Q&A for How to Swim Freestyle

You keep kicking as long as you're swimming, as needed. Kicking helps you move forward. If you stop kicking, the pressure will be on your arms.

The secret to a successful dive is straight legs and keeping your arms locked in place during the process. Aim to make a pathway with your arms so that the rest of your body can enter the water properly. Try to dive far rather than short.

Don't sprint at the start so you retain energy to swim longer. Basic practice will also help you build your way up to swimming longer or faster distances.

If you're trying to rest without touching the floor, I suggest flipping onto your back, spreading your arms and breathing normal. Kick very slowly to keep your legs floating with the rest of your body. Oxygen in your lungs will keep you floating without using your arms and much power in your legs.

Move your head to the side. When you need to breathe, put your ear right to the water, breathe, and then turn your head back toward the bottom of the pool.

Your feet should naturally kick faster than your arms, so they don't exactly have to be synced.

Exhale through your nose while underwater. An excellent way to practice this is to use some of the helpful tips in this article about learning to swim underwater without holding your nose on wikiHow.

When you breathe, breathe to the left or right side. You shouldn't try breathing underwater. If you keep swallowing water when trying to breathe, you could work on some drills that make you have a consistent stroke, so that you aren't splashing around and getting extra chances to swallow water. You could also learn how to use a swim snorkel to work better with breathing.

No. You should kick your legs just below the surface so that it does not splash and break the surface. Or, if you do break the surface, it should not create too big of a splash.

Try holding on to the edges of a pool first. While holding on, put your head underwater, and then start kicking. When you are out of breath, exhale underwater, and then raise your head to get some air.

Make sure to cup your hands to use them as paddles when swimming. This allows you to scoop up more water, which propels you forward.

Not even a full second. Get ready to inhale underwater, turn your head, and snatch a quick breath. When you surface, half your face should remain in the water.

Probably nothing. You need to learn to relax your body. Besides focusing on relaxing, an initial kick from one leg can help you float more easily. Also, remember to keep your head down whenever you try to float. This little action will lift the lower part of your body.

Follow the coach's rules. If you are desperate to really be your best, consider joining a different team.

In freestyle, you need to keep your legs balanced. Not too low underwater, and not too high above water. If your legs are underwater, you are probably bending you knees too much. If you keep your legs too high, however, you'll only be kicking the air and not the water.

You must put your face fully in the water to swim freestyle correctly.

You can buy anti-fog goggles, and that's really your best option. A short-term fix if your goggles get foggy during a swim is spitting inside them and rinsing the excess saliva.

It really depends on what type of water you swim in and whether your eyes are already accustomed to chlorine. Most likely swimming without goggles won't do anything other than irritate your eyes and make them temporarily foggy. You would also have increased difficulty seeing through the water to swim.

Go to a swimming pool and get comfortable playing around in water where you can touch bottom. You have to feel safe in the water before you can really learn to swim. If you know someone who can teach you, like a family member or friend, ask them to come to a pool with you to help you swim. Or you could ask your parent/guardian to enroll you in swimming lessons.

You are not going to be able to swim in a straight line right off the bat. Try practicing by putting a line on the bottom of your pool (ask your parents for permission) and practice following the line. Also, you can try walking in straight lines - this tends to help you focus on your goal and makes it much easier.

Kick one leg, then the other, and do that over and over again.

If you start to feel anxious, go to the surface. If you panic underwater you could accidentally inhale water, which could lead to drowning.

Just relax, you're probably not doing anything wrong, you just need to give it time and you will get better. Top athletes didn't learn in a day, it takes practice and determination. If you haven't already, consider taking swimming lessons so you can get an instructor's opinion on your form.

Various supports such as vests and floats can help you to feel more comfortable in the water. Many people find that a pull buoy, which is placed between the thighs, is useful for helping you to focus on proper arm movements and position.

Odds are, you're not swimming properly if you're inhaling water. You must be at the surface of the water parallel to the floor (if it is not slanted). If you are breathing to the right, your right arm must be below at least your shoulder, as having your arm above your head will push you under and you will only swallow water.

Enroll your child in a swimming class at a local swim club or YMCA.

Avoid comparing yourself to others. But if you really want to know, ask a coach or a lifeguard.

You don't. There is no way to breathe underwater. You have to tilt your head to the side and make sure that your mouth is out of the water. This allows you to get a full breath.

I always cup my hands. It's easier to pull yourself through the water because your hands provide resistance and push you forward against the water.

Just keep practicing and you'll get better. You could get a coach to really help you out.