WINTER SWIM FOCUS: Form, Balance and a Feel for the Water


By Karen Buxton USA Triathlon Level III Certified Coach


S


wimming is the most technically demanding of the three triathlon disciplines, and the winter months are an ideal time for athletes to improve their swim technique. This means


taking the time to focus on form (drill work), balance (kicking) and a feel for the water (sculling). Athletes should ignore the pace clock and, if swimming with others, resist the temptation to keep up with them. Swimming fast with poor technique will just reinforce old and often harmful habits. Sessions should be shorter and more frequent, if possible — four 30-minutes sessions rather than two 60-minute sessions, for example. The shorter sessions allow athletes to hold their form for the entire session, and the more frequent sessions help develop a better feel for the water. Do not worry about losing fitness in the pool, for working on efficiency during the offseason will help maintain your aerobic engine while perfecting form, balance and feel. For triathletes, swimming is more about efficient technique


than levels of fitness or strength. The goal in the pool is to achieve perfect form and, thus, become a more efficient swimmer. in a triathlon competition, a more efficient swimmer emerges from


the water ready for the bike — not exhausted and frustrated from having wasted energy due to poor form. efficiency and the speed that it produces can only come after an athlete has achieved a solid base of good form, balance and feel and then developed these traits into habits. Working on these three aspects of swimming in the winter months will transform the body’s efficiency in the water, so that it can perform at a more balanced, smooth, effortless and often faster level. The included workouts are in the 2,400-2,500 yard/meter range.


These distances can be adjusted to accommodate various levels of swimmers by increasing or decreasing the individual sets within the main set. For less advanced swimmers, using fins during the side kicking and other drills is always an option. Fins will allow the swimmer to focus on the drill at hand, rather than struggling to maintain a balanced position in the water. Using fins while kicking and swimming also helps develop ankle flexibility — just be sure that the swimmer eases into using the fins (too much too soon can cause strain on the muscles in the ankle area) and that they do not become dependent upon the fins.


(continued on next page)


PERFORMANCECOACHING | page 5


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15