The simple act of taking a breath has a domino effect on the rest of the stroke. Done correctly it maintains proper body alignment, improves timing, helps establish a rhythm and most importantly it enables the swimmer the ability to grasp that all important oxygen. Incorrect breathing can lead to a breakdown of the stroke, loss of timing, increased energy expenditure, and create an oxygen deficit.

Common mistakes include turning the head too soon or too late, lifting the head, turning the head back into the water too late and pulling the head out of alignment. Too often swimmers try to turn their head for a breath before the opposite arm has entered the water. As a result the body is still rotated to the opposite side causing the swimmer to rush their stroke and subsequently lose propulsion and disrupt timing. Poor timing can also be attributed to holding one’s breath. By waiting until the last instant to exhale prior rotating, or more specifically exhaling after turning the head, the only way to completely inhale is to delay the arm recovery until a full breath is taken.

Keeping in mind that head movement influences body movement, the act of breathing must be as economical as possible. Rotating to breathe should occur as the pulling hand passes the hip, thus ensuring proper body rotation. The head should rotate with the body as one unit as to not disrupt lateral alignment. Inhalation should occur during the first half of recovery followed by putting the face back in the water during the second half of the recovery. The swimmer should begin slowly exhaling immediately after inhaling and return to a neutral head position, preparing for the next breath.