Personally, I think kickboards are evil, evil, evil. When I was swimming 20 years ago in high school I didn't see the point, and now that I'm 38 I still don't see the point.
Happily though, I've read in several books and seen on a few video tapes that many coaches have come around to my line of thinking, "Kickboards put you in an unnatural heads-up position, emphasize the least effective part of the stroke (the kick), and keep you from rotating."
Since I see people swim with kickboards every day I know many people disagree with me. But, there's no way they're going to change my mind. Instead - let's vote!
Parents
Former Member
I think kickboards have their place.
I went to an intensive training camp this weekend - if you hear of a reputable club/coaching staff putting on a camp or clinic - save your pennies and go! This weekend was amazing - I learned so much. The coaches and fellow swimmers at the Walnut Creek Intensive Training camp were awesome. I have a lot to work on but I'm looking forward to improving my technique, getting stronger and watching my times drop!
Anyway, Debbie Santos (one of the coaches) taught us a really cool drill over the weekend that uses a kickboard that helps to keep your legs in the proper position while kicking breastroke on your back.
What you do is you kick breastroke on your back while holding the kickboard over your thighs (as you kick). If you're kicking right, your knees will not bounce up against the board. If you're not kicking properly, your knees will bounce the board up (does that make sense?) instead of just resting on the tops of your thighs.
You can use kickboards for balance as well. I read an article about Dara Torres using them this way - she would put a kickboard under her torso while laying face down in the water, balancing herself. You can also spread your arms and legs back and forth (like you're making upside down snow angels in the water). You keep adding kickboards as your balance gets better; Dara got up to 10! I've tried it with 2 or 3 and it's actually harder than it looks.
Just my 2 cents....
(Hi Brian!)
:)
Reply
Former Member
I think kickboards have their place.
I went to an intensive training camp this weekend - if you hear of a reputable club/coaching staff putting on a camp or clinic - save your pennies and go! This weekend was amazing - I learned so much. The coaches and fellow swimmers at the Walnut Creek Intensive Training camp were awesome. I have a lot to work on but I'm looking forward to improving my technique, getting stronger and watching my times drop!
Anyway, Debbie Santos (one of the coaches) taught us a really cool drill over the weekend that uses a kickboard that helps to keep your legs in the proper position while kicking breastroke on your back.
What you do is you kick breastroke on your back while holding the kickboard over your thighs (as you kick). If you're kicking right, your knees will not bounce up against the board. If you're not kicking properly, your knees will bounce the board up (does that make sense?) instead of just resting on the tops of your thighs.
You can use kickboards for balance as well. I read an article about Dara Torres using them this way - she would put a kickboard under her torso while laying face down in the water, balancing herself. You can also spread your arms and legs back and forth (like you're making upside down snow angels in the water). You keep adding kickboards as your balance gets better; Dara got up to 10! I've tried it with 2 or 3 and it's actually harder than it looks.
Just my 2 cents....
(Hi Brian!)
:)
