So I'm signed up for my first Masters stroke clinic scheduled next month. I've swam with a coached Master's group for about 2 years now but was never previously on a swim team. (I learned to swim through a 197Os style Red Cross program.) I've competed in one very small swim meet and 8 open water events. In my two years with masters I've learned how to do flip turns, butterfly, streamlines, relearned *** the modern way, and improved my form with free and back. I've had four different coaches giving me sometimes contradictory advice on form. 2 of the coaches focus on form a decent amount the but the other two are conditioning oriented. I've signed up for the stroke clinic in hopes of getting more useful help on form since I'm not getting enough at my home pool.
So my question is what should I expect and is there anything I should do to prepare? I'm a little nervous about whether I am fit enough to last all morning. My typical workouts are 75 minutes rather than half day and 2200-2500 yards - occasionally up to 3000.
Any advice would be much appreciated
Julia, would you happen to know if there's a list of some Master's oriented clinics/camps out there anywhere? I see on your Swimspire site you have some in Florida, but as I alluded to that kind of trip would be a bit out of the cards for me at least this year.
I can't imagine the demand is THAT high so I'm guessing the list would be pretty short, but just thought I'd ask.
JPenge, beyond the official USMS stroke clinics, I'm not aware of a comprehensive list of Masters-oriented clinics. This is mainly because - unless they are hosted by a nationwide company - they are often locally organized and advertised. Hope you can make it to one of our clinics! Even before I moved to Florida, we loved hosting clinics here, especially during the winter months to escape the cold. Most pools are outdoors which is also a very pleasant experience.
If you can't find a clinic, or if there isn't one nearby that meets your criteria, a video analysis of your stroke technique is also very beneficial. These days it is so easy to upload a video from your phone and send it along for analysis - this way we are able to analyze swimmers' strokes, whether they are in the US or abroad. A video analysis is a great way to not only see your own stroke, but as I mentioned earlier to get a sense of what areas you need to improve and how to improve upon them.
Julia, would you happen to know if there's a list of some Master's oriented clinics/camps out there anywhere? I see on your Swimspire site you have some in Florida, but as I alluded to that kind of trip would be a bit out of the cards for me at least this year.
I can't imagine the demand is THAT high so I'm guessing the list would be pretty short, but just thought I'd ask..
I would love to learn about other stroke clinics as well. USMS only has one clinic in 2018 that is day trip distance from my home. My local YMCA has done a few one hour clinics that technically open to the public but are not advertised beyond our pool. If I knew about similar events at other pools within 1-2 hours of home I would sign up. Maybe we should publicize local events on this forum. Personally by budget and my available vacation time prevent destination clinics as great as they might be
My LMSC sent an email a few days ago about an upcoming clinic in the area:
www.clubassistant.com/.../reserve.cfm
For this one, I really have no excuse, the pool is about 10 minutes from home, and the cost $35, so I already registered. Not sure who the instructors are (I didn't see it listed), but figure if I can get some work on my free--and especially fly--all the better. I can manage to swim a 25 fly occasionally (and have swum 100 IM at a few meets), but it really needs some help. I used to have a goal to be able to swim (legally, without stopping, and without breaststroke kick) both the 200 fly and 400 IM, perhaps there's hope for me yet.
