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The best training for beginners in swimming

June 18, 2021

To achieve top performance, it is important for all athletes to train their skills regardless of their fitness level. On the Internet, there are tons of articles about how to train for professionals. However, finding a comprehensive novice swim workout regimen to adhere to from start to finish is quite rare. So, novices are somehow bypassed. Our endeavor is to bridge this gap by offering you a compilation of ten good swimming workouts for beginners. These exercises aim to enhance your abilities and contribute to maintaining you in great shape.

In what ways the drills for greenhorns are different from those for expert athletes? Intended for less trained participants, a beginner swim workout therefore gives less stress on the organism and muscles. Hence, the assortment of training sessions that we are introducing through this article is designed to be secure for every swimmer, irrespective of their training proficiency. Nevertheless, if you are going to perform any beginner lap swim workout short after you’re done reading this, you will already feel the positive effect in a couple of months.

Interval Drill #1

Familiarize yourself with aquatic exercises using this uncomplicated order. Embrace your freestyle technique and experiment with other preferred movements as you navigate over each lap with determination.

  • Begin with a warm-up: complete a leisurely 100-meter using your preferred stroke.
  • Follow this by alternating between 50-meter laps in freestyle at light tempo and 50-meter using a kickboard and buoy. Repeat this sequence between two to four times.
  • Participate in four rounds of one-minute freestyle swims. Should you arrive at the wall before the minute concludes, take advantage of the extra seconds for a moment of rest.
  • Subsequently, complete a 300-meter swim with the preferred stroke at an easy rhythm.

Interval Drill #2

Start this beginner lap swim workout equipped with a buoy and/or kickboard to provide added assistance as you conquer these laps.

  1. Commence with a warm-up: complete four groups of 25-meter swims using your preferred stroke, maintaining a light rhythm. Allow a break of 20 seconds for rest between each repetition.
  2. Following this, embark on 5 sets of 100-meter freestyle at a normal tempo, providing yourself a break of 30 seconds between intervals.
  3. Execute a 200-meter freestyle at a restrained pace, utilizing a buoy and/or paddles for added support.
  4. Subsequently, engage in 8 sets of 25-yard spins by means of a kickboard. Allocate 15 seconds for rest between each swimming interval workout beginner level.
  5. Complete a swift 100-meter using your preferred technique, pushing your limits. Follow this with a leisurely 100-meter maintaining a light rhythm, preserving your chosen stroke.

Ankle Rotations

Even though this drill occurs outside of the water, it holds significant value as a beginner swim workout routine aimed at refining your freestyle kicking technique.

  • Begin by flexing the knee and lifting your foot a couple of inches above the ground.
  • Utilizing your big toe, trace a circle.
  • Perform ten to fifteen circular spins followed by an equal number of counterclockwise rotations (modify as per comfort level).
  • After completing this, place your foot on the ground and repeat the same process with another foot.
  • Strive to perform this regimen on a daily basis or twice daily to improve the flexibility of your ankles.

As you commence this exercise, it's not necessary to raise foot very high above the ground. If maintaining balance proves challenging, you can to grip onto a support. Nonetheless, we inspire you to establish your own equilibrium, as this beginner swim workout also serves to develop balance.

Kick Drill #1

Mastering an effective butterfly kick hinges on acquiring the skill to execute powerful, fluid, and evenly rhythmic kicks in both directions. Go ahead and attempt to perform this.

  1. Initiate your push-offs by placing your arms beside your body.
  2. Subsequently, perform six kicks while laying on your back.
  3. Transition to the left side and execute a sequence of six kicks.
  4. Proceed by rotating onto your stomach and performing six kicks while facing forward.
  5. Complete the sequence by rotating once more onto the right side for an additional set of six similar movements.

The objective is to maintain a consistent, strong, and smooth motion throughout the good swimming workouts for beginners. Pay particular attention to the initial and final kicks before and after every rotation to a new spot.

