How to Step into the Water While Swimming

Stepping into the water is the most basic swimming survival skill and also a way to keep you afloat. You don't even need to learn how to swim to learn stepping into the water first. Many water sports, such as water polo, frequently use stepping into the water techniques. Even if your swimming skills are average, you can still improve your endurance and strengthen your entire body by learning to step into the water for a long time.

Method 1 Basic Techniques

1 Use both hands and feet.

Make sure your body and limbs are in a vertical state with the water surface. If you turn your body sideways and start kicking your legs in the water, or if you draw your feet in the water, you've already entered the swimming action, not stepping into the water.

2 Head up, normal breathing

Keep your head above the water surface and try to breathe regularly and slowly. Slowing down your breathing allows you to calm down and relax, and to store energy so that you can step into the water for a longer time

3 Arms move horizontally

If you move your arms up and down, your body will also float up and down because your arms are connected to your body. The correct method is to let your arms move horizontally, with your hands together, moving forward, with your palms facing forward, and moving back with your palms facing back, which can keep your upper body from sinking

4 Draw circles or kick legs

If you choose to draw circles with your legs in the water, don't point your toes down or make your legs stiff. If you choose to kick your legs forward and backward, keep your feet pointing down, and the kicking action of your legs cannot be interrupted

5 If needed, you can lie on your back with your back facing downwards, while gently moving your arms and legs in the water

If you get tired while stepping into the water, you can lie on your back and face down in the water. However, your limbs still need to be constantly moving in the water, just not as frequently and forcefully as vertical stepping into the water

6 If you are still not sure that you will not sink, you can use any floating devices

A piece of wood, a short paddle, or even a rubber boat. As long as they can float on the water, you can use them. Relying on your own physical strength to reduce the time you stay afloat, you can float for a longer time

Method 2 Stepping into the Water Techniques

1 'Dog paddling' stepping into the water

'Dog paddling' refers to keeping your arms moving forward with your body and kicking your legs up and down in the water

• Advantages: It doesn't require too much 'formal technique' to achieve
• Disadvantages: It consumes a lot of energy, which means you cannot stay in the water for a long time with this method

2 'Shallow kicking' method

'Shallow kicking' refers to kicking your legs back and forth while extending your arms, maintaining balance. When stepping into the water, you should keep your feet pointing down, and one leg kicks forward while the other leg kicks back, forming a continuous forward and backward movement

• Advantages: Your arms are freed up, allowing you to do other things while stepping into the water
• Disadvantages: Because you only use your legs to make yourself float on the water, it will make you very tired

3 'Frog kicking' kicking

When doing 'frog kicking', keep your thighs still, lift your feet to the sides, and then quickly return them to the starting position. This method is also called 'narrow stance kicking'. To start, align your legs vertically, then move your shins outward to the sides of your body, and quickly return them to the starting position

• Advantages: Compared to 'dog paddling' and 'shallow kicking', 'frog kicking' doesn't make you so tired
• Disadvantages: This kicking method will make you up and down in the water, making it impossible to float quietly on the water

4 'Paddle-like rowing' method

As the name suggests, 'paddle-like rowing' refers to using your arms like oars. When doing this action, fully open your arms on either side of your body, and fully immerse them in the water. Palms facing inward, while moving your arms forward to gather them, when your palms are about to touch, quickly turn your palms outward and move your arms outward to the starting position. Try to smoothly complete one round with your hands

• Advantages: Your legs are freed up, allowing you to combine other leg movements, such as 'shallow kicking'
• Disadvantages: You must immerse all parts of your body except your head in the water

5 'Spinning' method

This method is also called 'egg beater' method, it requires that when you are in the water, one leg moves in a clockwise direction, while the other leg moves in a counterclockwise direction. This method is difficult to master, but it can save a lot of energy

• Advantages: If you can master this method completely, you can save a lot of energy
• Disadvantages: It's quite difficult to master this method, and it requires a lot of practice during the learning process

6 'Mini helicopter' method

Adopt the same movement when floating, lie back with your back facing towards the water, and immediately start moving your hands in circles, and your legs move up and down simultaneously

• Advantages: The action is simple, and children can understand it easily
• Disadvantages: Constantly moving your hands will make you feel tired

Small Tips

• Relax and store your energy. The more you step into the water, the more tired you will feel, and then you will easily get cold
• If needed, use floating devices, which can help you get used to the feeling of floating in the water
• The more salt or sugar in the water, the easier it is for people to float
• If you get tired while swimming, you can try to step into the water without using your arms
• The more you practice, the simpler it will be to float

Warnings

• Never swim alone
• If you are still a beginner swimmer, don't try dangerous actions (such as stepping into the water without relying on your arms or only relying on your arms) to show off your strength.