Swallows water or comes up coughing

Breathes in rather than out when the face is near or in the water.

Activities that help

• Bubble Count – Swimmers blow bubbles for longer and longer counts, progressing from mouth to nose to whole face.
• Bubble Orchestra – Swimmers make different bubble 'instruments' with their mouth and nose, learning to control how they breathe out.
• Bubble Trails – Swimmers leave a continuous trail of bubbles behind them as they travel – breathing out while moving, not just standing still.
• Handstand Challenge – Swimmers do handstands in shallow water – great for confident submersion, breath control and body awareness.
• Hot Chocolate – Pretend the pool is a mug of hot chocolate – blow on it to cool it down.
• Hum and Glide – Swimmers hum steadily through a front push and glide so breathing out becomes part of every glide.
• Jack-in-the-Box – Rhythmic bobbing: swimmers crouch down, blow bubbles, then spring up – builds breathing rhythm and submersion.
• Slow Leak – Swimmers let air out slowly through the nose underwater, like a slow puncture – the exhale they will need for strokes.
• Toy Blowing Race – Swimmers blow a floating toy across the water – develops controlled breathing out with the mouth at the surface.
• Underwater Humming – Swimmers hum a tune with their face in the water – stops water going up the nose and makes breathing out automatic.
• Wave Machine – Half the group makes gentle waves while the others float or travel, learning to stay calm when the water isn't flat.