**Breaststroke: Teaching Correct Timing of the Breath**

Watch the timing of any elite breaststroker and you’ll notice that they keep the face in the water until the hands separate.  It’s a key skill, but one that can be difficult to teach, especially for Masters swimmers.  Join us this week as we illustrate the skill, and offer suggestions on how to teach it.

**Monday**

**Brendan Hansen:  Outsweep and Head to Air**

Olympic medalist Brendan Hansen shows where we’re headed in teaching correct timing of the breath.

<https://www.goswim.tv/lessons/874-breaststroke-outsweep-and-head-to-ai>

0301 the line

0390 hand separation

0453 I start to come up towards the edges or corners

0528 eyes fully up at the corners

0591 in sweep to air

0740 Head at highest point when the hands come together

0975 back to line prior to the feet engaging

1249 driving back to the line

1406 out sweep with the eyes down

1498 eyes up hands at corners

1612 and sweep to air

1745 hands together at the highest point of the breath

1933 Watch how the head comes down before the feet engauge

1992 fully line is the kickstarts

**Tuesday**

**Roque Santos: Arm Pull - Hands**

Olympian Roque Santos gives us another example of how to time the breath in breaststroke.

<https://www.goswim.tv/lessons/486-arm-pull-hands>

0658 the line

0767 sweep with the eyes still down

0815 in sweep to air

0910 highest point of the hands’s highest point of the stroke

1002 hands back in line prior to kick

1148 back to the line

1813 I start to lift at the corners

1887 in sweep up to air

2894 eyes down hands at the corners

2920 and sweep to air

2973 eyes back down in line prior to feet

3050 back to the line

3103 wide catch

3139 in sweep up to air

3578 the definition of fast hand

3963 hi elbow catch

4002 driving forward fast hands

5569 fast hands

11003 Full extension before kick

11063 back to the line

11904 pausing under the chin during the breath

12264 the X position

13453 getting through the prayer as fast as possible

**Wednesday**

**Steve Haufler Breaststroke: Step #3: Teach Breaststroke Pull**

Steve Haufler shows how to teach the basics, including when to lift the head for air.

<https://www.goswim.tv/lessons/1471-step-3-teach-breaststroke-pull>

0435 using the thumbs to position the arms

1200 creating limits of the pull back

2926 practicing the line

3826 demonstrating a soft out sweep

5499 teaching the forearm and hand position facing the back wall

12333 teaching a flat sweep

12503 fingers together and forward

13888 guiding the swimmers hand movements

14507 allowing them to do it on their own

15050 having them watch their hand movements

22826 practice the line

23352 directing the swimmer

24582 positioning the arms

30160 and sweep up to air with aid

30335 back to the line

31790 practice the sweep to air with no kick

32539 Watch the out sweep in the mirror

**Thursday**

**Breaststroke Drill: Soft Outsweep**

To imprint proper breaststroke timing, SLOW DOWN!

<https://www.goswim.tv/lessons/2080-breaststroke-soft-outsweep>

0431 have some forward momentum and allow the hands to softly sweep out and in

0605 softly sweep out to the corners

0711 sweep the hands back in gently with very little or no bend of the elbows

0868 after a few out sweeps Focus on the out sweep then take a small stroke

1096 back to the line

1273 repeat the process

2251 flutter kick with fins on give some for propulsion

3401 use the pressure of the water in front of you to help guide the hands out

4067 experiment with the width of the catch or corners

4289 try to get to the same position prior to taking a stroke

4333 continue the flutter kick through this exercise

10640 eyes down at the corners on the drill

10866 eyes down at the corners on the stroke

**Friday**

**Breaststroke Drill:  Sweep In to Air**

Breaststroke question:  Do you go to air when the hands are sweeping out, or when the hands are sweeping in?

<https://www.goswim.tv/lessons/1738-breaststroke-sweep-in-to-air>

0432 eyes up too early

0583 head coming up prior to hand separating

1798 head coming up too early

3095 Down and out 

3263 in and up

3488 down and out

3642 in and up

4106 builder rhythm

4225 watch for habits the head comes up too early

10047 Head down an extension

10096 had done on the out sweep

10313 Head down at the corners

10546 Head up at the corners build consistency

11410 exaggerate

**Saturday**

**Breaststroke Drill: Head-Down Pull**

We love this progression for imprinting correct timing of the breath in breaststroke.

<https://www.goswim.tv/lessons/1041-breaststroke-head-down-pull>

0623 sweep head down

0767 and sweep to air also draws the hips

1511 be patient on the out sweep

1697 in and up to air with a hip draw

2300 in sweep up to AirDrop the hips

3966 paddle snorkels

4148 practicing the movement with a head in a fixed position

12366 fake a breath

12985 feel the movement to the breath with a snorkel

13880 remove the tools repeat the drill

**Sunday**

**Glenn EP: Thumb-Lock Outsweep**

You won’t swim breaststroke like this, but this is one of the most effective drills for teaching correct timing of the breath.

<https://www.goswim.tv/lessons/3258-breaststroke-thumb-lock-outsweep>

0434 the line with a very tight thumb lock

0448 leverage out against the thumbs

0478 allow the hands to snap to the corners

0518 just a smooth stroke after that

0692 back to the very tight line with thumb lock

0745 you can see the speed change when the water starts to give more pressure

1069 if the hands get to the corners faster the head will remain down longer

3135 increase the water speed or start to swim faster with the same focus


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Dec. 3, 2024 - Breaststroke: Teaching Correct Timing of the Breath