Subject: Swim critique on video So, I joined a new master's group (since I moved) and this master's group is WAY more serious than my last team or at least, more serious about helping people to improve who show that they want to. (I guess I showed I wanted to by showing up to 5:30 am swim, as before that they weren't really paying too much attention to me.) They video people once a month and it is FREE of charge if you belong to the masters. My last team would do this once a year, but they would charge $25 plus it was always on a day when I wasn't there. So, I thought why not? The Swim Video Review Coach: We always try and focus on a couple of things each time. Me: There's more than a couple? (Thinking - crap.) Coach: Yeah, but we can't give you too much to think about at once. Me: ok. (thinking - double crap.) Coach: Yeah, we've discussed some of the things you're doing with your stroke. Me: ok. (thinking - the COACHES have DISCUSSED me? Wow. I'm either impressed or scared to death.) Coach: See your head? You're holding your head way up out of the water. That's really affecting your stroke. You need to get your head more in line with your spine. Me: Yeah, I can see that. It doesn't FEEL like that though. (Thinking - man it looks like my head is a periscope and the rest of me is a submarine. ) Coach: And, we want you to focus more on front quadrant swimming, you are starting your pull right when your hand comes out of the water and you need to glide more. Me: Ok. (Thinking - it doesn't feel like that EITHER but yep, obvious as well.) Coach: Now, let's look at your other stroke. Me: Ok. (Thinking - no, please, I know it will suck.) and it did. I did butterfly, which apparently, I am doing completely wrong. It was painful. Spent the rest of the time in the pool that day doing some slower laps just trying to get my head down, while focusing on glide and NOT forgetting to bend my elbows or under-rotate (they told me those last two were problems the 2nd time I swam with them.) Yeah, it wasn't too relaxing as it was more like - "Keep head down, ok. arm coming up, bend elbow on LEFT while NOT pulling with RIGHT. Then start the pull, but DON'T forget to ROTATE, but do NOT lift your head up." Did not feel coordinated at all - but it's going to take some time to put it all back together... a never ending learning process apparently. Just wanted to put out there that if you have the opportunity to do this you should, because I would have NEVER guessed that I was quite this uh... in need of improvement. |