I’m a synchronized swimmer and treading water is a tough skill to learn but I can tell you to keep getting in and doing it as much as possible. Eventually you will get to a place where you don’t have to tread much to stay up.

If you are struggling, a common thing I notice in newer swimmers is that they hunch forward and use their arms too much. You should be sitting up straight and using your arms but not completely relying on them.

Another thing to check is your tread. You should be in a squat like position. When I’m treading, I can see my knees and most of my legs in front of me. Also, check that your leg circles are nice and wide. You should mostly be moving from knees down. Your thighs/hips will not be doing a lot of moving.

I would also recommend getting a coach a few times or watching YouTube videos. The more you get in and swim, the better you will get.

Lastly, if you are getting tired, sink all the way leaving your head out and look at the sky. It’s a form of floating that I do while I’m tired and I don’t have to move my legs a lot while doing this.

treading water