The road to triathlon day with Neilson continues. As proud partners of Restless Development, we’re thrilled to be supporting the young triathletes again this year.
After covering cycling and running, we’re now diving into the swim - helping your kids feel calm, confident and in control when they hit the water.
READY TO MAKE A SPLASH?
For many young athletes, swimming can feel like the most unfamiliar part of race day. It’s a different rhythm and environment and staying relaxed is key.
The good news? With a couple of simple techniques and just a few minutes of regular practice, confidence grows quickly. Here, Neilson swimming expert Izzy shares her top tips to help your child master their race-day swim.
Master the Bubbles
When your face is in the water, encourage relaxed breathing out through both the nose and mouth. Think of it as a gentle trickle of bubbles rather than one big exhale. Staying calm and steady with breathing makes a huge difference to confidence and control.
Click the image below to hear Izzy - alongside our brilliant young swimmers - explain the key techniques behind relaxed breathing and strong swimming form.
Reach, High Elbow, Repeat
For front crawl, encourage a high elbow recovery, reaching forward and entering the water fingertips first. This helps create a longer, smoother stroke and keeps movements efficient rather than rushed.
Pair each stroke with steady, relaxed bubbling under the water to maintain rhythm and control. When breathing and technique work together, swimming starts to feel more natural - and that’s when confidence really begins to grow.
The Splash Smart Checklist
To round things off, we’ve put together a simple checklist to help ensure your kids feel confident and race-ready in the water.
Here are a few simple ways to support your child’s swimming journey:
- Get the kit sorted: A well-fitting swimsuit, secure goggles and a towel ready poolside help avoid last-minute stress.
- Practice little and often: Just 5-10 minutes of focused swimming builds routine, technique and confidence.
- Master the bubbles: Calm, steady breathing out in the water helps keep nerves under control.
- Reach and repeat: A long stroke, high elbow and fingertips entering first create smooth, efficient swimming.
- Swim in a busy lane once or twice to get used to sharing space.
- Stay relaxed: Remind them to swim at their own pace - control beats speed every time.
- Keep it positive: Celebrate every length, every improvement and every splash.
What's Coming Next
Just a few minutes of practice a day can really help establish a routine and make race day feel familiar and manageable. Next up, we’ll be sharing our top race-prep and nutrition tips to make sure the little athletes are fuelled, focused and ready to go.
