Ten of the top fears of front crawl and how to beat them

1. I can't get the breathing right

Your breathing should be relaxed and controlled. You breathe out slowly when your head is under the water and inhale as you lift your head to the right or left to breathe in. If you're struggling to master breathing to the right and/or left then practice it when you're kicking with a kickboard and breath from side to side. Then try swimming with a pull buoy and then the full stroke.

2. I keep swallowing water

It's ok to swallow a little bit of water but if you're choking then try lifting your head up a little bit more as you breathe.

3. My front crawl is rubbish and I look stupid

Don't be so self-conscious. No one will condemn you for having a go and we all have to start somewhere!

4. I'm too slow

This doesn't matter. The most important thing is to get your technique right before trying to go fast. Poor technique can lead to shoulder problems if you increase your distance and speed before you master the correct technique. Make sure to pick a lane that is the right speed for you or go at a time when the pool is quiet and then it won't matter what speed you go.

5. Front crawl really wears me out!

Try and make your stroke longer and more efficient. If you allow your head to rock from side to side, this makes the rest of your body rock from side to side, making it more difficult to swim well. Try drills such as catch up and pulling with your flexi paddles. The key to front crawl is the breathing, so once you've mastered this you can work on other areas such as endurance, technique and speed.

6. My legs sink and slow me down 

Body position in the water is an important part to swimming efficiently, and the position of your head dictates the position of the rest of your body. Make sure you try and look forward in the water. If your legs are sinking try using a pull buoy as it will lift your legs up. Use it between your thighs.

7. I will develop huge shoulders

Swimming front crawl shouldn't give you huge shoulders, but it will tone them and make you look even better in that little black number! It takes years of training in the pool and the gym to develop the big shoulder muscles that professional swimmers have. They do exercises specifically to make their shoulders stronger, but for recreational swimmers this isn't necessary. 

8. I can't swim in a straight line

Follow the black lines on the bottom of the pool. Fix your eyes on them and look straight back at them after you have taken each breath.

9. I can't do tumble turns

Why not splash out on a lesson with your local swimming instructor to give you the basics you need and then practise what you have learned every session. You don't have to do them, but tumble turns will enable you to swim uninterrupted and get into a rhythm. They also look cool!

10. I've always swum breaststroke, why change now?

It's good to vary what you do in the water as different strokes use different muscles. There's nothing wrong with just swimming breaststroke, but front crawl will help tone your shoulders and it uses more calories than breaststroke. It's also faster so enables you to swim more lengths in the same amount of time.