* Edit. This Coach is a very good coach but unfortunately she only coached our club for a few days which is why l wasn't able to speak directly to her. I am thankful that she was able to bring attention to my daughter's problem so that we can try and do something to fix it.
My daughter started squad training 3 years ago and typically trains 2 to 3 sessions per week. Although she doesn't train a lot, she does manage to get State times for her 50 Freestyle and 50 Backstroke.
So this year she has decided to up her training and commit to giving her swimming 100 percent.
Now her issue is... her stroke rate is 38 strokes per minute. (And her new/temporary coach had an absolute fit when she told her to sprint the length of the pool and saw her "slow arms"
The thing is, she keeps pace with the other kids and makes her targets but looks to be in "cruise mode" (like she isn't trying)
This is the first coach to ever pull her up on it and lm at a loss that nobody has mentioned it before. The "temp" coach wants her to swim at least a 58.Is that realistic? Is it possible to change your swimming style that much?Would a swim temp trainer be a good way to get her to move her arms faster or is there another way 🤔
Feeling concerned
I'm pretty much uninformed about racing.
My coach stressed that minimizing stroke count (number of strokes to go 25 yds) was a worthwhile goal for me. Like "the most important goal".
I am p shocked to hear of a coach pushing the other direction. Although there are differences between middle-aged men swimming across lakes and adolescent girls sprinting, for sure.
It might be that increasing your daughter's fitness and strength so she could use her current technique and go a bit faster with faster strokes is a worthwhile goal?
If it were my kid, I'd certainly want a knowledgable 2nd opinion. (Like maybe a coach from the nearest swimming powerhouse college?) If she's getting State times (I'm guessing you mean state champ contender?), there is a possibility that this coach could wreck her mojo.
I'm topping this because I KNOW there are some very knowledgable people that come by occasionally. I'm interested in hearing what they say.
Every coach has a different swimming philosophy, but the approach that your daughter's coach took towards her is something of concern. You can certainly talk to the coach directly about the attitude that you described her taking towards your daughter, in addition to her philosophy towards swimming. Best of luck.
Swimfit,
The coach's approach is something others have commented on, so not going there.
A tempo trainer will not help her with increasing her tempo - unless the coach and your daughter can determine what is keeping your daughter from increasing her tempo. I have been able to get swimmers to increase tempo (without losing distance per stroke) in several ways ranging from a slightly earlier hand entry to a slight change in body position to a faster tighter kick. Without video though, it is impossible to offer recommendations.
Having said that, when a swimmer cannot change tempo, I have found it is usually because they lay their arm on the surface of the water, swim fairly flat, and have an overly developed catch-up stroke. All three of these put the swimmer in a poor position to generate any power - something girls have trouble with anyway.
Although this might be tough, your daughter should ask the coach to help her with specific physical changes to make to increase her tempo. Just telling a swimmer to turn over faster is pointless and, just a guess, probably means the coach has little understanding of the physics involved as it relates specifically to your daughter.
From what I've read here, efficiency is important in terms of stroke development, so if she's keeping up with the other kids at a slower count, she sounds like she's moving efficiently.
I agree with Elaine about the coach's attitude. Is this coach new to coaching? New to coaching this age group? This is not an acceptable way to express to a player/swimmer/student that you want them to modify their technique.
I think what the coach said is far less important than how she said it. She screamed at your daughter for that? :shakeshead: First of all, her behavior was completely inappropriate, especially since your daughter wasn't doing anything wrong. If your daughter had started a fight with another teammate or had misbehaved in a horrible way, I still don't think "screaming" would be as appropriate as a very sternly-delivered lecture.
Before you feel concerned about your daughter's stroke, I would find her another coach! :agree:
The only things I can think of to increase stroke rate are:
1- Shorten the catch
2- Pull and recover arms faster (without destroying joints). This is done with replacing some aerobic swimming with sprint based training, like 15m all-out efforts with several minutes rest, lifting weights for strength (if ready for it).
3- Kick faster. Do more kicking.
To go faster at same distance per stroke is with faster moving arms. Maybe the coach believes this can happen?
My daughter started squad training 3 years ago and typically trains 2 to 3 sessions per week. Although she doesn't train a lot, she does manage to get State times for her 50 Freestyle and 50 Backstroke.
So this year she has decided to up her training and commit to giving her swimming 100 percent.
Now her issue is... her stroke rate is 38 strokes per minute. (And her new coach had an absolute fit when she told her to sprint the length of the pool and saw her "slow arms" She screamed at her then made her get out of the pool and rotate her arms "fast")
The thing is, she keeps pace with the other kids and makes her targets but looks to be in "cruise mode" (like she isn't trying)
This is the first coach to ever pull her up on it and lm at a loss that nobody has mentioned it before. The new coach wants her to swim at least a 58.Is that realistic? Is it possible to change your swimming style that much?Would a swim temp trainer be a good way to get her to move her arms faster or is there another way 樂
Feeling concerned
These are all good questions for your daughter's coach. I don't know her age, but the approach taken by the coach is not uncommon unfortunately. Sprinting is a completely different animal. and high stroke rates are the norm, while trying to lose as little distance per stroke in the process.
www.usaswimming.org/.../race-stats--mark-hesse.pdf
With all due respect, if you're questioning the coach's methods or approach, then you should be talking to the coach privately, not second-guessing her on a public forum.
This coach is very experienced. She stepped in and trained my daughter's squad cos our coach had time off. The coach doesnt know my daughter or how old she is. I guess she asked them to "sprint" and she prob thought my daughter wasn't putting the effort in. She is only 13 but is about 5 11 so looks a lot older.
Swimfit,
After seeing that your daughter is 5'11", I stand by my earlier post - even without seeing her swim. I will go out on a limb and guess she has pretty long arms (34-35" sleeve) and narrow shoulders (meaning she has not developed much upper body strength). If she swims freestyle by laying her arm on the surface of the water, recovering with a very bent elbow (from doing finger tip drag drills) and has any kind of catch-up stroke, she will have an incredibly hard time increasing her tempo.
Let me know if I am right about the three things I mentioned. if I am, I can tell you/her how to improve her tempo without sacrificing distance per stroke.
If her coach is as experienced as you say, she this stuff and should have offered ways to improve.
Paul Windrath
