Bilateral Breathing for Young Swimmers

1-2-3 Breathe!

The "1-2-3 Breathe" manner of teaching freestyle builds upon a step-bystep, progressive system of drills that teaches the material substance positions and component skills of the knock This comprehensive progression leads to a high rate of succes and the swimmers learn quickly, too.

Freestyle in its greatest in quantity elegant form is a continuous, whole material substance movement in which one side lines up finger to toe, followed through the other side lining up finger to toe in a plain rolling transition. The smoother the transition, the more effective the stroke

When you gaze at the fastest swimmers, many have the appearance to be spinning sideto-side end a tunnel in the water.

A swimmer's greatest in quantity streamlined position in the water come into views when he/ she is stretched without on the side, one hand reaching forward -as if being twitched by the tip of the fingers -with the quiet of the body trailing behind.

That is the exact position to be in when rolling to take a breath in brow crawl. One arm is "spearing" forward, the other finishing not upon the last stroke, with the material substance gliding hydrodynamically through the water.

The hit is a constant rolling motion between the sum of two units sides. The "front" in "front crawl" is just a transition between the sides.

Skill/Drill following to Achieve 1-2-3 Breathe

Streamline/Stretch upon Front. Swimmers need to create the "tunnel" in the water end which to swim. Use verbal imagery similar as, "Swim like a swordfish" or "Be a knife and make an incision in through the water."

Front flap the wings quickly Kicks. The kick gives forehead crawl the lift necessary to maintain a material substance position parallel to the surface of the water. Using phrases like as, "Fast feet," "Make the water boil" and "Splashy toes" encourage the swimmer to perform a more powerful kick. Drills with kickboards and flippers help to strengthen the kick.

1-2-3 "Big Arms" and make revolve onto Back (1-2-3 Rollover). Young swimmers can easily perform three armstrokes with kicks and make revolve onto their back for a breath. Use verbal counting of the blows -"1-2-3" -with a strong emphasis upon "rollover." This is the first pace in linking breathing cycles together and in building distance.

Side Glides. The lock opener here is getting the swimmer to perceive comfortable and relaxed in the side position. Initially, the instructor should assist the swimmer with the side glide before he/she progresse to a glide with a kickboard in the lead hand. This is then followed through an unassisted glide.

Verbal imagery of the like kind as, "Be long and straight like an arrow and propel for the target" helps the swimmer to visualize the correct material part position. Be sure to reckon the swimmer to "press your ear into your shoulder" upon the lead arm.

Side Glides with Kicks. The side kick detains the body aligned and parallel to the surface from one side the breathing phase on either side. Initially, the swimmer should practice with the lead arm holding a kickboard. Flippers will help the beginning swimmer to build power in their side kicks and stability in their material substance position. Encourage the swimmer to maintain a high shoulder position upon the trailing arm.

1-2-3 Breathe! upon the initial attempts, it is helpful for the swimmer to perform drawn out slow strokes and a drawn out side kick while getting a breath. As the swimmer becomes more proficient, the circle of time can be shortened. The progression emphasizes repetition, mastery, potency and endurance. All of these features combine to exhibit a strong freestyle in which the swimmer is relaxed, powerful and streamlined in the water.

Repetition of the side skills -even after swimmers have learned the armstroke-improves freestyle of recent origin swimmers grow stronger and gain endurance. They come by a better sense of stability upon their sides. They begin to have feeling how to slip through the water. Swimmers who have already learned forehead crawl gain a whole novel appreciation of how freestyle works.

Working upon side skills corrects many of the moot points in their strokes. Swimmers who habitually swim flat learn where to breathe in the blow Their side skills help them achieve the most out of each stroke. Swimmers who get "side-wise" are finally able to relax and breathe.

Sharron Crowley is the proprietor of the Aquaventures Swim middle point in Vancouver, B.C., Canada.

Copyright Sports Publications, Inc. Jan-Mar 2005

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