Recently in Coaches Corner Category

BY Josh Hyde

This week in the coach's corner we are taking a break from all the technical advice we've been going over in the previous installments to watch some outstanding swimming. This video was sent to me by an old friend and I thought it was quite relevant given our previous breaststroke videos, and our constant attention to developing the underwater kick.

This video shows a couple of things. First, is the current world record holder in the 100 breaststroke, Leisel Jones. She is a phenomenal swimmer and this video really demonstrates what years of hard work and attention to detail can help you accomplish.

The second portion of the video is really the part that I would like you to pay attention to. This is just a fun video that provides a great illustration of what an underwater kick can really accomplish. Of course, what this athlete does in this video is illegal and resulted in a disqualification; however, he completely blows away the field without taking ONE stroke! This is why all your coach's are so set on developing your underwater kicking. If you develop this skill, it can be a huge advantage for you in your races.

Until next time, be sure to throw in an extra underwater kick off all your walls at your next practice.

Written by Josh Hyde

This week in the Coach's Corner we are going over Breaststroke with Olympian Dan Kutler. The footage of this video isn't great, however, I think it's good enough and is offset by the excellent explanation that Mr. Kutler provides throughout the video.

Be sure to pay close attention to the underwater pullout between the 00:48 mark and the 01:45 mark. I wish there was some underwater footage of this portion of the stroke, however, I found another short clip that demonstrates exactly what he is talking about here.

One other item that I found to be quite impressive is the fact that 50% of your power in the kick comes from the last 6 inches! This is why it is so important to finish that kick and squeeze those legs together.

by Josh Hyde

This week in Coach's Corner we are reviewing proper butterfly technique. Who better to use than the best in the world? Please follow the link to see a great video and tutorial of Michael Phelps performing butterfly. Pay close attention to the narrator as he explains each phase of the stroke;  he does a great job of breaking it down and using the video to illustrate his points.

One very important item to keep in mind while watching this video is to remember that everyone's stroke is unique and not everyone will look exactly like Mr. Phelps. However, you can still learn a great amount from watching this video and perhaps something will click the next time you perform the stroke in practice.

Written by Josh Hyde

In this week's Coach's Corner we cover our second stroke of the season - backstroke. By following this link you will be taken to a video of one of the best backstroker's in the world, Margaret Hoelzer. This short video provides a number of great angles and provides a great look into proper backstroke technique.

Some key points to pay close attention to are how she is catching the water as soon as her hand enters the water behind her head. She anchors her with a bend of her elbow and then proceeds to 'sweep and shove' with her entire arm propelling her through the water.

Another key item to watch for is the rotation throughout the stroke through the hips and shoulders. You will hear your coaches refer to your core often throughout practice. This is because the core is where you generate most of your power, therefore, it is imperative that a swimmer has good rotation in both the freestyle and backstroke - which is excellently demonstrated in this video.

Finally, the last thing to focus on is from the :45 to :55 second mark when they show two swimmers doing a flip turn. Take note of how she attacks the flip then proceeds to 'out kick' the other athlete off the wall. This was covered in a previous installment of coach's corner (see the 5^th Stroke), but this is a great illustration of just how important the underwater kick is.

By Josh Hyde

While swimming freestyle one of the most important aspects in order to swim fast is maintaining proper alignment. One of the most common areas that this comes to be an issue is when the athlete needs to take a breath.

Due to the importance of this small, but integral, skill please follow this link for a great video that does a fantastic job of explaining the proper technique.

Make note of how the narrator explains keeping the head low when taking a breath and how the athlete is breathing from the "trough" that is created. This is exactly what your coaches are talking about when they mention breathing with one goggle under the water and one out of the water - and also making sure you look at the lane lines during your breath, rather than the ceiling.

Enjoy the video and be sure to try this at your next practice.

Josh Hyde

This week in Coach's Corner we begin our in-depth analysis series of the four competitive strokes. 

First up is freestyle which you will see by following the link here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x3ctBUV08_o

While watching this video it is important to understand how the narrator explains the catch and anchoring the hand in the water. You will often hear your coach's talk about beginning the pull with fingertips down, or with a high elbow, which is the same idea the narrator is suggesting when he mentions keeping the upper arm parallel to the surface. The narrator explains that you will almost feel like you're lifting the elbow and shoulder out of the water, or sending the elbow over the hand - which is a good way of explaining the proper motion.

This is a very informative video, so be sure to take notes and you may have an easier time grasping what your coach is talking about the next time they tell you to start your pull with a high elbow.

Finally, be sure to tune in next week as we will again be going over freestyle and the importance of proper body alignment. 

Josh Hyde

As many of you know, swimming is not an easy sport and the athlete's performance is tremendously dependent on their mindset. The difference between very good swimmers and elite level swimmers is really only between the ears. Talent and practice can only carry an athlete so far, therefore developing an athlete's mental toughness is just as important as developing proper technique.

Dr. Alan Goldberg is known for doing a lot of work with athletes from many different sports; however, some of his best work has been in swimming. Therefore, to go along with the mental training that we (the coaches) will be doing throughout the season, and the thought that mental toughness is really what separates a good athlete from a great one, I have provided a link to one of Dr. Goldberg's many articles. This short article provides 18 items that swimmers can focus on to develop their mental toughness and help reach their goals.

Go ahead and start utilizing some of the things he lists in the article and I bet you will soon notice positive changes in the outcome of your races.

Helpful link!

This week in the Coach's corner we are going to cover the importance of the underwater dolphin kick, or the "5^th stroke" as it is sometimes referred.

There are two videos for your viewing pleasure that provide a good visual as to what we're looking for in a good underwater kick. The first video is a tutorial explaining how to perform a good underwater dolphin kick and shows a couple of athletes performing the motion. While watching be sure to take note of how tightly streamlined they are and how they're using their whole body to propel them through the water.  

The second video is Michael Phelps racing the 200M freestyle at the Beijing Olympics. You will notice that he totally dominates off the walls, which is due to his tremendous skill performing the underwater dolphin kick.

Performing a solid underwater kick! 

Michael Phelp's Kick!

Please enjoy this installment of Athletes Corner and be sure to attempt some of the skills we have gone over at your next practice.

Be sure to check back again next week!