Learn To Swim Freestyle | A Simple Step-By-Step Guide

The freestyle or front crawl technique is the most common swim technique out there, but it can be quite a handful if you are a beginner! Mark's here with a comprehensive guide to front crawl, covering arm movement, body position, leg kicks, and breathing.

00:00 A step-by-step guide to freestyle/front crawl in the pool
00:15 What is the freestyle technique?
01:02 Entry, catch, pull, and recovery in the freestyle
02:46 How do you breathe when swimming?
03:36 The leg kick in the freestyle
04:07 Rotation of body when swimming
05:10 Focus on one thing at a time in the pool

Useful Links

Watch more on GTN...

Photos: © Triathlon / Getty Images

🎵 Music - licensed by Epidemic Sound / Artist 🎵

#gtn #triathlon #swimbikerun #swim #bike #run #swimming #swimmingpool #freestyle #frontcrawl #swimtechnique

The Global Triathlon Network (GTN) is the world's biggest triathlon YouTube channel, with new videos every day! GTN is for anyone who loves triathlon: from seasoned triathletes to first-timers – and everyone in between!

With the help of our former pro and Olympic medal-winning team, we’re here to inform, entertain and inspire you to become a better triathlete; including videos on:

- How to swim, bike, and run faster with expert knowledge
- Try our session ideas
- Investigations into wide-ranging topics
- The best triathlon bike tech and gear with pro-know-how
- In-depth, entertaining features from the heart of the sport
- Chat, opinion and interact with us across the channel and on social media!

Join us on YouTube’s best triathlon channel to get closer to the sport and to become a better, faster and fitter triathlete!

Welcome to the Global Triathlon Network.

Thanks to our sponsors:

Watch our sister channels:

[gtn]

Share your freestyle beginner tips in the comments 💬

[mandagrath]

My tip is don’t give up. I taught myself to swim as an adult. It’s a long process. It took months before I could swim a 750. If you can have someone record you in the pool that can help a lot. You might feel like Mike but look like a grocery sack in the water.

[ILM_Muga]

This tutorial was a life changer!!!!
I can’t thank you enough
I went from catching my breath after 25 meters to almost not getting tired after 400

[DBJ]

Wow, great timing(uploaded 11 hrs ago). This was an incredibly well done video. From the education, the tips, the cinematography, and even the voice-over, it's all great. Thank you.

[GrubbShowMedia]

My tip is Mind, Body and Water connection. Some teach this as developing a "feel" for the water. Much of which just comes with time and being in the water. I would recommend any new swimmer that is serious about improving their stoke, to be in the water often. 3-4 times a week at a minimum. Develop that connection of body and mind, be mindful of each stroke, each breath and develop a keen since of the movement through the water. Feel it, hear it, visualize it.

[saintxfile]

I've had a membership to my local Y for four months now. I always stick to aerobics because I'm too scared of embarrassing myself with poor swim technique. Hoping this will give me the confidence to just go for it.

[ryanfang]

I have my first triathlon coming up in july this helped so much! thank you!!!

[_Zabamund_]

I'm a land dwelling animal so breathing is the most important aspect of swimming. Hence I never swim. Also terrified of water as I have no gills.

[BobutBrody]

How do you guys know what is going on with me and what I need so that every time I log on you have the perfect video?

(thank you)

[xycoordinate]

Thank you for posting one of the best swimming videos in YT. I've watched the video many times. Each time, I find something new to learn. I especially love the "trace in water" effect that shows the path the arm is taking. It's also fascinating to observe how the body's rotation affects both the arms and the kick, illustrating why certain side drills can be effective for improving rotation skills. The video shows so many details so beautifully!

[woutdw]

Hi, very nice video and well explained! I have one question though. I am not a great swimmer at all, only started 5 months ago, so I am probably not the one to question you since you are a great swimmer but isn't your arm "dropping" too early when you breath? I have this problem and this has been slowing me down...

[rizviamer]

Hi! Better to enter hand near your head, at a 45 degree angle, and then let it stretch forward than enter it all the way up front, as normally done in freestyle swimming.

[SBoots]

Swimming is a life long improvement. I have been I would say almost proper for three years. (not the POLO swimming with not put head in water). Although I have achieved free style method my biggest challenge was anxiety and breathing. I used to do lateral breathing but found to stay calm and constant now I breath to the right only. I do try and practice back to lateral but anxiety creeps in. I now know how to quickly calm my mind down when getting panicked in water. (not sighting proper or breath errors). The start of a Tri Swim is also high anxiety for me even though I start to side and near last in water. @coaches corner, Anyway I can achieve better results?

[MrTheHazelnut]

Thanks for sharing the tips, but also the nomenclature of the different phase etc. I, probably especially as a non-native english speaker, am sometimes quite lost when watching your or other channels videos on swimming technique and there are words used for which I do not have a clear reference.

[panzerveps]

Wish you were a year earlier with this video.
Just recently managed to learn how to swim front crawl after 8 months of trying.

[yqcbzot]

How do I prevent water from entering the nose?

[mounaimzine]

Please how to kick in open water video practice

[vermeulen]

Hi, still struggling with swimming after a few months, especialy the breathing part… I dont think my technique is that bad but the breathing is a disaster :( any tips on that? What do you Guys think is a normal timespan to learn how to swim proper freestyle as an adult? How long did it took you? (I’m 38 now and started swimming last year in july and swim once a week, for the rest of the week I bike and run) #gtncoachescorner

[KeepChessSimple]

How to see swimmers in front of me when I should look down?

[PuntaPacifica]

I have a question…silly enough. but I had 2 cups of coffee for breakfast and went for morning swim. I felt like my swimming dropped by 50% and I was exhausted . Does the caffeine affect a swimmer in this way normally.? Yes, to answer your question my heart has a clean bill of health. What’s your opinion on caffeine??