I am starting a new series about The 7 Fundamentals Of Swimming with the first installment being:

The Importance of Breath Control in Swimming: A Skill for Every Level

Breath control is one of the most essential skills in swimming, laying the foundation for safety, confidence, and (a relaxed) performance at every level. From the first splash to elite-level training, there is a clear progression of breath control techniques, each tailored to the swimmer’s level and ability.

Whether you're a swim instructor, parent teacher, or swimmer, understanding this progression can help build a stronger foundation in the water.

For babies and toddlers, breath control starts with the basics: learning to hold their breath and feel comfortable with water on their face. This often involves using gentle submersion cues to prepare them for short, safe submersions.
Playful games, songs, and activities that involve dipping or splashing make the experience fun while building comfort, trust and familiarity with water. These early interactions are crucial for fostering positive associations with swimming and attending lessons.

For beginner swimmers, breath control activities focus on building confidence and comfort in water. They can practice learning to blow bubbles at and just under the surface, gradual face immersions (shoulder, ears, chin, lips etc) and assisted rhythmic bobbing (exhaling underwater and inhaling at the surface). Simple submersion games, like retrieving toys from the top step and eventually the bottom of the pool, further encourage swimmers to relax as they hold their breath when under the water.

Intermediate swimmers begin to refine their breath control with more structured techniques. Long, controlled exhales through the nose and mouth help develop lung capacity and comfort when moving through the water. Learning rhythmic breathing becomes key - with freestyle swimmers focus on exhaling during the "bubble arm" phase and inhaling during the "breathing arm" phase, while breaststroke swimmers synchronize breathing with the pull and glide phases. These skills are essential for stroke fluency.

At the advanced level, breath control becomes an integral part of optimizing performance. Swimmers refine their breathing to release tension, control CO₂ buildup, and adjust buoyancy to minimize drag. Advanced drills include hypoxic training under a certified coach, where swimmers practice building lung capacity, lactate tolerance and endurance. Techniques like bilateral and unilateral breathing, along with specific breathing sequences (e.g., 3-5-7 strokes in freestyle), further enhance stamina and efficiency. Breath control is also vital for starts, turns, and underwater phases, ensuring smooth transitions and peak performance during races.

Breath control is a universal skill that grows and adjusts with the swimmer. By understanding the specific needs of each stage, parents, swim teachers, and swimmers can approach breath control with clarity and confidence, creating a path to success in the water.

Let me know your favourite breath control activities in the comments.

Spreading swimming awesomeness

AlyT

www.BornToSwim.com.au www.LearnToSwimTheAustralianWay.com www.PoweredByChlorine.com

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ps What you don't learn in learn to swim you'll make up for later with stroke correction

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