This is the third installment of a 3 part series titled “Beginner’s Guide to Freestyle Swimming”.  You can go back and review the first installment on Breathing, or the second installment which is on Kicking.

Congratulations on making it to the last step in learning how to swim freestyle! One main thing to remember when swimming this stroke is to keep your body horizontal in the water. As mentioned in the kicking post, if your lower half starts to sink down, it will drag the rest of your body down too. So even though we are working on our arms now, don’t forget to keep those feet up!

Another thing to remember when starting your pull for freestyle is that your arms should always stay opposite each other; for example if your right arm is reaching to the front, your left arm should be reaching back, and vice versa. Start either standing up with both arms fully extended in front of your body at shoulder height. Your hands should be either touching at the thumbs or stacked one on top of the other. Keeping your fingers together (as if wearing a pair of mittens), pull one arm in a circular motion, going down by your hip first, and then behind you and over your head until it goes back to it’s starting place. Repeat this circular motion with your other arm too.

Taking turns with your arms, continue to make large circles, keeping them opposite as mentioned above (so both arms should always be moving). It is more important to focus on your pull under the water than the speed of your circles, as the harder you pull, the faster and further you will go with each stroke (each arm pull is called a “stroke”). Keeping your fingers tight together, and pulling your arm close to your side will ensure a strong and efficient pull.

Now laying down in the water, with your eyes in, do these same circles, making sure to complete each one, finishing with your arm fully extended in front of you. Add in your flutter kick and your bubbles, with breathing, and now you’re swimming!

Note: If you are doing side breathing, make sure that when you turn to take a breath, your arm on that side is pulling back, as to not interfere with your breath. To do this, try counting your strokes, and breathing on every third or fourth one, so you know which side you will be turning to, and you know that that arm will be out of the way. The more you practice, the easier it will be to find your body’s natural rhythm. once you discover this, swimming freestyle will be easier, and even more enjoyable.