Learn Swimming Online: Guide & Online Course Overview

Spending time in and around the water is one of the favorite leisure and vacation activities for both children and adults. Here you will find an overview of online swimming course providers and below you will find useful information on learning to swim online.

Learning to swim online: More water fun for kids & adults

Spending time at and in the water is one of the favorite leisure and holiday activities for both children and adults. Especially in the hot months, taking a dip in the cool water is the best refreshment there is. But as much as we Germans love to go swimming, not everyone can swim. 

According to the DLRG (German Lifesaving Association), around 60 percent of elementary school students and more than 50 percent of adults cannot swim or swim confidently. 

If you or your children also belong to the insecure or non-swimmers, it’s time for a swimming course! One of the easiest and quickest ways to learn to swim is an online swimming course. We’ll explain how such a course works, what benefits it offers you, and what you need for it in this guide. 

What is best for learning to swim? 

If you or your children want to learn to swim, a sufficiently large body of water – such as a pool, beach, or outdoor swimming pool – is of course the most important requirement. However, once this is available, there are various options available to you or your children: 

• School sports: Some schools include a swimming course in their regular physical education. However, not all children have this privilege! 
• Community college: Some community colleges also offer swimming courses, especially for adults. However, course times or personal embarrassment can be barriers for many swimming students. 
• Local swimming courses: Many outdoor and indoor swimming pools regularly offer swimming courses – however, time, travel, or personal objections can also be barriers in this case. 
• Online swimming course: Learning to swim online is becoming increasingly popular and can be implemented depending on time and location thanks to numerous courses for children and adults. 

Learning to swim online? This may sound strange at first glance. However, an online swimming course is a good alternative that can also be worthwhile for you or your children. 

Can I teach myself to swim?  

Is it even necessary to take an online swimming course, or can you or your children also teach yourselves to swim? We recommend that you always rely on professional guidance when learning to swim. This is important for safety reasons. 

Moreover, learning to swim often triggers fear of the water for both children and adults. Additionally, it is important to learn the swimming technique correctly. To master these challenges, you need expert guidance, such as that provided by an online swimming course. 

What are the advantages of an online swimming course?  

If you are still wondering whether an online swimming course is the right choice for you or your children, we have compiled five reasons that speak in favor of learning to swim online: 

1. Around water, serious accidents or even drowning can occur repeatedly. So before you or your family venture into the water, it is important for safety reasons to complete an online swimming course. 

2. Nothing spoils the fun of leisure time more than constantly having to be on guard – and that goes for the cool water too. After learning to swim online, more fun at the beach or in the outdoor swimming pool is practically guaranteed. 

3. An online swimming course is not only fun but also keeps you fit! With a low risk of injury, you train all the major muscle groups simultaneously – if that’s not a good reason for learning to swim online. 

4. Learning to swim online allows you to take your course regardless of location and time. For example, if you don’t have a body of water near you, you can easily move your training to your summer vacation at the Baltic Sea! 

5. An online swimming course is available to you at any time, so long waiting lists for you or your children are a thing of the past. 

How long does it take to learn to swim online? 

How long it takes you or your child to learn to swim online depends on various factors. Firstly, some people find it easier to learn physical movements than others. Additionally, adults and children have different attention spans: 

How long does a child need to learn to swim online? 

Children typically need about 10 hours to learn to swim well enough to earn the Seepferdchen swimming badge. However, they cannot accomplish this time span all at once, which is why 20 hours of 30 minutes each are recommended depending on age. 

How long does an adult need to learn to swim online? 

Adults often need a little less, about seven to eight hours, to learn to swim. However, to prevent physical overexertion, the courses are usually spread over several days in lessons of 45 to 60 minutes each. 

What do I need for an online swimming class? 

Just like for a course on-site, you only need minimal equipment for an online swimming course. This includes: 

Your favorite swim gear, from swimsuit or trunks to a towel An internet-enabled device to access your online swimming course, such as a PC, laptop, tablet, or smartphone Possibly a flotation device if you or your children still feel very insecure in the water Additionally, you naturally need a body of water, such as a pool, lake, outdoor swimming pool, or the sea, to move around in the wate

How does learning to swim online work? 

Every course designs learning to swim online a little differently. Nevertheless, there are some basics that every provider structures similarly. This includes explaining the different movements, including dry exercises for home and exercises in the water, for both children and adults. 

Furthermore, online swimming courses differ depending on the target audience: 

• An online swimming course for children is primarily aimed at you as a parent and shows you how to teach your child to swim. Additionally, there are interactive and fun elements for the little ones. 

• In an online swimming course for adults, you not only learn to swim but also how to overcome the fear of water. 

Can you earn the seahorse badge in an online course? 

In an online swimming course, you learn about the prerequisites for the Seepferdchen swimming badge. Additionally, many courses are designed so that the swimming training is structured in such a way that you or your children can earn the Seepferdchen badge after completing the course. 

However, you cannot earn the swimming badge online; it can only be earned in a swimming pool on-site. Simply contact the nearest swimming pool for the dates. 

Online, you can find numerous videos on platforms like YouTube that promise to teach you swimming online for free. However, these free alternatives have a disadvantage: they lack the didactic background to teach such a complex and often fear-filled topic in the right way. 

Therefore, we recommend that you opt for a professional and paid online swimming course, both for yourself and for your children. The costs are often lower than for an on-site swimming course – and you can repeat the course or lessons as often as you like without paying double. 

Your path to the seahorse badge: Learning to swim online or with an app 

Learning to swim online may sound like an impossible feat, but thanks to innovative online swimming courses, it is now possible for both adults and children. 

Whether you want to learn to swim yourself or need help supporting your child – with an online swimming course, the Seepferdchen badge is soon within reach, cost-effective, and independent of time and location!