999-The latest issue of Swimming World Magazine
is now available for download in the Swimming World Vault!
Non-Subscribers Can Download This Issue Here
Swimming Technique Concepts: Breaststroke Breathing Head Timing Delay
By Rod Havriluk
In breaststroke, most swimmers learn to synchronize their head and arm motions to breathe and to recover to the non-breathing position. However, a delay in the head motion both to breathe and to recover affords benefits of less resistance, more propulsion and a faster stroke rate.
HEAD TIMING DELAY TO BREATHE
With an advanced coordination of the head and arms, a swimmer begins the arm motion and then begins the head motion. In the streamline position, the model is looking straight down. As she begins her arm motion, her head stays in the streamline with her vision directed straight down until her hands come into her field of view (middle image). As her hands continue to move backward, she begins to extend at the neck to breathe (bottom image).
The head timing delay is only about one-quarter of a second. However, it is difficult for most swimmers to break the habit of simultaneously moving the head and the arms. A swimmer must practice looking straight down and waiting until the hands come into view before moving the head.
The advantage of delaying the head motion to breathe is that the body stays in the streamline position for an extra fraction of a second to:
• decrease resistance because the cross-sectional area of the body is minimal, and
• increase propulsion because the arms can generate backward rather than upward force.
For example, the breaststroker in Fig. 2 begins her arm motion while keeping her head in the streamline position. After only one-quarter of a second, she is already generating about 10 pounds of hand force. In addition, the cross-sectional area of her body is minimal, reducing resistance.
To access the full Swimming Technique Concepts article complete with model illustrations,
check out the Swimming World December 2020 issue…Click here to download now!
[PHOTO CREDIT: PETER H. BICK]
Get Swimming World Magazine and Swimming World Biweekly FREE When You
Become A Member of the International Swimming Hall of Fame
New! 30 Day Membership to ISHOF AND Digital Swimming World Subscription for just $10 a month!
Want more? Get a 1 Year ISHOF Family Membership With Swimming World Print AND Digital Subscription Order Now!
Non-Subscribers can click here to download this issue for only $5.94
Swimming World Magazine December 2020 Issue
FEATURES
012 SWIMMERS OF THE MILLENNIUM’S FIRST 20 YEARS (2000-19)
by John Lohn, David Rieder, Andy Ross and Dan D’Addona
World & American: Michael Phelps & Katie Ledecky
European: Pieter van den Hoogenband & Inge de Bruijn
Pacific Rim: Ian Thorpe & Leisel Jones
African: Chad le Clos & Kirsty Coventry
019 PROVING THEIR METTLE
by Andy Ross
After the South African media made several disparaging comments about the women’s swimming team in 2016 when none of their swimmers had qualified for the Rio Olympics, Tatjana Schoenmaker and her South African teammates have been supporting one another and working together to show just how good they can be.
021 FIT TO BE TIED
by John Lohn
At the 1972 Munich Olympics, Sweden’s Gunnar Larsson was awarded the gold medal in the men’s 400 IM, edging USA’s Tim McKee by 2-thousandths of a second. Subsequently, international swimming rules were changed to record results to 1-hundredth of a second, allowing for ties among swimmers with identical times.
034 MENTAL PREP: BEFORE THE BEEP WITH CLAIRE CURZAN
by Shoshanna Rutemiller
COACHING
010 TOUGHEST WORKOUTS (Part 2)
by Michael J. Stott
Swimming has had its share of taskmasters over the years. In the second of a two-part series on workouts designed to push swimmers to their limits are some sets from respected authoritative figures at Germantown, Arden Hills, Bluefish and Florida who have trained exceptional athletes that have excelled on the international stage.
038 SWIMMING TECHNIQUE CONCEPTS: BREASTSTROKE BREATHING HEAD TIMING DELAY
by Rod Havriluk
In breaststroke, most swimmers learn to synchronize their head and arm motions to breathe and to recover to the non-012 breathing position. However, a delay in the head motion both to breathe and to recover affords benefits of less resistance, more propulsion and a faster stroke rate.
040 SPECIAL SETS: DAVE SALO—THE MAN AND THE METHOD
by Michael J. Stott
Dave Salo has represented the United States as an Olympic, World Championships and Pan Pacific Championships coach and has guided the USC Trojans to 18 NCAA Top 10 finishes in 14 years. But his enduring legacy will most likely be his training mindset that emphasizes race-pace training and quality over quantity.
043 Q&A WITH COACH MICHAEL BROOKS
by Michael J. Stott
044 HOW THEY TRAIN THOMAS HAGAR
by Michael J. Stott
TRAINING
037 DRYSIDE TRAINING: POSSIBLY THE 5 BEST DRYLAND EXERCISES EVER!
by J.R. Rosania
If done properly and regulary, these exercises can enhance your stroke, technique, power and speed.
JUNIOR SWIMMER
047 UP & COMERS: ERIKA PELAEZ
by Shoshanna Rutemiller
COLUMNS & SPECIAL SECTIONS
008 A VOICE FOR THE SPORT
009 DID YOU KNOW: ABOUT THE ART OF SWIMMING?
026 HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE
036 DADS ON DECK
046 HASTY HIGH POINTERS
048 GUTTERTALK
049 PARTING SHOT
Swimming World is now partnered with the International Swimming Hall of Fame. To find out more, visit us at ishof.org