Swimming is a great way to get in shape and have some fun. There are many different swimming strokes, but the freestyle stroke is the most popular. In this guide, we will teach you how to swim freestyle for beginners. We will cover everything from how to position your body to how to breathe properly. By following these steps, you will be able to swim freestyle like a pro! Let’s learn how to swim freestyle for beginners!
When learning to swim freestyle you should master these 5 fundamentals…
- Head Position in Water
- How to Breathe properly
- How to Pull efficiently
- How to Kick correctly
- How to Turn your body
Head and Body Position When Swimming Freestyle
Let’s get started! Positioning your head in the water is the first step to swimming freestyle. Head position in the water is key to swimming freestyle correctly. You should be looking down at the bottom of the pool, about one arm’s length in front of you. This will help you keep your body in a straight line and prevent you from veering off course. Remember to keep your chin down and tuck it into your chest, so that your head is in line with your spine. Look straight down, not up at the sky or forward.
The next step is to get into a good starting position. You want to make sure that your whole body is in alignment so that you can move through the water smoothly and efficiently. The best way to do this is to float on your stomach, with your arms extended out in front of you and your legs together. Keep your head down in line with your spine, and tuck your chin into your chest. You should be looking straight down at the bottom of the pool. Take a few deep breaths and relax your body as much as possible. When you’re ready, push off the wall and start swimming!
How to breathe properly When Swimming Freestyle
Next, let’s talk about how to breathe properly when swimming freestyle. In order to breathe properly, you need to exhale fully before taking a breath. This will help you stay relaxed and prevent you from swallowing water. When inhaling, only take a small breath and be sure to exhale fully before taking another one.
Breathing every three strokes is a good rule of thumb to start with. So, for example, you would exhale when your right hand enters the water, then inhale when your left hand enters the water, and so on. As you get more comfortable swimming freestyle, you can experiment with breathing every two strokes or even breathing on alternate strokes. Just be sure not to overdo it – if you’re gasping for air, slow down and go back to breathing every three strokes until you catch your breath.
Remember, lifting your head to take a breath throws off your body’s alignment and makes it harder to swim – so resist the urge to do it!
How To Kick Correctly When Swimming Freestyle
One of the most common mistakes beginners makes when learning how to swim freestyle is kicking incorrectly. Many people believe that they need to kick hard in order to move forward, but this actually isn’t the case. In fact, kicking too hard can actually slow you down and make you tired more quickly.
So how should you kick when swimming freestyle? The key is to kick just enough to maintain your body’s position in the water and help you move forward – no more, no less. You should also focus on keeping your kicks smooth and even, rather than jerky or choppy.
How To Pull Properly When Swimming Freestyle
One of the most important aspects of swimming freestyle is how you pull. Many beginners make the mistake of pulling too hard, which not only makes them tired quickly but also slows them down. Instead, you want to focus on using a light and smooth stroke. Here are a few tips on how to do this:
– Use your entire arm, from your shoulder to your fingertips, to generate power.
– Keep your elbow close to your body as you extend your arm forward. This will help you generate more power.
– As you enter the water, use your hand and forearm to create a cup shape. This will help you “catch” more water and create less resistance.
One common mistake is overreaching with your arms. When you reach too far forward, it can cause you to lose balance and slow you down. Instead, focus on keeping your arms close to your body and reaching forward just enough to keep yourself moving. Remember to keep your strokes smooth and even for the best results.
How To Rotate Your Body When Swimming Freestyle
One of the most important aspects of freestyle swimming is body rotation. When you rotate your body, it provides more power and helps you move through the water more efficiently.
There are two main ways to rotate your body when swimming freestyle: side-to-side and front-to-back.
To rotate your body from side to side, start by exhaling as you turn your head to one side. As you inhale, roll your hips so that they follow your head. Exhale as you return to the starting position and repeat on the other side.
To rotate your body front-to-back, start by exhaling as you turn your head to one side and extend your opposite arm forward. As you inhale, roll your hips so that they follow your head. Exhale as you return to the starting position and repeat on the other side.
Both of these methods of body rotation will help you swim freestyle more efficiently and with greater power. Remember to practice both methods and find which one works best for you.
There are a few other important aspects of swimming freestyle with proper technique. First, be sure to keep your arms parallel to each other throughout the entire stroke. This will ensure that you are getting the most power possible from each stroke. Second, keep your elbows close to your body and tuck them in at a 45-degree angle.
Importance of Kickboard
One of the best ways to improve your freestyle swimming is to practice with a kickboard. Kickboards help you focus on keeping a good body position and kicking technique while taking the arms out of the equation.
To use a kickboard, start by holding onto the board with both hands, placing your chin on top of the board, and extending your arms straight out in front of you. Then simply kick your legs and let the board carry you forward.
With these tips in mind, you’re well on your way to swimming freestyle like a pro! Just remember to practice regularly and stay patient because learning how to swim freestyle takes time and patience. Soon enough, you’ll be swimming laps with the best of them. Thanks for reading! We hope this guide was helpful. If you have any questions or comments you can contact us on this page.
If you’re looking for more tips on how to improve your swimming, check out our other blog post on the subject listed below. Thanks for reading! 🙂 Don’t forget to subscribe our RocketSwimming YouTube channel so you never miss a new video or training tip! We publish new content every week!
