Side Kick Breathing
Kicking on the side with one arm extended; the face rolls down and back to the side – the easiest way to learn to breathe without lifting.
- Stages
- Stage 4, Stage 5
- Difficulty
- Developing
- Skills
- Rotation, Side Kick, Front Crawl Breathing
- Equipment
- None, Float
- Age
- 6–99 years
- Group size
- 1–12 swimmers
- Time
- About 5 minutes
- In a lesson
- Skill Development 1, Skill Development 2
- Shared by
- SwimShare Resource
Safety notes
- Remind swimmers they can stop and stand at any time – breath control drills should never be rushed.
What it develops
- Swim front crawl with side breathing
- Front crawl with breathing timed to the arm action
How to run it
- Lie on the side, lower arm stretched forward, top arm on the thigh.
- Kick steadily; the ear rests on the extended arm, mouth just out of the water.
- Roll the face down to blow bubbles, then roll back to the side to breathe.
- Swap sides each width.
Teaching cues
- Ear on your arm.
- Roll down, blow out.
- Roll back, breathe in.
- One goggle in.
Make it easier
- Hold a float in the extended hand.
- Assistant supports the top shoulder.
Make it harder
- Six kicks face down, roll to breathe – no stopping.
- Add one arm stroke to switch sides (Six-Kick Switch).
Common faults
- Rolling onto the back to breathe.
- Lifting the head up instead of rolling it.
- Kick stopping while breathing.
Corrections
- 'Show one shoulder to the ceiling, not your tummy.'
- Keep the ear touching the arm while breathing.
- Count kicks out loud through the breath.
Assistant / L1 role
- Observe from the side and check the head rolls with the body rather than lifting forwards. Give feedback on this point only.