This summer we were proud to partner with the Krzysztof Sulima Camp 2025 — one of Poland’s premier basketball development camps. Over the course of an intensive season running from late June through early September, players got something most camps don’t offer: a structured breathing training program designed specifically for the demands of basketball.
Why Breathing Is a Game-Changer in Basketball
Basketball is a sport of explosive transitions — full-court sprints, abrupt stops, precision under pressure with a defender in your face and the clock ticking. Most players train their body, but neglect the one system that governs their ability to stay sharp when it matters most: their respiratory system.
Proper breathing directly affects:
- Composure under pressure — nasal breathing activates the parasympathetic nervous system, helping players stay calm in critical moments
- Recovery between plays — efficient CO₂ tolerance speeds up heart rate recovery between high-intensity bursts
- Precision and focus — regulated breathing keeps the prefrontal cortex online, reducing reactive errors
These aren’t theory. They’re the mechanisms we train at every session.
The AirFlow Performance Program at Sulima Camp
The breathing curriculum we delivered was structured around three progressive phases, moving from isolated technique to full basketball integration.
Phase 1 — Diaphragm Isolation
Before players can use their breath on the court, they need to find it. Most athletes — especially in high-intensity sports — are chronic chest breathers. We started with diaphragm activation drills: belly breathing in supine position, breath holds with body awareness, and low-breathing patterns that establish the foundation for everything that follows.
Players quickly noticed that this kind of breathing felt unfamiliar — a sign they needed it most.
Phase 2 — Movement Integration
Once athletes could isolate the diaphragm at rest, we integrated breath timing with movement. This is where the work gets sport-specific: matching exhales to deceleration, using nasal breathing during moderate-intensity movement, and building CO₂ tolerance through structured reduced-breathing drills.
The goal here is to make good breathing automatic — not something that requires conscious effort during a game.
Phase 3 — On-Court Improvisation
The final stage brought everything to live basketball. During small-sided games and high-pressure drills, players applied what they learned in real time. Coaches observed how breath regulation changed decision-making, spacing, and recovery behavior between plays.
For many players, this was the moment when the work clicked.
What Players Experienced
The feedback after sessions was consistent. Players reported:
- Lower resting heart rate during breaks — the body learning to downregulate faster
- Reduced breathlessness in late-game situations — a direct result of improved CO₂ tolerance
- Greater mental clarity under pressure — breathing as a focus anchor, not just a physical function
Heart rate variability (HRV) data collected across sessions confirmed what players felt: respiratory efficiency improved measurably over the course of the camp.
Breathing as a Competitive Edge in Polish Basketball
Our collaboration with Sulima Camp reflects a broader shift happening in Polish basketball — and in elite sport globally. Teams are realizing that mental and physical performance aren’t separate systems. Breathing is the bridge.
Just as AirFlow Performance has worked with football clubs like Lech Poznań and the Juventus Warsaw Academy, we’re now bringing the same evidence-based methodology to basketball. The physiology is the same. The demands are different. The results speak for themselves.
Krzysztof Sulima Camp gave us the perfect environment: motivated players, professional facilities, and a coaching staff open to integrating new methods. That combination makes real development possible.
Want Breathing Training at Your Basketball Camp?
Whether you’re organizing a youth academy, a professional training camp, or club pre-season, we can design a breathing program that fits your schedule and goals.
Contact us → — and let’s talk about what proper breathing can do for your players.