Just Keep Swimming: Top Tips for Swimming in Non-Peak Seasons

Alexandria, Va. (March 13, 2023) – Fluctuating temperatures this time of year can be enough to disrupt plans, but swimming doesn’t have to be one of them. While swimming is thought to be a summer activity, Step Into Swim – a water safety initiative of the Pool & Hot Tub Alliance – addresses the benefits of swimming year-round and offers tips for young swimmers to flex their swim skills during non-summer months.

“Swimming is more than a summer sport. With proper instruction, it’s an activity to be enjoyed throughout the year and lends itself to building confidence, maintaining a healthy lifestyle, and keeping kids safe in the water,” said Rowdy Gaines, three-time Olympic Gold Medalist and Vice President of Partnerships and Development for PHTA, who leads the Step Into Swim initiative. “I don’t know where I’d be today without swimming. It has been a great joy in my life and it’s incredible that I have an opportunity to share that passion with others and create more swimmers through Step Into Swim.”

Ultimately, practicing swimming in the off months can help prepare children for the summertime and give them a fun way to exercise. Whether families are new to the water or they are seasoned swimmers, staying consistent in the swimming journey is essential to preserving and building upon those lifesaving skills.

Step Into Swim shares these top five tips for off-season swimming:

Find an indoor pool. Outdoor pools are typically closed between September through May, but indoor facilities often offer open swimming as well as formal swimming lessons through the winter season. Rec centers, local YMCAs and community centers are great options to consider. For an added bonus, some aquatic facilities heat their indoor pools.
Join a winter swim team. While many pools have open swim and formal swimming lessons available for community residents, they may also have swim teams for those who want to be more engaged and competitive in the water.
Dress warm. Sweats, socks and layers will help keep you warm going to and from the pool. Loose clothing is also preferred because tight clothes are hard to put on after a swim.
Make winter swimming a family affair. Getting active and switching your environment are two ways to beat the winter blues. Take the whole family on your next trip to the pool and rid yourselves of any lingering cabin fever before spring hits.
Practice dryland swimming at home. If venturing outside the house is too much, try age-appropriate dryland swimming exercises, including arm and leg swings, jumping jacks and planks. Practicing swimming techniques out of the water can help build muscle and strength.

There are many ways to enjoy swimming year-round, and Step Into Swim hopes you do. After all, it’s important to just keep swimming.

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About Step Into Swim

Step Into Swim^TM is an initiative of the Pool & Hot Tub Alliance and its foundation committed to safe swim education and drowning prevention. By investing in the next generation of swimmers through learn-to-swim programming, the Step Into Swim initiative instills confidence, empowers long-term participation in water activities, touts the positive benefits of water play, and advocates for safe practices. Since its inception in 2012, Step Into Swim has played a role in reducing drowning fatalities and has gifted swim lessons to more than 300,000 children with support from community organizations, partners, industry advocates, members and more. For more information, visit www.stepintoswim.org.