uSwim, level 3, skill 4 - how to teach my child Freestyle breathing, swimming lessons

Freestyle Breathing
When first learning how to correctly breathe in the freestyle stroke, we recommend you only get your child breathing to the one side (either right or left), and keep it consistent. This is why we label each arm, one is the Breathing arm (the side that they breathe to), the other is the bubble arm (the side you can attach a bubble to as a reminder, as this is one skill we think an aid really helps). Later on down the track your swimmer will learn bi-lateral breathing or breathing on both the left and the right. There is no right or wrong to which side each child should breathe to, simply whichever side turns better and feels more comfortable to the swimmer. Once you have decided on which side to breathe, this skill will show you how to incorporate the breath into Beginner or Catch-up Freestyle.

4 easy steps to Catch-up breathing:
1. Select bubble arm
2. 6 kicks and breathe
3. Bubble arm, roll, breathing arm.
4. On board

Category:

Education

Tags:

• Breathers

[coldethyl86]

Hi. I am a swimming teacher from Melbourne, and I'm finding these videos interesting. I was wondering though, does it make the pulling and pushing action hard for children with a bubble on their arm?

[UswimAustralia]

@coldethyl86

Thanks for the comment. The bubble is there as an aid while the child learns the action. Once the child has this part down then the bubble comes off so that it does not 'get in the way'. Our program is designed around attainable steps and using the bubble in the early stages is just one example of that. We teach 1000's of kids each week and have developed these steps so any child can learn... not just the athletic ones. Any other questions or comments let us know :)

[coldethyl86]

Thanks. I really like the breakdown for the lessons. So many people try and teach too many skills at once and then wonder why the kids end up struggling through the water.

[GrantJellyman]

Hi USwim,

I am also a swimming instructor in Tauranga, New Zealand. I also find these interesting. But I am woundering what benifits do you find with teaching catch up, and once they are at a decent level how is the most appropriate way of breaking them out of catch up arms. Also do you have other resources avalible? Thanks Grant