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Athlete Approved Tip: When giving feedback, word it positively.
- Say it this way: “Keep your elbow high when you pull”
- Don’t say it this way: “Don’t drop your elbow when you pull”
- Tell your athletes what they are doing right! View post with tip.
Athlete Approved Tip: Avoid using the term “easy” in practice. It teaches athletes they can disengage. Trying using the word smooth. View post with tip.
Athlete Approved Tip: Swimming is a privilege. If a swimmer is not listening or acting inappropriately, sit them out. Punishing by making them swim Fly, for example, teaches them that Fly is a bad thing. View post with tip.
Athlete Approved Tip: When you work on finishes, ask your swimmers to do a quick celebration when they finish correctly. That will keep it fun and rewarding. It will also help them visualize the real thing! Most importantly, it will be entertaining for you! Be prepared to learn the latest TikTok craze (you’re welcome). View post with tip.
Athlete Approved Tip: Using equipment is fun. There is nothing wrong with strapping on a pair of paddles and fins going fast! View post with tip.
Athlete Approved Tip: When you get into cold open water, remember to exhale! When swimmers tense up in cold water, the natural reaction is to hyperventilate. When this happens, slow down your breathing by exhaling fully through your nose. Swimmers should breathe in through the mouth and out through the nose (opposite of runners). View post with tip.
Athlete Approved Tip: A high elbow pull not only helps your power, it’s also necessary to prevent injury. Dropping your elbow right before your catch often leads to shoulder problems, which none of us want. View post with tip.
Athlete Approved Tip: If you do a flip turn with a snorkel, ensure you clear it when you surface. To do this, make sure you have enough oxygen in your lungs to exhale and push all of the water out of the snorkel. Practice makes perfect for flip turning with a snorkel. View post with tip.
Athlete Approved Tip: Diversifying your workout plan with different forms of cross training will make you a well rounded athlete. It will also keep your exercise routine fresh. View post with tip.
Athlete Approved Tip: Walking backwards is the safest way to walk when wearing fins. #LessTumbles #MoreTumbleTurns! View post with tip.
Athlete Approved Tip: Don’t forget to hydrate! Though you’re surrounded by water, you’re still sweating, and need to replenish fluids and electrolytes. View post with tip.
Athlete Approved Tip: Try removing the bottom wrist strap, using only the finger strap. If you pull straight through, the paddle will stay on. If you pull using the outdated “s-curve” technique or lose a hold on the water at any point in your pull pattern, the paddle will fall off. View post with tip.
Athlete Approved Tip: Sight less in open water! Beginners tend to sight too often. About every 6 – 10 stokes is just right. View post with tip.
Athlete Approved Tip: Kicking butterfly on your back with fins is one of the best core workouts ever. View post with tip.
Athlete Approved Tip: Be mindful of how many inches of the snorkel extends out of the water. Olympic Coach Mike Bottom teaches that 6+ inches of snorkel showing above water is too high when using a snorkel. When only a couple of inches break the surface of the water, your head is in the correct down position. View post with tip.
Athlete Approved Tip: A trick to staying motivated is to write your goals on paper and tape them above your bed. They will be the first thing you see when you wake up and the last thing you see before you go to sleep. View post with tip.
Athlete Approved Tip: Use a center mounted snorkel while kicking with a kickboard. This will help you to perfect head and body position while you breath easily. It is also fastest way to kick! View post with tip.
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