Coordinating breathing and the forward pull is the most important skill in freestyle swimming. Done correctly, this technique improves speed and endurance, as you take a full, deep breath every third stroke. Concentration and coordination are required in the beginning, but with practice, the technique becomes second nature.
Instructions
1. Enter the shallow end of the swimming pool and face a wall. Hold on the wall with both hands and use a flotation aid to hold your legs up so that your body is flat in the water. Select an area without too much activity, so that you can focus.
2. Rotate your arms in the freestyle swimming stroke at moderate pace, keeping your head out the water and facing forward. With a flotation device, you can keep your legs still. Without one, kick your legs just enough to keep your body afloat.
3. Count three strokes and take a breath. Put your face in the water and blow out the air while moving your arms in the freestyle stroke while counting the stokes. At the third stroke, rotate your head so that your ear is flush with your upper arm.
4. Take a breath and return your face into the water, while still counting your strokes. At the third stroke, rotate your head so that your ear is flush with your upper arm. You should now be facing the opposite direction of the first breath.
5. Focus on your breathing pace and make sure you take a deep enough breath.
There should be no pause in forward motion when you turn your head while breathing.
6. Repeat these steps for 10 minutes and then let go of the wall and swim a length of front crawl, using the breathing on the pull stroke technique. Keep a steady pace and don't rush the intake breath. Make sure to take a full breath and blow it all out underwater.
Tags: your head, that your, third stroke, your legs, arms freestyle