Freestyle breathing while standing in the pool

In freestyle swimming, also known as front crawl, it’s important to maintain proper breathing techniques. While you can certainly stand in the shallow end of a pool without swimming and practice your breathing, it’s essential to ensure that you’re doing it correctly. Here’s how you can practice your freestyle breathing without swimming:

Stand in the Shallow End:

Position yourself in the shallow end of the pool with your feet on the pool bottom.

Body Position:

Keep your body in a horizontal position with your face in the water.

Breathing Technique:

Practice the following breathing technique:

a. Inhale: While keeping your face in the water, turn your head to the side (usually to the right) to take a breath. The side of your face should be just above the water’s surface.

b. Exhale: Exhale underwater as you rotate your face back into the water.

c. Repeat: Practice this motion of inhaling to the side and exhaling underwater without lifting your head out of the water.

Rhythm:

Try to establish a rhythmic breathing pattern that suits you. Typically, swimmers take a breath every two or three strokes, but the frequency may vary depending on your comfort and stamina.

Bilateral Breathing:

While practicing, it’s a good idea to develop the ability to breathe on both sides (alternating between left and right). This can help balance your stroke and reduce strain on one side of your body.

Relax:

Focus on staying relaxed and maintaining good body alignment. Tensing up or lifting your head too much while trying to breathe can disrupt your stroke.

Remember that practicing freestyle breathing while standing in the pool is a helpful way to build confidence and develop good breathing habits. Once you’re comfortable with this technique, you can gradually incorporate it into your freestyle swimming stroke as you progress in your swimming skills.