**Teaching While Training**

At the start of a new season, coaches can face a dilemma: How much time should I spend *teaching* and how much time *training?* What’s the right balance? We like to err on the side of teaching, but realize that most coaches feel the need to introduce yardage. This week we look at ways to teach WHILE training. After all, teaching doesn’t *have* to mean drilling. Teaching can take the form of thinking intently about ONE focus point while you swim. This week we look at freestyle focus points to think about while swimming.

**Monday**

**Free Drill: One Goggle Breath**

For developing swimmers, a standard for detecting a balanced body and proper positioning, is to look for one goggle showing during the breath.

<https://www.goswim.tv/lessons/2079-freestyle-one-goggle>

\#freestyle #freestylebreathing #swimming #swimmingtechnique 

0351 - Single goggle breath

0649 - lead hand extension

0960 - Crown of the Head

1015 - hips

1216 - what the breath looks like from the other side

1341 - hips

1726 - hand exit

2255 - hand appears to cross

2287 - extends directly forward - slicing

2300 - first breath opportunity

2353 - extension

2381 - catch

What else will we be talking about?

2703 - Hips

2831 - Disappear

2925 - Extension

2958 - Catch

3033 - Catch

3084 - Sliced Hand Exit

3153 - Sliced Hand Exit

3172 - Recovery

4123 - slight uphill

4649 - How good you have to look above to look this good under

**Tuesday**

**Free Drill: High Hips**

Having the hips ride high in the water is something swimmers can think about *while* they swim or pull.

<https://www.goswim.tv/lessons/1066-freestyle-high-hips>

\#freestyle #freestylebreathing #swimming #swimmingtechnique 

0428 - space between the surface and the hip

0485 - hips falling

0495 - kick is used to lift the hips

0672 - hips about to fall

0982 - space between surface and the hip

1219 - bodyline falling

1363 - bodyline falling

1452 - head position - coming to the wall

1620 - catch

1647 - head position

1721 - hips

1825 - constant kick

2502 - maintain connection with hips and surface

5047 - maintain connection

**Wednesday**

**Free Drill: Disappear Behind Your Hand**

Teach your swimmers how to slip through the water with more efficiency and speed. Have them think about disappearing or “hiding” behind the hand in freestyle.

<https://www.goswim.tv/lessons/1869-freestyle-disappear-behind-your-hand>

\#freestyle #freestylebreathing #swimming #swimmingtechnique 

0372 - straight lines

0472 - straight lines

1710 - longer arms - strength and hand speed

2250 - longer arms

2403 - hand slice exit

2891 - hand slice extension

3072 - slice to catch - missing or building an efficient open water stroke?

4128 - between the line

4600 - beautiful

**Thursday**

**Reach Full Extension**

Reaching full extension in freestyle is a necessary foundation for swimmers at every level. It makes a great focus point during any freestyle set, and it’s easy for coach to SEE whether all swimmers are “getting it.”

<https://www.goswim.tv/lessons/1923-freestyle-reach-full-extension>

\#freestyle #freestylebreathing #swimming #swimmingtechnique 

0643 - extension

0791 - extension

0914 - inner elbow extension

3049 - sprinter

3409 - extension

3567 - extension during breath

4199 - holding the breath a long time but still connected

5206 - extension

5925 - use lines on the side of the pool

10293 - parallel to the surface

10660 - extend in the depth the shoulder has rotated

**Friday**

**Free Drill: Practice the Catch**

Here’s a great focus point for when swimmers are going slow and easy during warmup or warmdown. Give them a powerful visual of what a high-elbow catch looks like. GoSwim videos of Kara Lynn Joyce can help!

<https://www.goswim.tv/lessons/1909-freestyle-practice-the-catch>

\#freestyle #freestylebreathing #swimming #swimmingtechnique 

0735 - catch

1259 - Position 11

1372 - Catch

1755 - Catch

2646 - Position 11 over mirrors

3575 - catch

4949 - drive the hand forward

5317 - drive the hand forward

5685 - upper arm does not move initially

10174 - right arm is one unit

10476 - left arm pivots into the catch

10975 - elbow close to surface - flat body

11446 - not as close on this one

12183 - use fins to isolate the hands

13964 - improving just a bit

**Saturday**

**Free Drill: Sliced Hand Exit**

Thinking about a sliced hand exit will help swimmers push the hand all the way through to the finish of the stroke.

<https://www.goswim.tv/lessons/1497-freestyle-sliced-hand-exit>

\#freestyle #freestylebreathing #swimming #swimmingtechnique 

0551 - slice on exit

0770 - slide on exit

1202 - brush the thigh

1720 - hand still pushing back

1750 - releasing to the recovery

2267 - releasing to the recovery

2803 - hand still pushing back

2956 - releasing to the recovery

3506 - brushing the thigh

4840 - releasing the hand

5404 - rotating to the slice

**Sunday**

**Free Drill: Vary Your Recovery**

Swimming with varied types of recovery can help your swimmers avoid repetitive-use injuries.

<https://www.goswim.tv/lessons/1468-freestyle-vary-your-recovery>

\#freestyle #freestylebreathing #swimming #swimmingtechnique 

1812 - fingertip drag

2248 - relaxed recovery

2757 - straight arm recovery

3994 - fingertip drag

4456 - release the fingers from the surface

4899 - straight arm

10012 - straight arm

10215 - fingertip drag


Sign In to watch video

Sept. 10, 2024 - Teaching While Training