Swim Drills

Breathing Timing drill

Once you have perfected kicking on your side and have mastered the sharkfin drill, its time to add the timing of your breathing into the a drill.
This drill progresses the side kick, by working on the recovery phase of the stroke and the timing for each breath during each stroke.

​Key points to note are :-

• Because this drill is about the timing for the breath, its important you take a breath on each recovery arm movement.
• The head rotates, without lifting, as the hand starts to move on the recovery.
• Blowing out the previous breath as you rotate the head.
• A quick breath  in and then recover the head to face forward when the hand reached the shoulder.
• Rotate the head whilst holding the hand at the shoulder before then moving the hand back to the start.
• Ensure you  kick on your side throughout the drill.
• With the front hand at the surface of the water.

The sequence of events are - 

• Kick on the side with the head facing forward.
• As you move the recovery hand rotate your head whilst blowing out the last breath.
• Breath in.
• When the hand reaches the shoulder, hold it there.
• Rotate your head back to face forward.
• Move the hand back to the start position.

Other points to note in the video :-

• Always push off from the side of the pool in a streamlined position, with both arms out stretched, making the frontal area as small as is possible. Do it every time and it will become natural.
• Note the swimmer doesn't lift their head duiring each breath.