The Boyd and Dietrich families, who spent a week down in the Florida Keys for a Race Club Swim Camp put together a short video for us. It’s a must see!
Swimming
Where Is The Next Michael Phelps Coming From? Buffalo?
Gary Hall Sr. reflecting on his recent trip to Buffalo for a Race Club Clinic and the outcomes of the USA Swimming Summer National Championships. Read his Aqua Note called “Where Is The Next Michael Phelps Coming From? Buffalo?” for all the details or visit the photo gallery from this trip to Buffalo.
Florida Keys Swim Club Workouts
Last Friday afternoon and Saturday morning I was leading two workouts for the Florida Keys Swim Club while Head Coach Jon Olsen was out of town. We were gearing up for some fast swimming during the Saturday morning session. You can download those two workouts from ProSwimWorkouts for your use. Friday’s workout: FKSC100813 – Saturday’s workout: FKSC100814
Champion Ingredients
Something I get asked a lot lately particularly by people not familiar with swimming is “What makes a champion in your sport?“. What I’m about to tell you could apply to almost any sport but, of course, comes from what I believe makes for a great swimmer.
First, let’s try to clear up why it is so hard for newcomers to break into the top. It seems that you see many of the same athletes dominate a sport for a long time as newcomers slowly work their way up to take the baton once the champions leave. Rarely do we see someone breaking into the top right away. This gradual process is most likely due to the fact that the best often keep getting better.
But what is it that separates the best from the rest? And what do you need to even have a chance to make it to the top yourself? What follows are five important ingredients or requirements to become a Champion.
Fighting Manatee Masters Workouts
On Friday, July 30 and Saturday, July 31 I was on deck coaching the Fighting Manatee Masters. Thought I share those two really basic workouts. Friday morning was shorter with 3300m and drill and stroke oriented. Saturday morning was a bit longer with 5100m and equipment heavy. You can get the two workouts at ProSwimWorkouts using the following links: FMSC100730 – FMSC100731
Swimming Coaches Association Switzerland
At last week’s Junior Nationals in Lancy I got my hands on a interesting flyer. A group of coaches are about to start a great project for all swim coaches in Switzerland. Some of you might have heard of ASCA (American Swimming Coaches Association) and they’re about to start SCAS (Swimming Coaches Association Switzerland). This is a great idea and this is my way of helping them to get the word out. What follows is the French version of the flyer.
Race Club Summer Camps 2010
Rajib Dey, the assistant coach for India at the Beijing Olympics, visited the Summer Camps at the University of Miami to learn about the coaching methods of The Race Club. This is video is the 1st part talking about starts. You can watch the 2nd part on flip turns on YouTube.
Shoulder Driven Freestyle with Style Sticks
If you heard about Mike Bottom’s Three Style of Freestyle DVD you might as well like this short complementary video to the Shoulder Driven freestyle technique. It looks like Club Wolverine is going to publish more videos in the future as they just opened a YouTube Channel.
It’s in his kick …
Do you have a workout song? If not you might like the one Gary Hall Sr. came up with during one of this recent morning workouts. Read all about it in his latest Aqua Note called “It’s in his kick …“.
A Special Medal
An Olympic medal, the dream of every athlete! It doesn’t matter what sport the athlete won the medal. If you ask those athletes, it’s the moment they all remember as it was yesterday. The moment they took their place on the medal stand and eventually being awarded for their efforts when the winner’s flags are raised will forever be one of their most valuable memory.
The link to this special moment created by the medal around their neck is what makes most of those athletes put their medal away in deposit box or another safe place and only take it out on special occasions. It’s not the actual value of the gold, silver or bronze medal that drives this special behavior but the previously explained emotional value associated with the medal.