Swim England Members
Tips for improving your front crawl breathing
October 23, 2018Knowing how and when to breathe in front crawl is one of the most challenging aspects of the stroke.
Read our front crawl breathing tips from our resident Swim England coaches Lucy and Carolyn, or watch the video below to improve your swimming technique.
Front Crawl Breathing Tips
- The breath cycle is commonly every three or five arm strokes
- Make sure you exhale under the water and try not to hold your breath. It may be a trickle (gentle and continuous) or explosive (all in one go). It can be through your mouth, nose or a combination of the two.
- The head stays in the bow wave, and smoothly turns to one side, not lifting forwards, to inhale as the body rotates. As the body starts to rotate to one side, the arm on the same side will pass by your side.
- The bow wave will create a trough or pocket of air for you to breathe into, protecting your mouth and nose from the water.
- As you turn your head, keep your opposite arm extended in front of you and in line with your shoulder. It will be about 20-30 cm under the water with your elbow higher than your wrist. Your wrist higher than your finger tips.
- As you see your hand coming over the top of the water (on the same side), start to rotate your body back to horizontal. Your head rotates in line with your body.
- As the body starts to rotate back into the water, the hand that is extended out in front will now start the pull phase.
- Your face returns to the water before your hand does.
- Try to keep the rhythm of your stroke unaffected by breathing.