Swimming: Breathing

Breathing. The breathing action is a regular and controlled turning of the head to either side. Ensure full and quick intake of breath and exhail into the water as the face returns to its central position. Bilateral breathing to the left and right of every third arm stroke will help develop good balance and rhythm.

Full Stroke Cycle.

Full Stroke Swimming. The body position will be streamlined and horizontal lying flat with the face in the water looking downwards. The hips are held high with rotation of the shoulders and upper body as the hand reaches underwater to full stretch allowing more power throughout the pull. This helps the body to cut through the water in a streamlined fashion. The shoulders should remain relaxed. The hips should roll in tune with the shoulders to stop any rigid swimming another common fault is snaking of the hips. The head is central and fixed turning to the left or right to breathe. The face should be placed on the water surface with the eyebrows underwater and forehead touching the water surface. The feet should break the surface, creating some white water splash from the turbulent mix of water and air.

Kick. Alternate kick kepping in line with the body and close to the water surface. Do not kick too deep. Start the kick from the hips and use the whole of your leg through to your feet and toes with feet and toes pointing towards the opposite end of the pool. (Do not drive or strat the kick from the knees). Knees will be slightly bent with legs and feet pasing close to each other with feet creating a small amount of white water splash. Increase the speed of kick to a six beat leg kick for greater propulsion over short distances (six leg kicks to every full arm stroke cycle). The kick for distance swimmers is mainly used for balance.

Turn. Tumble Turn. Focus onto the wall five metres away and be aware of how many strokes it takes you to reach the wall. On the penultimate stroke the hand is taken down under the body at right angles towards your opposite hip in order to pivot around the wall. Do not execute the tumble turn in a head over heels fashion as you will be left on your back. As the feet are planted on the wall the leading arm finds a straight direction to follow whilst underwater. Once the feet have been firmly placed they drive off the wall with both hands together, push off underwater to create a streamlined position, hold for two seconds after the push off; This will keep the body under the oncoming wave you have created and cut back on resistance; After a short glide start to kick with frontcrawl or dolphin legs underwater for another two seconds, the head then breaks the surface first to resume full stroke.

Breathing. The breathing action is a regular and controlled turning of the head to either side. Ensure full and quick intake of breath and exhail into the water as the face returns to its central position. Bilateral breathing to the left and right of every third arm stroke will help develop good balance and rhythm.

Dive Start. Stand firmly on the poolside or starting blockwith toes wrapped around the front edge. Place hands to the front or side of the starting block; Fingers will secure starting position with body weight slightly forwards. Dive out down the pool to full stretch; Pike at the highest point of the dive whilst in the air in order to enter the water surface, the whole body enters through the same point of contact on the water surface as if you were diving through a hoop; Snap out of this position and into a streamlined position on immediate entry into the water in order for the body to follow through the same point of entry. If you dive too flat speed through the water and momentum from the poolside or starting block will be lost. Never dive into shallow waters.

Dive Entry. On entering the water the body immediately stretches out into a streamline position with hands and feet together. The head is kept between the arms to cut back on resistance through the water. Execute a frontcrawl kick action or dolphin kick action (butterfly) to maintain speed for approximately four seconds. Ensure the leg kick drives the body to the water surface, maintain speed as you break the water surface with your head to execute full stroke swimming. It is possible to find greater speed whilst underwater due to good streamlining and momentum. Never dive into shallow waters.

Hips. When swimming frontcrawl the hips stay high and close to the water surface with your costume just breaking the surface. There is slight rotation of the hips to the left and right as you reach forwards with every arm stroke.