For a couple of weeks now I have been using what I call instant video feedback during skills work for my groups. This form of video feedback involves a monitor (in my case a 27 inch TV), a Tivo series 2 DVR, and a video camera. I set up the video camera to film the turns or starts we are working on and use the Tivo to delay the playback. Once the kids have executed the desired skill, they exit the water immediately and review with either myself or my assistant and get instant visual feedback. This also allows the coaches to analyze and give verbal feedback on what they can do better for the next round. We do this for about a half hour each week with great results. I have noticed some great improvements with this form of video technology application. The kids can see what they are doing right and wrong and quickly get a chance to re-do and improve on it. The kids love it, the parents think it is the best thing on the planet, and the coahces get a chance to use yet another tool in the toolbox.
Any ideas on how to improve on instant video feedback? Comments are welcome!
Monday, November 22, 2010
Monday, November 15, 2010
Friday, November 12, 2010
30 Minute Fly - It's Not What You Think.
I have a great group of flyers in my 10 & Under Gold group. These kids have great form and are extremely efficient. I felt that they could handle a 30 min. fly. No, not 30 minutes of straight butterfly...that would be....dumb.
For 30 minutes, I had my kids swimming single laps of fly with the best form they could show. They were only allowed to go one lap at a time and they were able to determine their own rest periods between laps. If they felt that they were slowing down or feeling sloppy, they would take more rest. If I saw them loosing efficiency or just getting lazy, then I would ask them to take an extra 30 to 60 seconds on the wall in order to recover and get back to form on the next one.
I was very proud of my kids and their ability to recognize when they were loosing form. Many of the kids were taking enough rest to make each lap as good as possible for their own stroke. Some were rushing through the set and were asked to take more rest. Once they did, they got back to form.
It was easy for me to walk through and just talk to each kid about what I wanted to see from them. It was easy for them because there was no rush to make a base or keep their position in the lane. Everything was based on technique and form. If a kid did 50 laps in 30 minutes and 25 of them were sloppy...they failed the objective of the set. If a kid did only 10 laps but they were all as good as possible for their specific stroke....they passed. Success was determined by how good their form was and not how many laps they were able to get in. Good stuff!
For 30 minutes, I had my kids swimming single laps of fly with the best form they could show. They were only allowed to go one lap at a time and they were able to determine their own rest periods between laps. If they felt that they were slowing down or feeling sloppy, they would take more rest. If I saw them loosing efficiency or just getting lazy, then I would ask them to take an extra 30 to 60 seconds on the wall in order to recover and get back to form on the next one. I was very proud of my kids and their ability to recognize when they were loosing form. Many of the kids were taking enough rest to make each lap as good as possible for their own stroke. Some were rushing through the set and were asked to take more rest. Once they did, they got back to form.
It was easy for me to walk through and just talk to each kid about what I wanted to see from them. It was easy for them because there was no rush to make a base or keep their position in the lane. Everything was based on technique and form. If a kid did 50 laps in 30 minutes and 25 of them were sloppy...they failed the objective of the set. If a kid did only 10 laps but they were all as good as possible for their specific stroke....they passed. Success was determined by how good their form was and not how many laps they were able to get in. Good stuff!
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