Clothing layers can be used to adjust the resistance to your required level. T-shirts are used as a simple base layer. As your strength improves you can learn to swim in heavier clothes like jeans, jumpers and trainers.

Required clothing: Shorts, T-shirt and shoes

For your first swim put on just shorts and a good fitting T-shirt. This popular outfit is the easy to swim in and gives beginners a good impression of the game. Get used to the feel and the minimal drag resistance.

You can easily layer two or more larger T-shirts for added weight, possibly quite long and baggy ones. You will notice how the larger T-shirt floats differently around you.

If you teach a new swimming class, get them all to wear different colours and you can tell them apart more easily. You can also use colours to identify swimmers in team sports and games.

Shoes should also be worn when you train outdoors to avoid injury. Put on some lightweight sports shoes with socks for comfort. Now go for a swim and notice the extra drag of the shoes that slows your swimming somewhat. Get used to it as many water sports require shoes.

For use in swimming pools you better get a special pool shoes, available from swimshops or even some supermarkets.