What if your breathing timing was the one thing holding back your whole stroke? Hi, Mark here. I hope all is well with you. This week we are talking front crawl breathing - and more specifically, the timing of your breath. If you’ve ever felt your breathing “throws you off” in front crawl, you’re not alone. It’s one of the hardest parts to coordinate - but once you get the timing right, everything flows more smoothly. My full guide is right here. What timing means It’s not just when you...
1 day ago • 1 min read
What’s the biggest challenge you face when teaching an adult to swim - fear, technique, or simply unlearning old habits? Hey, Mark here, I hope you’re doing well. This week, I'm tackling that sometimes tricky task of teaching adults how to swim, inspired by an article I wrote a while back. Why adapting your style matters Adults come to the pool with all kinds of backgrounds: varying fitness, flexibility, and confidence levels. The key is to meet them where they are, not push them into a...
1 day ago • 1 min read
Hi Mark here, I hope all is well. Whether you’re just starting out or many years into teaching, the most effective lessons tend to share the same foundations: clarity, variety, patience, and purpose. With that in mind, here are a few simple reminders worth carrying into your teaching practice. Know who you’re teaching It sounds obvious, but it’s easy to overlook. Adults and children learn very differently - with different fears, motivations, and confidence levels. Taking time to understand...
14 days ago • 1 min read
Hi Mark here, I hope all is well. If learning to swim is part of your plans, the most important thing to remember is this: confidence comes before technique. The swimmers who make the best progress aren’t the ones who push hardest - they’re the ones who take time to understand the water and themselves. Here are a few key foundations worth focusing on as you begin (or continue) your swimming journey: Get comfortable in the water first Before strokes and lengths, spend time simply being in the...
14 days ago • 1 min read
Think you need to float to be a good swimmer? Think again. Even Olympic champions can’t float effortlessly - and it doesn’t hold them back. Hi, Mark here. I hope you've had a great week. This week, I’m busting the myth that floating is the key to swimming success. Instead, I’ll show you the real tools beginners need to build confidence in the water. Floating vs. Gliding Floating on the spot and gliding through the water are two very different things. Some of us sink like a stone - and that’s...
22 days ago • 1 min read
Hi, Mark here – I hope you've had a great week! Many children – and adults – learn to swim faster when they stop feeling like they're being taught and start feeling like they're simply playing. That's why games and play can be such powerful teaching tools. For parents, playful activities help children relax, use their imagination, and forget the fears and anxieties that often come with learning to swim. For swimming teachers, games transform lessons into engaging, confidence-building...
30 days ago • 1 min read
Hi, Mark here. I hope you’ve had a great week. If your legs are working hard but you still feel like you’re going nowhere, your front crawl kick probably needs refining - not more effort. A good kick should help you stay balanced, streamlined and relaxed in the water. It should support the rest of your stroke, not leave you exhausted after one length. This week’s guide breaks down how to kick front crawl with more control, better body position and less wasted energy. 👉 Read the full front...
about 1 month ago • 2 min read
Are you looking to enhance your teaching toolkit and make a bigger splash in your lessons? Hi, Mark here. Hope all is well with you. Everyone needs tools that make their job easier and raise the quality of their work, and we swimming teachers are no exception. I’ve gathered my best teaching tools into one easy-to-use page just for you. It’s packed with practical, printable swimming teacher resources to help you teach more confidently, save prep time, and deliver high-quality lessons your...
about 1 month ago • 1 min read
Many swimmers pull too hard and still don’t move far. Here’s why - and a simple drill that fixes it. Hi, Mark here. Hope your week’s been a good one! Let’s talk breaststroke arms. As swimming teachers, we know it’s the leg kick that delivers the real power. But many swimmers still rely too much on their arms to pull themselves through the water, and that’s where things go wrong. Quick Breakdown of the Arm Pull Technique The breaststroke arm movement can be split into three simple phases:...
about 1 month ago • 1 min read
Hi Mark here, I hope all is well. A while ago, I asked swimming teachers a simple question: What is the hardest part of teaching swimming? I suggested a few possibilities: lesson planning behaviour management nervous beginners stroke technique confidence on poolside The overwhelming answer? Parents. Not because swimming teachers dislike parents. Not because parents are the enemy. But because managing parents on poolside can sometimes feel harder than teaching the actual swimming lesson. The...
about 2 months ago • 1 min read