Swimming Technique Concepts: Plan For a Breathing Pattern
By Rod Havriluk
Swimmers often use different breathing patterns (i.e., variations in frequency of breathing) based on stroke and distance. Sometimes, a swimmer will maintain a single breathing pattern for an entire swim. At other times, a swimmer will change his/her breathing pattern within a swim. This article encourages swimmers to plan a breathing pattern prior to each swim to gain the most benefit for both racing and training.
Before considering breathing pattern options, a swimmer needs to understand the effect of a breathing motion on his/her perspective of technique. Throughout a non-breathing stroke cycle, the optimal head position is fixed with no vertical, lateral or rotational motion. With a fixed head position, a swimmer’s frame of reference (i.e., his/her perspective of specific technique elements) is constant. With a constant frame of reference, a swimmer can be more certain of the movements of individual body parts.
In three of the strokes, the head position changes to breathe. When the head position changes, the swimmer’s frame of reference also changes. As the frame of reference changes, it becomes more difficult for a swimmer to track and control the movement of body parts. The advantage provided by a constant frame of reference makes a strong case for breathing less frequently.
There are typically training sets where a swimmer can swim slower and limit breathing. During these slower sets, a swimmer can take full advantage of a constant frame of reference to focus on technique. For sets that require faster swimming, a swimmer can use set parameters (the number of repetitions, the distance of each swim, the swimming speed or effort level and the rest interval) to plan a breathing pattern that balances an adequate oxygen supply with a constant frame of reference.
For each swim in a training session or at a swim meet, a swimmer can choose a breathing pattern based on the primary objective of the swim: optimal technique or fast swimming.
To access the full plan for a breathing pattern,
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