What are the different floating techniques in swimming?

All Afloat

There are two basic floating techniques in swimming:

1. The basic back float (also known as the back "star" float). Lie on your back in the water. While maintaining a "flat" horizontal position, extend your legs out and make a large "V" with them, then stretch your arms out to the sides, making a "T" with them. Ensure that your arms and legs are staying in the water. Tilt your head backwards, and push your stomach up, as if an invisible string is attached to your navel and is pulling you up towards the sky.

   Making sure your stomach is pushed upwards is absolutely key to maintaining a floating position. If you let your stomach and pelvis sink down, you will sink to the bottom. If you are working with a child, I find telling them to make a "big Santa Clause belly" helpful, and telling them to try to look like Patrick on Nickelodeon's "SpongeBob."

2. The basic front float (also known as the front "star" float). Lie on your front in the water. While maintaining a "flat" horizontal position, extend your legs out and make a large "V" with them, then stretch your arms out to the sides, making a "T" with them. Ensure that your arms and legs are staying in the water. Put your face in the water (but make sure you remember to breathe when you need to!). If you are worried that you will get water in your nose, exhale through your nose while doing your front float.

Note:

Keep in mind that due to body type and shape, not everyone will float the same way. People who have a lower density (due to having more fat in their body), are more likely to float at the surface of the water. And people who are very thin or very muscular are likely to float lower in the water. This is why women tend to float better than men: Men naturally have a leaner body shape and women are naturally curvier because we have breasts and wider hips. Remember that floating does not constitute that one is necessarily at the surface, rather that one is suspended in water at a constant level.