Kick Drill #2: Back Flutter

Before you start, make sure you are lying comfortably on your back.

  • Elevate your legs to form an angle of 45 degrees.
  • Ensure that your legs remain perfectly straight and firmly pressed together, toes directing forward.
  • For added comfort, you can extend arms gently above your head.
  • Initiate the movement by gradually lowering one of your legs.
  • After lowering it, raise the same leg back up while simultaneously lowering the opposite leg.
  • Maintain a strong focus on actively engaging your core muscles throughout the exercise. Sustain this alternating leg movement, steadily transitioning between sides.

This particular drill serves a dual purpose: not only does it work towards refining your kicking technique, but it also aids in acquainting you with the sensation of being in a supine state in the water. By regularly incorporating such fun swim workouts for beginners in your training regimen, you can anticipate an improvement in your overall swimming skills and an increase in your self-assurance while maneuvering in a supine position.

Kick Drill #3: Side Flutter

  • For this, recline on a single side with your lower arm elongated, allowing your ear to rest lightly on it. 
  • Make sure you hold your upper arm alongside your body.
  • If necessary, you have the option to grasp onto a board using your upper hand for stability.
  • While executing the kick, focus on initiating movement from your hips rather than your knees.
  • Look upwards and ensure that the side or back of your head and knees remain submerged underwater.

The technique emphasizes fluidity and proper body alignment, helping you improve your overall swimming efficiency.

Butterfly Stroke for Newbies

The butterfly stroke might pose a challenge for beginners, but fret not – we've outlined a sequence of exercises designed to gradually introduce you to the technique. To acclimate yourself effectively, follow the listed easy swim workouts for beginners sequentially as a part of a comprehensive set. Before we delve into the set itself, let's briefly examine the structure of these exercises.

Workout #1

  1. As a starter, initiate a thorough warm-up to ensure you are limber prior to entering the pool.
  2. Prior to diving in, engage in some stretching exercises.
  3. Follow by a well-rounded swimming warm-up routine.

Complete a minimum of 300 meters in freestyle stroke to elevate your temperature and prepare for the swim session.

Workout #2

Moving on to the subsequent segment of this workout, you'll engage in butterfly drill exercises, involving sets of 25 meters taken twice for each of the four distinct drills. Collectively, this butterfly swim workout for beginners will sum up to 200 meters. Refer to videos for a visual representation of the recommended form. While certain drills might seem unfamiliar initially, their cumulative effect will become evident once you amalgamate them, significantly enhancing your stroke technique.

Workout #3

Following the conclusion of the drills, transition into the core segment of the set. Here, execute 12x50 meters, alternating between a lap of butterfly stroke and a subsequent lap of freestyle. Throughout this pivotal phase, concentrate on harmonizing the various drill components to form a seamless butterfly stroke. Subsequently, wrap up with a relaxed 100-meter cool-down.

Distance exercise

Elevate your endurance through an invigorating yet attainable stamina-building beginner swimming workouts cardio. Commence by selecting a stroke that resonates with you; whether it's freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke, or butterfly, the choice is yours. Dedicate a span of between thirty minutes up to forty for this session, focusing on a rhythm that you deem sustainable. Remember, swiftness should not be the primary point here; as an alternative, prioritize a methodical and consistent rhythm. Better go slowly but steadily, which is particularly fitting for the endeavor. 

Should you wish to enhance your beginner swim workout plan further, consider integrating additional tools for exercising such as kickboards, buoys, or even snorkels. These aids can provide extra support and allow you to concentrate on refining specific aspects of your swimming movements. With dedication and a commitment to steady progress, this endurance workout promises not only to bolster your stamina but also to cultivate a profound connection with the chosen stroke.

In Closing

We have made you familiar with a set of best swim workouts for beginners. Hopefully, this will be useful for you. But we would like to draw your attention to the fact that it is not so much the effectiveness of the exercises as the regularity of their practice that is important. Therefore, we recommend you to make a training plan and follow it without skipping.

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