Many times I want to tell my kids to focus on a specific technique or idea in the middle of a set. I could put a hold on the set to speak to the group or I could tell each individual as they come into the wall. Either way, we only have a specific amount of time for each practice and as a coach being efficient is important. So, last season I tried something new. I decided to use the swimmers to do the work for me and disguise it as a game. In the middle of a backstroke set I told the first person to focus on rolling the shoulders up to the chin...then I said, PASS IT ON. The first person told the second person then pushed off at their specific interval. The second person told the third person and did the same. There was just enough time for each kid to pass on the information before they needed to leave the wall. Surprisingly, it worked perfect and each kid was rolling their shoulder up to the chin. I also got the feeling that the kids enjoyed taking some of the responsibility of helping out a teammate. It was a simple way to get the kids to think during a set with minimal interruptions and allow me extra time for individual coaching within the workout. Little kids love this! Any tips or tricks you use to make the workouts work for you?
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
Swim fast! PASS IT ON...
Many times I want to tell my kids to focus on a specific technique or idea in the middle of a set. I could put a hold on the set to speak to the group or I could tell each individual as they come into the wall. Either way, we only have a specific amount of time for each practice and as a coach being efficient is important. So, last season I tried something new. I decided to use the swimmers to do the work for me and disguise it as a game. In the middle of a backstroke set I told the first person to focus on rolling the shoulders up to the chin...then I said, PASS IT ON. The first person told the second person then pushed off at their specific interval. The second person told the third person and did the same. There was just enough time for each kid to pass on the information before they needed to leave the wall. Surprisingly, it worked perfect and each kid was rolling their shoulder up to the chin. I also got the feeling that the kids enjoyed taking some of the responsibility of helping out a teammate. It was a simple way to get the kids to think during a set with minimal interruptions and allow me extra time for individual coaching within the workout. Little kids love this! Any tips or tricks you use to make the workouts work for you?
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
"Pass it on!"--sounds fun. We do something a little different. Whenever I talk to individuals or the group about technique, I use hand signals. Sometimes I quiz the kids. What does this mean? "More hip roll!" they yell or, "Tighter streamline!" In our noisy, indoor pool with three workout groups going and water in the kids' ears, sometimes hand signals are the best means of communication. They serve another purpose, too. A quick signal from the side deck when a swimmer breathes tells him what he needs to work on without slowing down the set or the swimmer.
ReplyDeletePriscilla, yes! This is so necessary and is so effective in communicating simple techniques and ideas while the kids are in mid-swim. It's almost a special sign language that your kids get to know and use. Good stuff!
ReplyDelete