floating

Practice floating, this will improve your water confidence. Floating and making different shapes on your front and back will show you how the shape you make affects your balance.

Sculling

One of the most important skills in swimming is sculling, all strokes in swimming use sculling. Just by changing the angle of your wrist you can travel in different directions or remain stationary.

Water confidence exercises

Try activities such as putting your head under the water and blowing bubbles. This will help you become more familiar with the feel of the water.

Set yourself some goals - aim to do a set amount of widths and vary the way you travel those widths. If you do not feel confident trying something new, ask a friend to join you and give you support whilst you try new activities and movements.

Once you feel more confident in the water then book a session of swimming lessons. Swimming is not just good fun and great for your body but it could save your life one day. You can learn to swim at any age with expert instruction from qualified swimming teachers. Ask about the learn to swim scheme at your local pool.