Posts Tagged ‘Swimming Competition Tips’

How much training is right for me (or how cake baking can help you swim faster!!!)

Without doubt the toughest question in swimming to answer is “How much training is right for me?”

Coming up with the right swimming training program has often been described as being a bit like making a cake.

When you make a cake, you follow a recipe which specifies how much flour, how much butter, how much milk, how many eggs, how long to bake in the oven, what temperature to set the oven for – yummy I can almost taste it now!

If you add too much butter, no eggs and five pounds of flour more than the recipe needs, then cook it for three hours at a high temperature, you get a mess more like a brick than a dessert!

Training is a mix of the right things done at the right time in the right quantities.

It all starts with your training plan – your “recipe” for success. Read more

March 1, 2010 | 4 Comments

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Message to Swimming – you still don’t get it!

Six years ago I wrote an article called “Changing Times” about the Sport of Swimming and the challenges it faced all over the world.

You can find the full article at numerous sites (or just email me for a copy).

In short, I challenged the swimming community to work together, to strive to create new, exciting, interesting training and competition environments, to put away petty political and personality conflicts and work together in the best interest of kids, athletes, families, coaches, Clubs and the sport.

Now, Six years later…..You still don’t get it do you! Read more

February 8, 2010 | 2 Comments

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Questions you always wanted to ask your coach but were afraid to ask.

  • Did you ever want to ask your coach a question but couldn’t find the right way of asking the question?
  • Did you ever have something you wanted to say to your coach but couldn’t find the right moment?
  • Did you ever want to sit down with your coach and discuss some stuff you have been wondering about but never had the chance?

Well – here’s your chance!

Questions you always wanted to ask your coach but were afraid to ask! Read more

December 1, 2009 | Comments Off

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Swimming Psyche Outs. How to be in control, confident and composed when faced with psyche outs (and how to use them to your advantage!!). Part Two.

Ten things you can do to respond to a psyche out-er:

  • Smile;
  • Say “thanks”;
  • Shake their hand and say “I really appreciate your support”;
  • Laugh and say “is that the best you can come up with?”;
  • Tell them, “I am sorry. I really wasn’t listening to you”;
  • Tell them an even bigger “exaggeration”;
  • Walk away;
  • Say, “wow – I am really lucky to be racing someone as talented and gifted as you”;
  • Keep chatting with family and friends.

But the best thing of all is to……………ignore them and swim your best.

Psyche out practice – dealing with Dirty Downers. Read more

November 4, 2009 | Comments Off

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How to Put Together a Great Championship Program – 50 ideas for a Positively, Powerfully, Perfect Program – Part Three.

Part three of How to Put Together a Great Championship follows….almost immediately: Read more

October 12, 2009 | Comments Off

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How to Put Together a Great Championship Program – 50 ideas for a Positively, Powerfully, Perfect Program – Part Two.

Part One of this Post covered a lot of ground – (or water) – enjoy part two! Read more

October 9, 2009 | Comments Off

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How to Put Together a Great Championship Program – 50 ideas for a Positively, Powerfully, Perfect Program – Part One.

Club championships programs are not easy to put together – after all, you are usually racing the same people you see day after day after day after day after day……. (you get the idea).

Many clubs lament that their Club Championships are not well supported and are generally disappointing in terms of attendance and commitment from swimmers and families. Well guess what??? It’s your – (as in the organisers of the event) – fault!

If people don’t want to buy the “product” you are selling, sell something else! If people do not attend your Club Champs – don’t blame the people – don’t blame other sports – don’t blame the economic crisis – change what you are selling!

If you want a really great Club Championship program, the trick is to combine the four Ps:

  • Performance – Club championships are- after all-about racing.
  • Parents – Get them involved and get them wet! This is the one chance all year to have some family fun.
  • Practice – Club Championships are not the end of the story….for many swimmers Club Championships are the beginning of the competitive season and it’s a great opportunity for practicing skills, strokes, technique, dives, starts, turns, finishes, warm ups, cool downs, stretches, race day diet and other racing skills.
  • Party – have a really fun day with the families, friends and other fantastic people who make swimming the wonderful sport it is! Read more

October 5, 2009 | Comments Off

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The Top Ten Technique Tips for Every Swimmer

1. Effective propulsive movements in swimming go from SLOW to FAST.

In swimming, effective propulsive movements are SLOW to FAST.

In Fly, you reach long, feel the water, catch then accelerate through the stroke to recovery. Same in back. Same in breast (arms and legs). Same in free.

It starts with an effective feel on entry and a strong catch then…..throughout the stroke it is acceleration that makes all the difference.

2. The relationship between HIPS and HEAD is critical.

There is a critical relationship between the HIPS and the HEAD in swimming. Simply, when the head is up, the hips go down and if the hips are down three important things happen:

  • Hips down means you kick down – instead of back;
  • Hips down means your body is in an inefficient position;
  • Hips down means that your body is not streamlined.

Be aware of this relationship and keep your head and hips in the right positions. Read more

September 2, 2009 | Comments Off

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