You've been asking for it and here it is. The dates have been set and I will be running the freestyle clinic over 5 weeks, 1 hour each session, in the coaching lane on Monday evenings (Tony will still be available for video etc during this time). Here are the dates:
Monday 6th April, 15th April, 22nd April, 29th April and 5th May
What will be covered?
Session One: Body position, kick - the foundations of swimming are laid right here.
Session Two: Arms - these are a swimmers oars, are you using them to best advantage?
Session Three: Arms (Advanced) - Early Vertical Forearm (EVF). What is it, why do it, and now the how. A series of progressions to help you achieve EVF and dramatically improve your speed.
Session Four: Breathing and Timing - The glue that binds it together. The finer details that turn a sow's ear into a silk purse.
Session Five: Individualised stroke correction - each swimmer will be given one or two personalised key drills that they should do during training to help them improve their freestyle.
24/2/12
If you are going to Gary’s sessions you won’t be wanting to miss this. But because it’s special and sometimes you can’t make it every week it’s going to be run for the next 2 Saturday’s. That is, this Saturday 25th Feb and the following Saturday 3rd March Gary will be doing Stroke Rate Efficiency testing. If you can’t make one week and are thinking ’oh no’ then don’t stress you can go to the other.
Stroke rate efficiency testing is about finding the best stroke rate that works for YOU. Just a word first though on the difference between stroke count and stroke rate. Stroke count is the number of strokes you take for a length. In a 33m pool some swimmers may take 22 strokes, some take 36 strokes and everything in between. Stroke rate is how many strokes you take per minute and again will vary from swimmer to swimmer. It’s easy to fall into the trap of trying to copy what an elite swimmer does in terms of stroke rate but that won’t always work out well for you. Swimming is an individual sport and no 2 swimmers are built exactly alike.
Gary is going to explain this so much better than my bumbling effort but the stroke rate efficiency test will help you find YOUR sweet spot.
Even if you aren’t doing the SRET come along for a swim and practice your drills.
17/2/12
Saturday coaching with Gary Hollywood is on tomorrow, 18th Feb. Be there (or miss out). Below is from Tony re Monday on deck coaching
At the moment, I have nothing booked for Monday, so let me know if there’s an aspect of your swimming you’d like me to look at. If you’d like to be videoed, let me know beforehand so I know to bring the gear. If you’ve been attending Gary’s Saturday sessions, perhaps I could look at you practising the drills and give feedback. If you’ve been working on something I’ve suggested, perhaps another review. Whatever you like, really (…provided it’s related to swimming, that is). If you see me at a loose end on Monday night, don’t be shy about asking for some swim tips – I enjoy it.
Cheers
Tony
2/2/12
Message from Tony re his Monday night coaching sessions: This is just a reminder that I can easily bring my underwater video camera and laptop to the pool on Monday nights for exposing all your underwater secrets. Let me know beforehand and we’ll choose a date. If you also bring a USB memory stick, I’ll put the videos on it for you to take away.
Also, it doesn’t have to be video work, I’m ready willing and (I think) able to help with stroke technique. I can usually cope with two in an evening, but if there’s only one, we can work for longer. Alternatively, badger me on the night if I’m not busy.
6th Feb Vince – video
13th Feb I’m anyone’s ;-)
Cheers
Tony
23/1/12
Here is the schedule for Avy's Sunday coaching sessions.
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Club Night Dates
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Date of Sunday Coaching
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Area to be Coached
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1 Feb 2012
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29 Jan 2012
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Basics & Starts
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7 Mar 2012
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4 Mar 2012
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All Turns (as requested)
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4 Apr 2012
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1 Apr 2012
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Free Body Positioning
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2 May 2012
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29 Apr 2012
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Free kick
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6 June 2012
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27 May 2012
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Free arms (& whole stroke)
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4 July 2012
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1 July 2012
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All turns (tumble & open)
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1 Aug 2012
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29 July 2012
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Back Body Positioning
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5 Sep 2012
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2 Sep 2012
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Back kick
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3 Oct 2012
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30 Sep 2012
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Back arms (& whole stroke)
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7 Nov 2012
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4 Nov 2012
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Fly kick
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5 Dec 2012
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2 Dec 2012
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Fly arms (& whole stroke)
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6/1/12
Gary Hollywood's Saturday coaching sessions will start again on the 28th January. We'll be starting back the new year with freestyle. Freestyle is, of course, the swimmers fundamental stroke from which everything else follows so it is the perfect way to start the 2012 sessions. Believe it or not your backstroke, breaststroke and butterfly will improve by improving your freestyle. Come to think of it, your freestyle will improve also.
Below is news from Tony for the next few Mondays.
"Hi all
On Monday nights, I’ve been doing a bit of coaching and underwater video recording in the end lane, but this year I thought I’d be a little more structured about it. I’ll put together a little schedule and publish it each week in this blog. Anyone who wants coaching should just let me know and we’ll organise which day. I plan to be poolside every Monday night, so there should be plenty of opportunity. Here’s my schedule, so far ;-)
9th Jan T.b.a.
16th Jan I’m away
23rd Jan T.b.a. (e.g. Arnold Schwarzenegger stroke assessment, video Flipper – remember who that is?)
30th Jan T.b.a. (e.g. Video Jaws, Grant Hackett stroke correction)
Cheers
Tony
30/12/11
There will be no coaching with Gary tomorrow (Saturday 31st Dec). We are taking a short break over the festive season. Once we have a date for our return I'll let you know, at this point I'm thinking some time around the end of January. Have a great New Year everyone.
29/12/11
Check out our new page, Coaching Corner. Here is where you can find news on what is coming up on Mondays with our in-house skills coach Tony, on Saturdays with HPK Head Coach Gary Hollywood and any other special coaching events that may arise.
