See you at the pool!

Coach Claire

Congratulations to Jamie Kujawa for swimming the furthest distance this Sunday with 1900 meters!  Nick Harriott and Laurie Thatcher were close behind!  I also wanted to acknowledge Nick, and Ryan Takeshita for beating their last half-hour swim distances in a meter pool and Tony Thatcher for smashing his record by almost 300 meters.

Also to Ann Drenk, Bob Wade, Rick Livers and Wendy Gerez who swam farther this year than in all of the past half-hour swims they have done!

You all committed to and completed such a great accomplishment!  Nice job!

Females:

Jamie Kujawa: 1900

Laurie Thatcher: 1845

Julie Raaf: 1675

Moeko Toride: 1665

Elizabeth Skuntz: 1600

Kathryn Babin: 1500

Ann Drenk: 1187

Flora Olyphant: 1115

Wendy Gerez: 1075

Mary Robbins: 965

Males:

Nick Harriott: 1860

Ryan Takeshita: 1745

Tony Thatcher: 1700

Michael Dougherty: 1650

Dan Himsworth: 1630

Rick Livers: 1615

Tony Barton: 1450

Ryan Sampson: 1435

Bob Wade: 1385

Coach Claire

Tuesday December 6th

 Discipline yourself this season to make these drills a part of your regular swim regimen.

Balance and Rotation drill:

The Drill: This drill is actually broken down into four parts, all of which include swimming with one arm. And you will use both arms during the drill:

1. Swim with the Left arm, Breath to the left side. The right arm is by your side not out in front of you. This will be written as L st (left stroke), L br (left breath).

2. Swim with Left arm, Breathe to the right side. The right arm is by your side, not out in front of you. Written as L st, R br

3. Swim with Right arm, Breath to the right side. The left arm is by your side, not out in front of you. Written as R st, R br

4. Swim with Right arm, Breath to the left side. The left arm is by your side, not out in front of you. R st, L br

Now, if it will make you feel more comfortable, practice the arm and breathing motion standing in your living room or simply standing in the shallow end of the pool, bent over at the waist, face down in the water. When learning this drill, by all means, use fins to add the support to the legs. As I said, this drill may be tough to get used to. And it will always be a tough one to do. But it will help tremendously.

See you at the pool!

Coach Claire

 Discipline yourself this season to make these drills a part of your regular swim regimen.

Kick on side: Kick on your side with both arms at your side. Play with head position and see how that affects how your hips ride in the water. (Think “downhill” head pushing down and out and help your hips ride high).

Kick on side with rotation: Same as above, except after a six-beat kick, roll to your other side, initiating the rotation with your hips and core (the shoulders and upper body will follow).

Kick on side, arm out: Lie on your side and kick a length of the pool with the bottom arm extended and the top arm at your side. Concentrate on feeling long.

Kick on side, arm out with rotation: Same as above, except after a six-beat kick take a complete stroke (one-stroke cycle) and roll over to your other side. Lead the rotation with your hips, not your shoulders.

Coach Claire

Tuesday November 22^nd

4/6/8-Count Drill

This can be done for both Freestyle and Backstroke. Kick on your side for a count of 4, 6 or 8 kicks (or counts). Take one full arm stroke to rotate to your other side for another 4, 6, or 8 kicks, and continue through the swim. While on your side, focus on correct body position. When executing the switch, begin by lifting the elbow of the arm on the water surface (top arm) and recovering it over the line of your body. The extended arm (bottom arm) stays extended to maintain a streamlined body position, until the elbow of the recovery arm has passed over your head. Then execute a quick switch to your opposite side. Use core body muscles to rotate, while maintaining a hold of the water with your bottom arm.