I've been teaching swimming for over 30 years and I built Swim Teach so that I can share all my knowledge, wisdom and experience from the thousands of swimming lessons I have had the pleasure of teaching. Take a look back through my previous newsletters and see what you missed.
Breathing Technique - How, When and How Often? Plus, Do You Teach Outstanding Swimming Lessons?
Are you getting out of breath long before you think you should be? Which breathing technique is the right one for you? Swimming teachers, the definitive guide to teaching outstanding swimming lessons is here. Grab your copy today!
Hi, Mark here. I hope all is well with you.
This week we are talkng breathing technique. But, before we do, a quick message to all swimming teachers.
My very popular book How To Be A Swimming Teacher is packed with tips and helpful guidance. This really is the definitive guide to teaching outstanding swimming lessons.
Click here, or click the cover for a preview, including a full list of the contents. Discover the tools to help you master your profession and deliver outstanding swimming lessons.. Click the button below to purchase your copy.
| Purchase your copy here |
Do you know a new swimming teacher learning how to teach that might benefit from this? Please forward this email to them, or share the link. It could boost someone's teaching practice and really help them out.
Swimming Breathing Technique
I've been asked a lot of questions lately about breathing technique. Let's take a look at the how's and when's of breathing for each stroke.
Front Crawl
Trickle breathing is best for front crawl breathing. Letting the air out slowly is the most comfortable way of exhaling. Breathing every 3 arm pulls, alternating sides is ideal but breathing every stroke to the same side works just as well for some swimmers. Which ever breathing pattern you start with, be prepared to change it as you use more energy to swim. Click here for more on this breathing technique.
Breaststroke
Trickle breathing again but this time every stroke is best. Lift the head to inhale as you pull around with your arms, or 'pull your head up'. Exhale long and gradually into the glide, or 'blow your hands forwards'. Click here for more on this breathing technique.
Backstroke
The easiest swimming stroke to breathe during because you are facing upwards and can more or less breathe normally. However, inhaling with one arm pull and then exhaling with the other is a good way of establishing a steady rhythm. Click here for more on this breathing technique.
Butterfly
Explosive breathing for an explosive stroke. Trickle breathing is possible if you take a new breathing every second arm pull. For beginners though, this is not always easy to maintain and breathing every stroke is usually then performed. Click here for more on this breathing technique.
That's it for this week. Take care and stay safe.
Happy swimming!
Cheers
Mark
ps - did someone forward this to you? Subscribe here.
Hi! I'm Mark, creator of Swim Teach
I've been teaching swimming for over 30 years and I built Swim Teach so that I can share all my knowledge, wisdom and experience from the thousands of swimming lessons I have had the pleasure of teaching. Take a look back through my previous newsletters and see what you missed.
We’ve all done it - or seen it done. A swimmer pulls hard with their arms in breaststroke, only to realise… they’re not getting very far for all that effort. Hi, Mark here. Hope your week’s been a good one! Let’s talk breaststroke arms. As swimming teachers, we know it’s the leg kick that delivers the real power. But many swimmers still rely too much on their arms to pull themselves through the water, and that’s where things go wrong. 🔍 Quick Breakdown of the Arm Pull Technique The...
'Why do I get so out of breath when I swim?' - one of the most commonly asked questions in the pool. There are 2 very common breathing mistakes that many beginners learning to swim are guilty of. Hi, Mark here. I hope you've had a great week. When it comes to breathing technique, whichever swimming stroke is being attempted, there are two common mistakes that many adults make. Breath-holding Breathing too late What happens when you hold your breath? Breath-holding is an unnatural act for a...
How is your breaststroke timing and coordination? Download a free drill to help perfect it. Teachers - do your pupils make a mess of it? Scroll down to find my 'How To Teach Breaststroke' guide. Hi, Mark here. I hope all is well with you. This week, we are talking breaststroke timing, and I have a great printable timing drill for you to help you get things right. Breaststroke timing and coordination is a continuous alternating action where one propulsive phase takes over as one ends....