As hard as is sometimes seems, I think it's better just to watch and cringe on the inside as opposed to offering advice. More times than not, I don't know what a persons goals are, and I've also been on the receiving end of unsolicited advice, some that was useful, some that was pretty far off base, and no matter how good the intentions were, I couldn't help but have a slight knee-jerk reaction of "just who does he/she think they are." Besides, I'm pretty much breathing too hard to offer anything other than raspy grunts, and that would pretty much freak out even the most easy-going person I'd guess.
:banana:
"I've been watching you swim, I see something that might help you swim faster, would you like to know what it is?"
...and then you direct them to the "Swimming Faster Faster" thread, right? :)
I only offer advice to swimmers where I can see they are really trying hard and struggling. If somebody is just cruising, and enjoying themselves, I leave them alone.
I guess I'm the same way the person has to look receptive, how do I know that? I don't know exactly.
I will give the same two tips to the same type of people. Usually a person who obviously never swam competitively before. Those things are, 1. Breathe every two armstrokes and 2. Turn your head to breathe, don't lift it up.
Those are usually pretty easy, uncontroversial and can really help them on the spot.
I ma not sure why but most new people come in and will be breathing every 6, 8 or 4 armstrokes and dying at the end of the lane. If they start breathing every, they can usually automatically double their range from 12 to 25 yards or from 25 to 50 yards.
I normally ask people first if they wanted a few pointers. Most people are thankful and take the advice. I have also had people just say no as well, and that's okay.
I only offer advice to swimmers where I can see they are really trying hard and struggling. If somebody is just cruising, and enjoying themselves, I leave them alone.
Oddly enough, whenever I swim at my local JCC, I have people stop me during my workout and ask for advice. One of the reasons, I only "train" there, when I taper and/or just want to float around.
As a teacher for 40 years & a swim coach for 33 seasons it's very hard for me to not try to help people. That said --- I try to keep MY ideas to myself at the gym & pool. On our masters team , I do give most swimmers some support in stroke & turn ideas & am accepted as a Asst. coach well.
I'm the same as Britt and fmracing.If it is someone who looks serious I ask"would you mind if I made a suggestion to improve your swimming"or something like that.If they say yes then I give advise.No one has said "no"yet,and everyone has been nice and seemed grateful.
Do you offer unsolicited advice to other swimmers at the pool? Fix their form? Give workout suggestions? Etc.
Or do you keep your mouth shut?
sometimes,
before I say anything, the first thing I say is:
"I've been watching you swim, I see something that might help you swim faster, would you like to know what it is?"
Also, I'm also willing to spend a few moments right then to help them
