Breathe during front crawl by exhaling slowly and continuously underwater through your nose and/or mouth, then quickly inhaling through your mouth when your head rotates to the side.
Here's a breakdown of how to breathe efficiently during the front crawl:
Breathing Technique Explained
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Exhale Underwater: Don't hold your breath. Instead, slowly and consistently exhale air underwater through your nose and/or mouth. This prevents CO2 buildup and allows for a quicker, fuller inhale. Think of it as a controlled trickle of air.
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Rotate Your Head: As your body rotates naturally during the stroke, rotate your head to the side, just enough to bring your mouth out of the water. Avoid lifting your head, as this disrupts your body position and creates drag.
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Inhale Quickly: When your mouth clears the water, quickly and forcefully inhale. Aim for a full, complete breath.
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Return to Face-Down Position: After inhaling, rotate your head back down into the water, resuming the continuous exhale.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Holding Your Breath: Holding your breath underwater leads to CO2 buildup, making you feel more breathless and uncomfortable.
- Lifting Your Head: Lifting your head to breathe drops your hips and legs, creating drag and slowing you down.
- Breathing Too Late: Waiting until you're completely out of air to breathe makes it harder to get a full breath.
- Only Breathing to One Side: Practicing breathing on both sides helps develop a more balanced stroke and prevents muscle imbalances.
Drills to Improve Breathing
- Floating Exhale: Practice exhaling completely while floating face down in the water.
- Side Kicking with Rotation: Kick on your side with one arm extended, rotating to breathe every few kicks. This isolates the breathing motion.
- Breathing Every Three Strokes: Focus on a consistent exhale and quick inhale on every third stroke. This encourages bilateral breathing.
By practicing proper exhalation, head rotation, and inhalation techniques, you can breathe efficiently and comfortably during the front crawl, allowing you to swim longer and faster.
