Struggling with side breathing,can do the drills, but falling apart in full freestyle. Advice?
I’ve been taking lessons for 4 weeks, and we’ve spent the last 2 on side breathing. I’m running into a wall when I move from drills to full laps.
The Issue:
• The Inhale: During standing drills or using a kickboard/pull buoy, I can get a breath in 2–3 times. But in full freestyle, my mouth opens and... nothing. It’s like I’m stuck in "exhale mode" and can’t actually pull air in.
• The Sink: After my first attempted breath, my legs immediately sink. My coach says I need to breathe faster to stay streamlined, but I can't breathe faster if I'm not getting air in the first place!
• Form: I’m focusing on keeping my lead arm straight and exhaling underwater.
Is this a common "beginner's plateau"? How do I transition the success I have with the pull buoy into the full stroke without my legs turning into anchors?