What skill does breath holding in conditioning develop?

Breath holding in conditioning primarily develops comfort in the water. When students practice breath holding, they learn to manage their breathing and stay calm while submerged, which helps reduce anxiety and build confidence in aquatic environments. This comfort is essential for various swimming activities, as it allows swimmers to focus on their technique and performance rather than feeling panicked or uncomfortable in the water.

In contrast, while water entry technique, submerging skills, and flipping underwater are important aspects of swimming instruction, they are not the direct outcomes of breath holding. Water entry technique focuses on how a swimmer enters the water efficiently, submerging skills relate to the ability to move under the water's surface effectively, and flipping underwater is a skill related to turning and maneuvering in the water. None of these develop the same level of comfort or confidence in the water as breath holding does.