Swim instructors and coaches: What do you think about the the progress this swimmer has made? I am neither a swim instructor or a coach; however, this 24 year old watched me swim one day and said he wanted to learn to swim just like me. :bighug: Awwww, I just couldn't resist! He is the second person who practically pleaded for me to teach them how to swim.
Billy is a Korean college student who came here on a student visa and barely spoke English. When I first met him in January, he didn't understand a word I said. Since I started working with him during the summer, he has improved both his English and his swimming quite dramatically. Billy has gone from barely being able to swim at all to this in nine lessons:
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He has learned to breathe on both sides; this is his left side breathing:
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Billy has also improved the path of his arms from swinging very wide to a narrower pull:
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Sure, there are a lot of improvements that still need to be made; however, I think he has improved quickly in just nine lessons. Today, I timed him on a 25 yard sprint and he came in at 19 seconds from a weak push off.
So, what do you think? Is his improvement typical for someone his age or is he progressing at a fast rate? I am hoping to convince him to join USMS and compete in some meets with me after the spring semester. He loves to swim and I think he would have a blast.
So, what do you think? Is his improvement typical for someone his age or is he progressing at a fast rate? I am hoping to convince him to join USMS and compete in some meets with me after the spring semester. He loves to swim and I think he would have a blast.
Elaine, Billy's rapid improvement attests to his will to succeed and, especially, to the time and effort you put into mentoring and coaching him! An encouraging attitude and knowledge of swimming, along with dedication on the part of the swimmer, can turn a non-swimmer into a real athlete! Congrats! :)
Thanks, Swimspire! It has been fun watching him progress so rapidly and have fun in the process. I am finding it to be a completely different experience than working with Gail, my only other "student" who came to me wanting to learn how to swim at 65 years of age. (She is now 66, and I am teaching her backstroke starts and turns to prepare her for her second Senior Games meet in May.) I have posted about her in the "Swim Happy" thread, because it has been a very happy experience, as well. Both are volunteer projects that have been very fulfilling in different ways.
So, what do you think? Is his improvement typical for someone his age or is he progressing at a fast rate? I am hoping to convince him to join USMS and compete in some meets with me after the spring semester. He loves to swim and I think he would have a blast.
Elaine, Billy's rapid improvement attests to his will to succeed and, especially, to the time and effort you put into mentoring and coaching him! An encouraging attitude and knowledge of swimming, along with dedication on the part of the swimmer, can turn a non-swimmer into a real athlete! Congrats! :)
Thanks, Swimspire! It has been fun watching him progress so rapidly and have fun in the process. I am finding it to be a completely different experience than working with Gail, my only other "student" who came to me wanting to learn how to swim at 65 years of age. (She is now 66, and I am teaching her backstroke starts and turns to prepare her for her second Senior Games meet in May.) I have posted about her in the "Swim Happy" thread, because it has been a very happy experience, as well. Both are volunteer projects that have been very fulfilling in different ways.
