Stability-Streamline Kicking

This is a drill that I have been doing for a short time - maybe 3 or 4 seasons now.  Basically I needed a drill that addressed head alignment and kicking issues that were happening during the breathing strokes.  I noticed a lot of my best freestylers lifting the head slightly right before the turn for the breath and a noticeable lag in their kicking.  So at the beginning of the next season I used this drill to keep the kick up and help them keep the head on the "energy-line" during the turn for air and into the next stroke. After a couple weeks of good repetition my kids were kicking and breathing better while keeping the body line throughout the stroke cycle.

Come see me and my colleagues speak at the ASCA World Clinic

The Top Three Reasons You Can’t Miss The 53rd Annual ASCA World Clinic

AUG 16

Posted by SwimmingCoach

The ASCA World Clinic is a can’t miss event – each year, the World Clinic showcases coaches from the highest levels of our sport, willing to share with all their knowledge, insights and wisdom.  This year is no exception, with a lineup that includes Bob Bowman, Eddie Reese, Jack Bauerle and more.

But even more intriguing, this year, is what else is on the schedule.

Here are three must-attend talks for any coaching professional:

Councilman Memorial Lecture Series – Mr. Luis Lastra, US Navy Seals

The US Navy SEALS are sending Mr. Luis Lastra to the ASCA World Clinic to be the Doc Counsilman Memorial Lecture Speaker.  Mr. Lastra will discuss the SEALS methodology for teaching the components of composure under extreme pressure, mental and physical toughness and retaining Mission focus.  As swim coaches, we too are committed to building champions for life, and this talk is sure to provide meaningful lessons you can take home to your team.  The Councilman Memorial Lecture Series was formed in tribute to one of the swimming profession’s most revered figures, James “Doc” Councilman.  Each year, the lecture provides World Clinic attendees with a speaker from “outside” the coaching profession.  In this way, we hope to honor Doc’s concept that our best learning comes from outside our own immediate environment.

Age Group Track – Mission Viejo Age Group Staff

The Mission Viejo Age Group Staff, a combined force of young and dedicated coaches serving under the tutelage of Coach Bill Rose, will share the Nadadores philosophy and discuss how the team successfully promotes the development of a strong, well-rounded age group program that continues to produce elite 18 and under athletes.  The Mission Viejo Nadadores, one of the largest and longest continuously operating USA Swimming programs, recognizes the club development system as integral to achieving excellence.  Hear about the team’s unique organizational structure and the challenges and advantages of working within a large staff.  Learn how coaches Ad’m Dusenbury, Sarah Dawson and Bryan Dedeaux utilize coaching technologies and embrace positive teaching methods within dedicated peer-group practices.  From training sets to dryland, meet selection to motivation, these coaches will share intricate details of the very fabric that makes up the Nadadores Tradition of Excellence.

Technical Emphasis – Nort Thornton and the amazing things he’s done with breastrokers

After Coach Nort Thornton “retired” as coach of the Cal Berkeley Men’s team he stayed on as an assistant coach and focused on the breaststrokers.  The result?… His breaststrokers finished 1^st, second, and fourth at last year’s NCAA Division 1 Championships.  Here is short article Nort wrote and a nice preview to his presentation at the ASCA World Clinic:  “My Thoughts of the New Breaststroke”… After coaching for fifty plus years as a head coach at the high school, country club, U.S. Swimming Club, Community College and NCAA division I levels, where I had sole responsibility of coaching the whole team on all of the four competitive strokes, I retired from the University of California at Berkeley where I have been for the last thirty-three years. I decided to volunteer to help out, and our present coach David Durden was kind enough to put me to work.   We decided that I could be the most helpful if I looked after the breaststrokers swimmers, so that is what I have been doing for the last two years.  It isn’t really work when you love what you are doing.

Don’t miss out on – register today!

The ARENA/ASCA Swimmers Clinic

Arena International and the American Swimming Coaches Association invite you to the Swimmers Clinic at the ASCA World Clinic --- a challenging, motivational and educational experience for all area swimmers!  For more information click here The ARENA/ASCA Swimmers Clinic
See you there!

Validation!

My wife sent me this "Monday Motivation" the other day.  If you have seen my presentation on teaching 9-10 year olds you know how I feel about the importance of validation in age group coaching.  This is just a fun little video that demonstrates the power of making someone feel important and appreciated.  Enjoy!

Nutrition Challenge

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?

10 & Under Parent Meeting