I thought I’d start a new thread since I just finished up the camp and I’m putting some videos together so you can see what we worked on. Are there any things that any of you would like to see or have answered about swimming and I could try to cover in the videos?
If there are any questions about the camp in general, please let me know.
Tim
How did Ari do? An explanation of what you mean by core engagement would be helpful as I know that’s a big focus of yours.
He’s doing great. He’s stayed to train with the team for an additional 3 weeks. We’re swimming twice a day, 3x a week and doing 2 one on one sessions each week to work on technique.
Core engagement is pretty much a focus of any swim coach looking to get a swimmer faster, but it should also be at the “core” of any coach looking to get an athlete more efficient.
What I mean by core engagement is when you run your core engages. When you cycle your core engages. When you hit the weight room your core engages. On land, gravity and your weight force the core to engage which gives you stability and coordination. The more the core engages the easier it is for the brain to coordinate all of your limbs. In the water, you are prone, 10% of your body weight and in a very dynamic and unstable environment. Gravity / your body weight aren’t going to help you to engage your core. You’ve got to learn to do it on your own. Does that make more sense?
Tim
Kick with the brick?
I’ve enjoyed listening to podcasts with Ari Klau and Josh Monda talking about swim sessions from camp. What length is the pool? Short course yards?
We’ve used it a bit. I think the first one on one technique session with him we used it.
I’ve swam there just a few times but I really like that pool. I assume everything is closed right now?
Since all the school pools are closed: At lifetime fitness (which is open) I saw some club kids doing 200s/300s on 2:20/3:30 intervals yesterday. In yards that is pretty quick, in meters, which it was, is just riduclous.
I’d be very interested in seeing drills for body position. I always feel my legs sinking after the first 500 meters.
I like the pool too. You are always welcome to drop in whenever you’d like. It’s got a good feel to it and centrally located. The Team has been there for almost 15 years now. Yes, it’s closed. We should get back to it tomorrow.
There are definitely some speedy kids around here.
Tim
There’s a bunch on my YouTube Channel, but dropping your backend at 500 is probably a combination of fitness and technique. Without seeing your stroke it would be difficult to tell what’s the exact issue and the best solution, but here are some fundamentals you can work on that would help.
If you have any other questions, let me know.
Tim
The first video from the camp is posted. If there are any questions, please let me know. My goal is to get one or two up a day for the next week or so. It’ll give everyone an idea of what we are doing at the camp and the progress made.
Thanks - interesting to watch. I like how you have now made some straps on the boards!
I just watched back the video with Aiden now and I have a question about that. Trying to bring his bum up higher, have you got any ideas about tools that give feedback about your but being out of the water? Like some kind of homeade extra drag clips you can put on the back of the swim suit? Or just concentrate and learn that sensation when you are doing it correctly?
We can obviously feel our feet come out the water a bit easier than feeling our but on the surface.
In addition to feet and but - neck / head. I find the back of my neck a bit less sensitive to water flow - though I have read, when you feel the water slide down the back of your neck you are getting into a really nice streamline.
You just need to develop the feeling and then we get back to the idea of training the brain. It sits at the center of all of this work.
Here is the next analysis with Jon Fecik:
