Activity
Breathe Like a Champion! (Swimming Breath Control)
Skill: Specialised Sports Coaching
Sports: Swimming
Technique: Breathing
Class: Class 2
Skill: Specialised Sports Coaching
Sports: Swimming
Technique: Breathing
Class: Class 3
Skill: Specialised Sports Coaching
Sports: Swimming
Technique: Breathing
Class: Class 3
Skill: Sports for All
Sports: Swimming
Technique: Breathing
Class: Class 4
Skill: Specialised Sports Coaching
Sports: Swimming
Technique: Breathing
Class: Class 4
Skill: Sports for All
Sports: Swimming
Technique: Breathing
Class: Class 5
Skill: Specialised Sports Coaching
Sports: Swimming
Technique: Breathing
Class: Class 5
Skill: Sports for All
Sports: Swimming
Technique: Breathing
Class: Class 6
Skill: Specialised Sports Coaching
Sports: Swimming
Technique: Breathing
Class: Class 6
Skill: Sports for All
Sports: Swimming
Technique: Breathing
Class: Class 7
Skill: Specialised Sports Coaching
Sports: Swimming
Technique: Breathing
Class: Class 7
Skill: Sports for All
Sports: Swimming
Technique: Breathing
Class: Class 8
Skill: Specialised Sports Coaching
Sports: Swimming
Technique: Breathing
Class: Class 8
Skill: Sports for All
Sports: Swimming
Technique: Breathing
Class: Class 9
Skill: Specialised Sports Coaching
Sports: Swimming
Technique: Breathing
Class: Class 9
Skill: Sports for All
Sports: Swimming
Technique: Breathing
Class: Class 10
Skill: Specialised Sports Coaching
Sports: Swimming
Technique: Breathing
Class: Class 11
Skill: Specialised Sports Coaching
Sports: Swimming
Technique: Breathing
Class: Class 12
Skill: Specialised Sports Coaching
Sports: Swimming
Technique: Breathing
Class: Nursery
Skill: Specialised Sports Coaching
Sports: Swimming
Technique: Breathing
Class: KG
Skill: Specialised Sports Coaching
Sports: Swimming
Technique: Breathing
Class: Pre Nursery
Skill: Specialised Sports Coaching
Sports: Swimming
Technique: Breathing
Class: LKG
Skill: Specialised Sports Coaching
Sports: Swimming
Technique: Breathing
Class: UKG
Skill: Specialised Sports Coaching
Sports: Swimming
Technique: Breathing
Class: Class 5
Skill: Specialised Sports Coaching
Sports: Swimming
Technique: Breaststroke and butterfly turns
Breathe Like a Champion! (Swimming Breath Control)
Learning Outcomes
Understand the importance of proper breathing in swimming.
Practice rhythmic breathing patterns while swimming.
Develop breath control for efficient swimming strokes.
Description Of Activity
Warm-up (5 minutes):
Have students jog around the pool or do jumping jacks to get their heart rate up.
Briefly discuss the importance of breathing in swimming, how it affects stamina and stroke efficiency.
Land Drills (10 minutes):
Standing Breath Control: Divide students into pairs. One partner sits behind the other with hands lightly on their back.
Standing partner takes a deep breath through their nose, feeling their back expand as their lungs fill.
They hold their breath for a few seconds (start with 2-3 seconds and gradually increase).
Partner sitting behind lightly presses on their back as they slowly exhale through their mouth, feeling their chest and back contract.
Repeat several times, then switch roles.
Breathing Rhythm Practice: Have students stand at the edge of the pool, facing the water.
Instruct them to take a deep breath in through their nose, counting silently to 2.
As they turn their head to breathe to the side while swimming (simulating a freestyle stroke), they exhale slowly through their mouth, counting to 4.
Repeat this breathing pattern several times, focusing on rhythm and complete exhalation.
Water Drills (15 minutes):
Bobbing for Breath: Ask students to stand in shoulder-depth water.
Instruct them to squat down, fully submerging their head, and exhale all their air.
Encourage them to pop their head up and take a quick, deep breath through their nose before submerging again.
Repeat this bobbing motion several times, emphasizing complete exhalation before breathing in.
Kick & Breathe Drill: Have students hold onto the pool edge with their hands.
Ask them to kick their legs in a freestyle motion while practicing the breathing rhythm from the land drills (inhale through nose for 2 counts, exhale through mouth for 4 counts).
Focus on maintaining a steady kick rhythm and coordinating breathing with kicking.
Cool-down (5 minutes):
Briefly discuss the importance of continued practice for good breath control.
Remind students that breath control takes time and effort, and to be patient with themselves.
Remember:
This lesson focuses on building a solid foundation in breath control. Consistency and practice are key to success.
Variations
For advanced students: Introduce front crawl gliding drills with breathing, focusing on streamlining the body and minimizing head movement.
For struggling students: Start with longer inhalation counts (3-4 seconds) to build confidence before progressing to longer exhalation.
Equipment: None required (focuses on body awareness and breathing technique).
Coaching Tips
Start slow and gradually increase the difficulty of drills.
Focus on proper breathing technique over speed or distance.
Encourage complete exhalation before inhaling fresh air.
Remind students to keep their head turned to the side while breathing, not directly forward.
Provide positive reinforcement for effort and improvement.
Be patient, as breath control can be challenging at first.
Equipment/Material Required