How to Keep Your Head Under Water in Freestyle

Breathing can have a direct impact on form when freestyle swimming. Since your speed builds up in the water, staying in or near the water surface is essential. A poor breathing technique can lead to a negative point where you find yourself lunging far above the water to take a deep breath. But with continuous steady breaths, that won't be needed. Once you know the right techniques, consistency helps you keep your head under water for a longer time.

Instructions

    • 1

      Tuck your head slightly under the water. Do not go so far that your chin comes in contact with your chest. Doing so makes it more difficult for your body to cut through the water at higher speeds.

    • 2

      Keep your forehead just underneath the surface of the water, meaning your face is submerged, but the top of your head is not.

    • 3

      Breath out when your are under the water, instead of saving both the inhale and the exhale for when you pop out of the water. This creates a consistent cycle instead of forcing the breathing process into small windows of time.

    • 4

      Take advantage of the surface of the water. Swimming causes a small wave in front of you, so if you resist the temptation to lunge forward for a breath, you won't have to go so high to get a pocket of air.

    • 5

      Rotate your body that same way to each side as you swim. If you overcompensate with more movement on one side, you will also have to overcompensate by breathing too much on the side with the larger pocket of air.