As you dive into the world of front crawl, you’ve probably heard about the importance of alternating your breathing. This technique, known as bilateral breathing, is all about the rhythm: 1, 2, breathe, 1, 2, breathe. Sounds simple, right?
Beginner Swimmers
But if you’re just starting out, it can feel like a real challenge! Many new swimmers find themselves gasping for air after just a few strokes, needing more frequent breaths than every third stroke.
I recently worked with a beginner front crawl swimmer who had been advised to swim with bilateral breathing and were diligently practising.
Despite their best efforts, they could only manage 8-10 strokes before needing to rest. We decided to switch things up by breathing every two strokes on their preferred side, and guess what? They swam 20 strokes or more without feeling exhausted! That small tweak made a huge difference, allowing them to swim farther and more comfortably.
How to Practice
The goal is to help swimmers breathe on both sides, promoting balance and symmetry in their stroke. Breathing exclusively on one side can lead to over-rotation and inefficient arm movements. But if you’re a beginner, it’s totally okay to breathe to one side every two strokes while you’re learning. Just aim to practice breathing to your non-dominant side each time you hit the pool. Even if it’s just a few strokes, giving it a shot is key—without practice, progress is unlikely.
To ease into it, try a few strokes to your non-dominant side at the end of your session, or swim three lengths on your favourite side and one on the other. Gradually, this will help balance things out.
If you’re a triathlete or enjoy open-water swimming, you know it’s natural not to swim in a straight line. That’s why being able to breathe on both sides is crucial for adapting to different conditions—waves, wind, and fellow swimmers can all throw you off your game.
Chocolate and Marmite
In the long run, we all tend to develop a favourite side and a less favoured one—I like to call them the “chocolate side” and the “marmite side.” Even after 20 years of Total Immersion swimming, I still have my go-to side, though I’ve definitely improved my breathing on the other. During races, I usually breathe every two strokes toward my favoured side, but since I’ve practiced both sides, I can switch it up or rest an arm when needed.
So, if you’re just starting on your front crawl journey, it’s perfectly fine to breathe every two strokes on your favoured side. Just remember to put in the effort to practice on the other side each time you swim, no matter how challenging it may feel. And if you find yourself struggling, don’t hesitate to reach out for a lesson to unlock your potential!
I can help
If you’re wondering if I could help you to learn or improve your front crawl then why not book a taster session here or if you have lots of questions then get in touch and book a FREE 15min Lets chat here.
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