If the major car companies, electronics companies and other industries can get together ad agree on certain industry standards, why not swimming? Do you think that all computer firms just suddenly come up with the USB? No, they all agreed to the design, capabilities and limitations, so all could compete and flourish on par.
Same goes for swimming, but it hasn't happened yet. Lap or Length have been argued to death here, with no consensus. This morning I was reminded of another set of easily confused terms; build and descend. I was taught that build meant increase speed (or at least effort) during the individual swim you are about to perform, descend was to make each swim in a set a little faster, so the last 100 (or whatever the distance) was faster than the first one .
Anyone else have terms of inconsistency or ambiguity? Can we get the coaches to issue forth a letter of understanding on certain terms, so we have an interchangeable vernacular across the country?
I coach a Masters swim team in Colorado Springs. I think that the idea of coaches using consistent terms is great - however I am not really sure how it can be done. I know that the kids team we are part of (the only way we can get pool time in town) tries to keep using the same terms and drills throughout the different skill/speed levels on their team. That way the kids keep hearing the exact same terms for the skills and drills they are learning as they progress from the Silver Team, to the Gold Team and finally to the Senior Team. I think that this is a great idea. Much easier to do on a single club basis than across an entire country of Masters swimming teams. I can come up with over 100 different terms I use and consider rather wide spread in use. I am sure that many other coaches have different terms they use for some of the ones I consider wide spread. I have been coaching this team for about 25 years. I don't know how a newbie coach can be exposed to all of these terms. They would have to be given an explanation of the drill/term that they understand, not just the name to use. Also I know that different coaches use different terms for a reason. Some coaches never use the word pull when talking about the arms. They would rather use the term anchor to get swimmers to understand what they are really doing when they move through the water. Some coaches use the term load instead of press for a similar reason. Also sometimes coaches invent new drills and give them a name. If I agree to start using the same terms as a team across town, does that mean my swimmers now have to learn some new names for the things they have been doing for 25 years? Just my thoughts.
Does everyone know these terms?
KRLS (kick, right arm, left arm, swim)
SKPS (swim, kick, pull, swim)
KIPS (kick, inverted kick, pull, swim)
SKIPS (swim, kick, inverted kick, pull, swim)
These are terms I probably learned 35 years ago.
I coach a Masters swim team in Colorado Springs. I think that the idea of coaches using consistent terms is great - however I am not really sure how it can be done. I know that the kids team we are part of (the only way we can get pool time in town) tries to keep using the same terms and drills throughout the different skill/speed levels on their team. That way the kids keep hearing the exact same terms for the skills and drills they are learning as they progress from the Silver Team, to the Gold Team and finally to the Senior Team. I think that this is a great idea. Much easier to do on a single club basis than across an entire country of Masters swimming teams. I can come up with over 100 different terms I use and consider rather wide spread in use. I am sure that many other coaches have different terms they use for some of the ones I consider wide spread. I have been coaching this team for about 25 years. I don't know how a newbie coach can be exposed to all of these terms. They would have to be given an explanation of the drill/term that they understand, not just the name to use. Also I know that different coaches use different terms for a reason. Some coaches never use the word pull when talking about the arms. They would rather use the term anchor to get swimmers to understand what they are really doing when they move through the water. Some coaches use the term load instead of press for a similar reason. Also sometimes coaches invent new drills and give them a name. If I agree to start using the same terms as a team across town, does that mean my swimmers now have to learn some new names for the things they have been doing for 25 years? Just my thoughts.
Does everyone know these terms?
KRLS (kick, right arm, left arm, swim)
SKPS (swim, kick, pull, swim)
KIPS (kick, inverted kick, pull, swim)
SKIPS (swim, kick, inverted kick, pull, swim)
These are terms I probably learned 35 years ago.
