By the Singapore Swimming Lessons team at Swim2u Swim School · Last reviewed: 30 September 2026 · Editorial policy
Most beginner swimmers run into a similar handful of mistakes, and most of them can be improved with the right guidance. From holding the breath instead of exhaling, to kicking from the knee rather than the hip, these patterns are predictable. Recognising them early can save a lot of frustrating, inefficient practice.
1. Holding the Breath Instead of Exhaling Underwater
Many beginners instinctively hold their breath the moment their face touches the water, then struggle to both exhale and inhale in the brief moment above the surface. The fix is learning to breathe out steadily while the face is in the water, so only a quick breath in is needed above it.
2. Lifting the Head Too High to Breathe
Lifting the head straight up rather than rotating it to the side drops the hips and legs, creating drag and making the whole stroke feel heavier. Side-breathing drills at the pool wall help retrain this habit.
3. Tensing the Whole Body
Anxiety in the water often shows up as muscle tension, which makes floating and moving harder. Consciously relaxing the shoulders, jaw and hands, combined with slow breathing, helps the body sit more naturally in the water.
4. Kicking From the Knees Instead of the Hips
A knee-driven kick creates a lot of splash and effort for little propulsion. An efficient flutter kick starts from the hips with a relatively long, relaxed leg, which beginners can practise with a kickboard.
5. Looking Forward Instead of Down
Many new swimmers lift their head to look ahead, which drops the hips and legs and adds drag. In front crawl, the head should usually stay in a neutral position, looking down and slightly forward.
6. Avoiding Deeper Water Altogether
Beginners often avoid leaving the shallow end. Skills such as treading water and deep-water comfort eventually need deeper water, so gradual exposure helps, but only with a qualified instructor present and at the learner’s pace.
7. Rushing the Learning Timeline
Comparing your progress with someone else’s, or expecting to swim confidently within a few sessions, often leads to frustration. Swimming skill builds gradually, and pushing too hard can reinforce tension and poor habits.
8. Neglecting Body Position
Many beginners focus on arm and leg movement and ignore body position, which strongly affects how much drag they are fighting. A long, horizontal body position with hips near the surface makes other skills easier to build.
9. Skipping Fundamentals to “Get to Swimming”
Some beginners want to go straight to full strokes without first becoming comfortable with floating, breathing and basic water confidence. Those fundamentals are what make everything else possible, and a patient coach will build them first.
10. Practising Inconsistently
Swimming, like any motor skill, depends on regular repetition. Long gaps between lessons mean some comfort and technique has to be relearned each time.
Which Mistakes Take Longer to Fix?
Not all beginner mistakes are equally stubborn. The times below are rough coaching estimates for a learner practising regularly with feedback. They vary a lot from person to person.
| Mistake | Why It Happens | Typical Fix | Rough time to improve (varies) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breath-holding instead of exhaling | Instinctive reaction to water on the face | Wall-side exhalation drills | A few weeks |
| Head lifting to breathe | Looking for air above rather than rotating | Side-breathing drills at the wall | A few weeks |
| Full-body tension | Anxiety response to the water | Float practice, slow breathing, gradual exposure | Depends on the level of anxiety |
| Knee-driven kick | Habit from running movement patterns | Kickboard sets with hip-focus cues | A few weeks or more |
| Head looking forward | Natural instinct to see where you are going | Head-still drills; look at the pool floor | A few weeks |
| Poor body position | Swimmer is unaware of it | Coach observation and feedback | A few weeks or more |
| Skipping fundamentals | Impatience; comparing with stronger swimmers | A lesson plan that builds skills in sequence | Addressed by the lesson structure |
Safety Considerations for Beginners
- Supervise children at all times near water. Even shallow water is a drowning risk for children who are not confident swimmers. Stay within arm’s reach of any young non-swimmer in the water.
- Never practise breath-holding alone, and never hyperventilate before breath-holding. Repeated or prolonged breath-holding can cause a sudden blackout underwater without warning. Only do breath-control exercises under direct, qualified supervision.
- Avoid swimming alone. Beginners should swim with a capable adult nearby or in a lifeguarded pool, especially when trying new skills.
- Know the pool depth before entering. Many pools, including condo pools, change depth along their length. Check the depth markers before getting into an unfamiliar pool.
Why a Coach Can Spot These Faster
Many of these mistakes are hard to notice from the inside. A swimmer kicking from the knees or lifting their head usually doesn’t realise it, because it feels normal. An outside eye can pinpoint which pattern is holding you back and give you a plan to work on it.
Our adult swimming lessons and kids swimming lessons start with an assessment so the coach can see these patterns early. Some nervous adult learners prefer ladies swimming lessons or private lessons for a quieter setting.
How Long Until These Mistakes Fade?
With regular practice and coaching feedback, many beginners see the most obvious errors improve over a couple of months. Holding good technique when tired usually takes longer. Everyone’s pace is different.
Mistakes That Show Up in Group Settings
In group classes, beginners sometimes copy a classmate’s stroke instead of following the coach’s correction, which can reinforce the wrong pattern. Focus on the feedback you are given, since everyone’s starting point differs.
Lessons With Us
Singapore Swimming Lessons is run by Swim2u Swim School. We offer private, condo, kids, adult, ladies and special-needs lessons, subject to coach, pool and schedule availability. See our fees or contact us to get started.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are these mistakes normal, or a sign I’m not suited to swimming?
They are normal. Most beginners make several of them, and they are not a sign of lack of ability.
Can I fix these mistakes without a coach?
Some self-correction is possible, especially with video feedback, but many of these errors are hard to notice yourself, so a coach usually speeds things up.
Which mistake should I focus on first?
Breathing and body position usually come first, because they affect almost everything else in the stroke.
How often should I practise?
Weekly practice is a reasonable baseline. More frequent practice can help, as long as tiredness does not ruin technique.
Is it normal to feel I’m not improving after weeks of lessons?
Yes. Progress in swimming is often uneven, with plateaus before noticeable jumps. Keep practising and ask your coach what they are seeing.
Do adults make different mistakes than children?
The core mistakes are similar, though adults often carry more tension from anxiety, while young children may find it harder to stay focused for a whole lesson.
Final Thoughts
Every beginner makes mistakes; that is part of learning a skill as unfamiliar as swimming. Recognising the common patterns, getting feedback from a coach, and practising regularly will help you move past them faster than trial and error alone.
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