Adult swim clinic / private coach

Not a substitute for a coach, but post some videos of your strokes and we can see if we can offer suggestions.

I had to teach myself sans coach too. The best way I found was by doing drills: www.amazon.com/.../ref=sr_1_1 Definitely get a camera as well.

Hello, I've been swimming with a Master's team, but I feel like my stroke deficiency (in all of the strokes) is not allowing me to improve. I can barely swim 50yards, and then have to stop. I know it's a breathing problem on freestyle, but again, lots of corrections need to be made on all my strokes. Watching youtube videos can only get me so far... I tried looking for a private coach, but it seems most places here only do private adult swimming classes for people who don't know how to swim at all. The USMS clinics sound perfect, but there are none around me right now. I looked at fitterandfaster.com - do adults usually go to those, or are they mostly for kids in swim teams? Any help and/or suggestion would be really appreciated :) That is the problem with a large number of aquatic facilities is that they are dominated by swim instructors. You ask for stroke development and you get sold swim lessons. So you are in a master's program that does not have a coach? Stroke clinics are limited. How much are you going to get out of a few hours? not much. It takes time to fix a stroke, and feedback.. it is doing it correctly with lots of repetition that fixes stroke issues.

It takes time to fix a stroke, and feedback.. it is doing it correctly with lots of repetition that fixes stroke issues. You're right; however, there is a problem with the last part of that statement ("...doing it correctly with lots of repetition") If you don't have a coach giving you feedback, how do you know if you are "doing it correctly"? "Lots of repetition" of the wrong technique results in ingrained bad habits. I know, because I am a solo swimmer who has done just that. I thought I was doing things correctly; however, I couldn't see myself to know for sure. When I asked my husband to watch, I was shocked by what he had to report. My solution? Getting a waterproof camera, having him record me underwater and topside from different angles, and then doing what Allen Stark suggested: Posting them here on the Forums for feedback. I picked up my camera for about $150 at Costco, found an inexpensive camera mount online, and then attached both to a pvc pipe. In addition to soliciting feedback here on the Forums, I have a free subscription to GoSwim.TV and watch their videos daily. Over time, I have learned how to watch my own videos and pick up on things I am doing incorrectly. I work on my flaws, and then have my husband shoot more video for feedback. If you don't have somebody to shoot video of you, rig up your camera so you can shoot video of yourself. Here is my set-up: 1162611627

You're right; however, there is a problem with the last part of that statement ("...doing it correctly with lots of repetition") If you don't have a coach giving you feedback, how do you know if you are "doing it correctly"? "Lots of repetition" of the wrong technique results in ingrained bad habits. I know, because I am a solo swimmer who has done just that. I thought I was doing things correctly; however, I couldn't see myself to know for sure. When I asked my husband to watch, I was shocked by what he had to report. My solution? Getting a waterproof camera, having him record me underwater and topside from different angles, and then doing what Allen Stark suggested: Posting them here on the Forums for feedback. I picked up my camera for about $150 at Costco, found an inexpensive camera mount online, and then attached both to a pvc pipe. In addition to soliciting feedback here on the Forums, I have a free subscription to GoSwim.TV and watch their videos daily. Over time, I have learned how to watch my own videos and pick up on things I am doing incorrectly. I work on my flaws, and then have my husband shoot more video for feedback. If you don't have somebody to shoot video of you, rig up your camera so you can shoot video of yourself. Here is my set-up: 1162611627 I said with feedback and doing it correctly. But still not sure how she can be part of a master's program and not have a coach. How is that a master's program? Nobody in that master's program can provide stroke help? The gopro knock-offs on Amazon for around $40 are actually really good. the newer models.

I said with feedback and doing it correctly. But still not sure how she can be part of a master's program and not have a coach. How is that a master's program? Nobody in that master's program can provide stroke help? The gopro knock-offs on Amazon for around $40 are actually really good. the newer models. Yeah, I know what you said, and you're right about the "with feedback and doing it correctly." The problem is, that's not what Jersey Girl is getting, so she needs to make a change. If she can't find a coach, my suggestion is an affordable one. If money is not a problem and she can afford it, I would suggest getting online coaching from somebody like Julia at Swimspire.com or another online coaching service. The Masters program Jersey is in is NOT a Masters program in the way I would expect it to be. I would expect a coach on deck to be available to give me feedback. Instead, it's basically like swimming solo, except she's having to share a lane with a bunch of people (I'm guessing) and perhaps swimming sets that don't meet her goals. Bummer. I would think swimming solo and getting some online coaching would be a better option. That's good to know about the inexpensive GoPro knock-off options out there. My camera suits me for the other purposes I also use it for (outside of the pool); however, your $40 alternative sounds perfect for shooting swim videos.

Thank you, guys, I’ll definitelt try to video myself and see if that helps :)

I REALLY appreciate everyone’s suggestions. As for the questions - we do have a coach, but we also have 500 people swimming there (slightly exaggerating ;) ), and because I’m fairly new I don’t feel like they can give the attention I need to analyze my strokes. I’d rather work 1 on 1 with someone or on a clinic where the main objective is to work on those. With your suggestions, maybe seeing what I’m doing wrong with a camera, I might be able to approach the coach and ask for some specific drills, instead of “can you tell me what I’m doing wrong?” when there are so many people in practice already.

Hijacking this thread a bit, for those of you that do private coaching, or receive private coaching, how do you find a pool to use? Virtually every pool I know does not allow private coaching.

Yeah, I know what you said, and you're right about the "with feedback and doing it correctly." The problem is, that's not what Jersey Girl is getting, so she needs to make a change. If she can't find a coach, my suggestion is an affordable one. If money is not a problem and she can afford it, I would suggest getting online coaching from somebody like Julia at Swimspire.com or another online coaching service. The Masters program Jersey is in is NOT a Masters program in the way I would expect it to be. I would expect a coach on deck to be available to give me feedback. Instead, it's basically like swimming solo, except she's having to share a lane with a bunch of people (I'm guessing) and perhaps swimming sets that don't meet her goals. Bummer. I would think swimming solo and getting some online coaching would be a better option. That's good to know about the inexpensive GoPro knock-off options out there. My camera suits me for the other purposes I also use it for (outside of the pool); however, your $40 alternative sounds perfect for shooting swim videos. Thanks, Elaine!