The purpose of the work: to reveal the peculiarities of physical training of students during swimming lessons. Methodology: theoretical research methods were used, in particular, analysis and generalization of methodological, psychological-pedagogical and educational-methodical literature, which made it possible to determine the peculiarities of physical training of students during swimming lessons. Scientific novelty: the current state of health and physical fitness of student swimmers was analyzed, a complex of problems related to the development of sports and mass swimming in Ukraine was identified, in particular, the training of the country's population and its conscript contingents in the ability to swim. The role and place of swimming in the system of physical fitness of student youth and ensuring their adherence to the basics of a healthy lifestyle are defined. Conclusions: as a result of the analysis of literary sources, it was found that swimming has a positive effect on the culture of movements, allows you to control your movements in the water, and this, in turn, has a positive effect on improving the level of development of physical qualities and moral and willpower, on increasing speed and strength readiness. In addition, the appropriate use of swimming equipment guarantees the emotionality of classes and the versatile physical impact on various muscle groups, allows to increase the level of development of the components of physical fitness, the interest of students, the motor density of classes and the realization of both a health-improving task and the formation of a solid foundation of work capacity for a long and active life of an individual. It is important to use the means of physical fitness when learning to swim, taking into account the balanced volumes of physical exertion, of different orientations, which allow to ensure the effectiveness of the pedagogical influence on solving the health-improving task and obtaining a long-term training effect, taking into account the age, gender and professional characteristics of the contingent.