lightheir wrote:
I too am amazed at the near-complete lack of stroke training you get in masters groups, both swim and tri. If you're faster than 1:45/100, it's pretty much zero feedback. It makes me wonder why people keep recommending masters swims for beginners. They should be getting coaching from a decent coach first, but if they can't swing that, video themselves once in awhile to make sure they know what they are actually doing in the water.
I'm curious about your big speed increases. Like how much faster is someone like the OP's ability improving in what amount of time? And then how much is someone like myself who's doing 1:30-1:35/3000 in a pool improving with your stroke correction? I'm literally doing my own further stroke refinement now with self-video every week, but I'm getting no gains in the short term - hoping for long term ones though.
let me turn this around a little. Feedback should be given but there is also a reality that coaches can have 25-30 athletes in the pool and it can make giving feedback to everyone challenging at times.
Challenge the coach. Tell them you want some feedback...show your interest...your curiousity...your drive and motivation to improve. Be proactive and ask way. Never in 20 years of coaching as i refused to give feedback, take a moment and sit down with a athlete that is asking for it. Some athlete want minimal feedback and prefer to be left alone while others are dying for it.
When a athlete ask questions, it light up a fire under my ass to work with this athlete that show clear and strong signal that it want to improve and get better. I strongly suggest nurturing this kind of relationship... it s fun on both sides and results will come.
Jonathan Caron / Professional Coach / ironman champions / age group world champions
Jonnyo Coaching
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