Hello. I started swimming about a year ago at age 40, having never received any instruction. I am making an earnest effort to learn a decent front crawl. (I had an instructor for a short while, but he got in an accident and broke several important bones.) I am stuck on the breathing right now. My questions: Say you're breathing on the left side - where is your left hand at the instant that your mouth opens to take in a breath? At that same instant, is there any sense that your right hand is pushing up slightly to keep your head at a steady vertical level?
My problem is that when I lift my left arm out of the water I feel like my head wants to sink (so low that I am unable to breathe). So I have been compensating by either adding a little lift with my pulling arm (and therefore breathing too early, probably), or with the right arm as it begins its pull. Or I don't breathe at all and run out of oxygen entirely in one length.
I appreciate your advice. (N.B.: Tennis is not an option.)
Parents
Former Member
the way I do it, and my coach has never told me I'm doing it wrong but she has never said it was right/perfect... this is the best I can explain it... I turn my right ear toward the bottom of the pool, my right shoulder and hip have dipped down, I'm reaching out with my right hand--as long and streamlined as I can get, my left arm is over head I can see my arm in the air out of the corner of my eye and breathe...
the way I do it, and my coach has never told me I'm doing it wrong but she has never said it was right/perfect... this is the best I can explain it... I turn my right ear toward the bottom of the pool, my right shoulder and hip have dipped down, I'm reaching out with my right hand--as long and streamlined as I can get, my left arm is over head I can see my arm in the air out of the corner of my eye and breathe...
