All you need is a safe place to swim. Competition pools usually have bottoms that can be adjusted for a variety of events, like synchronized swimming and water polo. Click here to take an up close look at the competition pool. Staying Afloat Treading water is one of the first, and most important swimming skills you should learn. You will need to know how to tread water if you stop in deep water, or if you need to figure out where you are in open water.
Treading water requires a lot of strength and stamina.
In some provinces in Canada you have to tread water for at least a 45 minutes before you can become a life guard. Click here to learn how to tread water. The front crawl is the fastest and most efficient of all the swimming strokes. To perform it correctly requires lots of practice. Your body must be horizontal and your arms and legs must be constantly moving to propel you forward through the water.