Breathing in backstroke involves coordinating your head rotation with your arm movements to inhale and exhale efficiently.
Here's a breakdown of the technique, incorporating information from the provided reference:
Key Breathing Technique
The key to breathing in backstroke is to avoid over-rotating your head, which can disrupt your body position in the water. Instead:
- Head Rotation: Rotate your head gently to the side when one arm is recovering (moving out of the water).
- Inhale: As your head rotates, open your mouth to take a breath.
- Exhale: Slowly exhale as your head returns to a neutral position in the water.
Coordination with Arm Strokes
| Action | Head Position | Breathing | Arm Movement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beginning stroke | Neutral, facing upwards | Exhaling | One arm is underwater pulling, the other is recovering |
| Mid stroke | Rotating to the side | Inhaling | Recovering arm reaches its highest point |
| End of stroke | Returns to neutral, facing upwards | Exhaling | One arm enters the water, the other is pulling |
Important Considerations:
- Consistency: Aim for consistent breathing patterns on both sides to maintain balance.
- Relaxation: Stay relaxed in the water. Tension can make breathing more difficult.
- Practice: The reference emphasizes the importance of practicing the technique regularly to improve your backstroke and breathing efficiency.
Summary
Essentially, in backstroke you breathe in as one arm is recovering (moving out of the water) and exhale as your arm is pulling (moving underwater). The key is to avoid over-rotating your head while coordinating breathing with your arm strokes for optimal efficiency.
