profile

Hi! I'm Mark, creator of Swim Teach

I've been teaching swimming for over 30 years and I built Swim Teach so that I can share all my knowledge, wisdom and experience from the thousands of swimming lessons I have had the pleasure of teaching. Take a look back through my previous newsletters and see what you missed.

Swimming lesson plans to download
Featured Post

Master Freestyle Kicking – Are Your Basics Solid? Plus, Fresh Teaching Resources!

"If I kick harder then I will stay afloat and swim further." ...a common misconception among beginners learning to swim. Relaxed and smooth is the key to an effective and efficient front crawl leg kick. Hi, Mark here. I hope all is well with you. In this edition of Swim Teach News, we are looking at front crawl leg kick technique and a basic exercise to help practice and fine-tune it. If you're a teacher, my resource library is packed with drills and lesson plans to help make your teaching...

The best collection of teaching resources for swimming teachers

How's your breaststroke breathing technique? Do you inhale and exhale at the right times? My 'How To Teach Breaststroke' book has all the necessary drills and lesson plans if you need to teach it. Hi, Mark here. I hope all is well with you. This week, I am discussing the basics of the breaststroke breathing technique using a drill that will allow you to perform it slowly and fine-tune it. Also, my 'How To Teach Breaststroke' book is here for all you swimming teachers looking for some drills...

101 ready made swimming lesson plans

If you find aspects of learning how to swim, like floating and breathing, quite stressful, or you're a swimming teacher with pupils who just can't relax, this week’s newsletter is for you! Hi, Mark here. I hope you've had a great week. Being at one with the water helps to ensure that everything we do in the water, including swimming, is second nature and, therefore, not stressful. Essential elements of learning how to relax when swimming are: Learning how to breath-hold and submerge Learn how...

how to be a swimming teacher preview

Can you tread water? How often does it feature in your lessons? Treading water is an important skill to learn for many reasons. Also, this week, fine-tune your teaching practice to be even more outstanding! Hi, Mark here. I hope you've had a great week. This week, we are talking treading water and I give you a free printable download that explains everything you need to know. But first... Calling all Swimming Teachers! Have you seen my definitive guide to teaching outstanding swimming...

Teaching adults how to swim is different to teaching children.

Teaching adults to swim is very different from teaching children. Whilst some of the methods are similar, the approach is completely different. Hi, Mark here. I hope all is well with you. This week, I am talking about adults learning to swim and how a swimming teacher can adjust their teaching style to suit, as the approach to teaching adults is different to teaching children. There is also a link to my book dedicated to Teaching Adults How To Swim. Adults will arrive at the poolside in all...

Swimming lesson plans for all levels

Calling all swimming teachers! How ready are you for the summer ahead? How well-planned are you? Have you got any lesson plans at all? Hi, Mark here. Hope you’re well and that you’ve had a great week. This week, we take a detailed look at exactly what a successful swimming lesson should include, I give you a free blank template for your own use, and a link to 101 lesson plans in 1 downloadable document. Scroll down to find all the links you need. Most swimming lessons have some important...

Many beginners learning to swim believe that the ability to float holds the key to success, but that is really not true. Most of the best swimmers in the world cannot float. Hi, Mark here. I hope all is well with you. This week, I debunk some of the myths about floating by adding in a few essential tools that beginners need, to learn how to swim. Floating Stationary or Whilst Moving? Floating stationary and whilst moving are two completely different concepts to get to grips with. Some of us...

learning to float swimming lesson plan

How do I float and why do I sink? It's a question commonly asked by beginners learning how to swim. Hi, Mark here. Hope all is well with you. This week, we are talking about why we sink. Scroll down and discover the science behind floating and sinking and how it may help you understand more and even help you stay afloat when you swim. Firstly, for swimming teachers, I have a lesson plan for teaching floating and gliding. Teach Your Pupils How To Stay Afloat. The 'floating and gliding' lesson...

how to swim front crawl

"If I kick harder then I will stay afloat and swim further." ...a common misconception among beginners learning to swim. Relaxed and smooth is the key to an effective and efficient front crawl leg kick. Hi, Mark here. I hope all is well with you. In this edition of Swim Teach News, we are looking at front crawl leg kick technique and a basic exercise to help practice and fine-tune it. If you're a teacher, my resource library is packed with drills and lesson plans to help make your teaching...

howl to swim breaststroke pdf guide book

How is your breaststroke timing and coordination? Download a free drill to help perfect it. Teachers - do your pupils make a mess of it? Scroll down to find my 'How To Teach Breaststroke' guide. Hi, Mark here. I hope all is well with you. This week, we are talking breaststroke timing, and I have a great printable timing drill for you to help you get things right. Breaststroke timing and coordination is a continuous alternating action where one propulsive phase takes over as one ends....