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I want to learn to swim in Stockholm- where do I begin?

I am not sure if I am ready…

First of all- Welcome! Great that you are here and you want to learn to swim. Signing up for a swimming course is not always an easy decision especially if you are new to the water and/or have a fear of water. However, taking that first step can trigger an adrenaline rush and lay the foundation for the rest of your swimming journey.

At SISC, our aim is to guide your excitement in learning a new skill and provide you the tools to practice safe swimming.

You may already have some background in swimming or you may be a complete beginner in the water. Either way we are here for you and ready to help you reach your goals!

What course should I join…

All of our courses in the pool take place from January-May and September-December. Our annual open water courses take place in the summer period from June-August.

Swimming 101– this course is for those that are complete beginners. During the course, you can expect to learn basic water safety skills (e.g., floating on back/front, gliding, and the breastroke). We teach breastroke according to Svenska Liv Räddningssällskapet (SLS) because it is considered the most effective at saving lives.

Swimming 102– this course is for those that have completed Swimming 101 or want to take their basic swimming to the next level. We expect you can already float on your front (preferably on your back too) and can swim at least 10m without any equipment/assistance (this is in breastroke for most people). In the course, we will spend the first couple lessons improving your breastroke technique (focusing on timing and breathing). The following four lessons will be all about learning the front crawl. The aim is to swim longer distances and in the deep end (25m pool).

Open Water Camps– this course covers both Swimming 101 and Swimming 102 groups with an open water twist. We follow a similar format for both courses but we also teach specific techniques and safety tips that are necessary when you are swimming in the open water. Oh and we also wear wetsuits because the water in Stockholm is cold- even in the summer! We also offer a course for more advanced crawl swimmers interested in improving their technique and building their endurance in the open water.

*All of our swimming courses are in English, and we only teach adults. Our groups are small (max 5 students, and two instructors per 3 students).

What to do after Swimming 101…

Nicely done and congratulations on completing Swimming 101. You now have a basic foundation to continue your swimming journey. A natural progression would be to join Swimming 102 so you can practice your swimming in a different setting and challenge yourself to build on the skills you learned. Our aim is to always have a Swimming 102 course available within two weeks of your last Swimming 101 lesson. However, sometimes places fill up very quickly and it may be that you have to wait a few weeks before the next batch of Swimming 102 is announced.

What can you do in the meantime?

Keep practising! Try to keep swimming as often as you can from now till the next course. Check out the pool near your neighbourhood and join in during recreational swimming times. If you have questions about which swimming lane you can swim in don’t be afraid to ask the pool staff. Make sure to practice gliding in a streamline, breastroke kick on the wall or using a kickboard, floating front/back, and your breastroke. Buddy up with someone from the course or ask a friend to join you! The bottom line is you are prepared to practice the skills you have learned on your own.

What to do after Swimming 102…

Same rules apply as stated above. Keep swimming and practising the skills you learned in Swimming 102. You are no longer a beginner but rather an intermediate/advanced level swimmer. You are equipped with two swimming techniques in your arsenal-make use of them! You may have even achieved the milestone of swimming a 25m distance during the Swimming 102 course. However, students quickly learn that swimming is like any other sport and that practice really makes a difference. In order to swim longer distances it is not only about proper technique but also about increasing ones fitness and endurance levels. Check out public pools in your neighbourhood and put your skills to the test!

See you in the pool in 2023!

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