What are the best pool drills for improving open water skills?

You can still work on your open water skills when you’re training in an indoor pool. Swimming coach Cassie Patten shares her favourite pool drill.

What are the best sets and drills for outdoor swimming for an hour-long pool session?
@danGoodway, via X

Cassie’s answer:

I love open water sighting drills. Swim half a length with your head up, focusing on crocodile eyes and pushing the water down to maintain the correct sighting position. The next length you would swim five strokes with your head up, focusing on crocodile eyes, and then five strokes down repeat this for the entire 25m. Finally, you would swim the entire length sighting every third breath. This is a progressive drill to enable your body to perfect the correct technique. Another idea is to swim an entire session without touching any walls. I turn at the flags and then just keep going. Only do this if there is space in the lane and it is safe to do so.

Cassie Patten is a British freestyle swimmer and Head Coach at Wavecrest Swimming. Cassie won bronze in the 10km open-water event at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Read more advice from Coach Cassie.