Pull Buoys, Kickboards and Other Necessities
Pull and kick are the simplest of drills but they are an important part of any swim training regimen. Most YMCAs will have kickboard and pull buoys for you to use, but you can also buy them for pretty cheap.
For kick drills, try flutter kick, dolphin kick, frog kick or kicking on your back. While on your back, hold a kickboard just over your stomach and flutter kick. You can also try a butterfly kick like this. Kick drills on your back are beneficial because they help to use the opposite side of your leg muscles, which is not normally targeted.
Working with pull buoys can be a little awkward to start, but is great for developing a strong stroke and core. Simply place the pull buoy between your legs anywhere above your knees so that it feels comfortable. The key is to squeeze your legs together just enough to hold the pull buoy in place, but not waste energy squeezing too hard.
Traditional freestyle is a good stroke when using a kick buoy, or try mixing it up with some of the other swimming drills for more of a challenge. Also try pull drills on your back and with butterfly. Breaststroke can be awkward with a pull buoy, but you can try it if you're up for it.
More: 10 Elements of a Perfect Freestyle Stroke
Improve Lung Capacity With Breathing Drills
Breathing drills are very simple and you can even improvise your own. A great drill to build endurance and lung capacity is a 3-5-7-9 drill. Use this drill while you are doing freestyle and count your strokes.
First count three strokes before you take a breath, then five and take a breath, then seven and take a breath and finally nine before you go back down to three. You can adjust the numbers to your abilities and try to set records for strokes without a breath.
Swimming drills can be a large part or a workout or just a warm up. Mix them into your next swim workout for to help improve technique and endurance.
More: Natalie Coughlin's Freestyle Kicking Tips
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