**Backstroke Teaching Progression Step #5 Teach Backstroke Breathing**

Because backstrokers don’t need to move their head or body to breathe, and because they don’t blow bubbles in the water while swimming, sometimes they forget to breathe and/or exhale.

In other strokes, when they go to air, they make a conscious effort to breathe.

And when their face goes back in, the act of blowing bubbles is feedback that they are exhaling.

Backstrokers, however, don’t make any movement to go to air, and don’t get positive feedback when they exhale. This is why some backstrokers need to be reminded to inhale and exhale, and not to breath shallow and just pant.

One method to recommend is that the swimmer inhale when the right arm enters and exhale when the left arm enters. Some backstrokers actually inhale and exhale on each arm stroke, inhaling on each entry and exhaling on each pull.

Some of the breathing rhythm may be dependent on the stroke rate of the arms.

Backstrokers should be allowed to breathe at a rate that matches their need for oxygen, but they can be reminded and coached to keep the breathing steady and rhythmic.


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Step #5 - Teach Backstroke Breathing