If it weren't for the breath... that darn need for air... just about anyone could learn to swim a beautiful freestyle. This drill, which asks you to connect the shoulder to the breath, can help you establish better rhythm and timing.
Breathing late in freestyle usually means you'll not get the proper amount of oxygen into your lungs. It can also throw off the timing of your stroke. Connecting your cheek to your shoulder to learn an earlier breath can help solve both of these issues.
Make sure you're really extending to feel the connection between your shoulder and breath... face and arm.
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