Since I am sort of forced to swim alone rather than on a master's team this summer I often end up swimming after/before/next to someone who has horrible technique. I'm not nitpicking here, but I'm talking about dragging legs, barely getting arms out of the water, and nearly stopping to breathe on freestyle, or arms that kind of lazily flop down during the backstroke.
The question is, if you see someone doing something like that do you offer help with their stroke / or pointers?
Currently, I don't. But I'm somewhat torn. I don't want to sound arrogant and like I know everything, or to hurt someone's feelings, but I can't help thinking how much less energy these people would expend, and how much more success they would have swimming if they swam correctly. So, what do you do?
I am guilty of giving unsolicited advice in the past, but no more. I have found that if the swimmer is a regular competitor, they are generally thankful for any help offered. I know I am.
The others who are not competitors are rarely interested in what you have to say, and some are offended by your remarks, no matter how accurate or insightful. I once tried to give a little stroke technique to a teammate in the next lane (I had swum with her for 5 years), and got a very chilly response. 2 years later, she had to have sugery on the shoulder that I was pointing out.
Most people are in the pool to put in a certain number of laps and get on with their day. The added discomfort of changing their stroke for the better is not always welcome, even if you explain that they will become comfortable in the new stroke in a short time.
Bottom line as I have sorted out, keep your mouth shut unless asked for help. I add the imaginary scenario that I am in the same age group (and sex, if necessary), and decide that it is not necessary to help the competition.
I am guilty of giving unsolicited advice in the past, but no more. I have found that if the swimmer is a regular competitor, they are generally thankful for any help offered. I know I am.
The others who are not competitors are rarely interested in what you have to say, and some are offended by your remarks, no matter how accurate or insightful. I once tried to give a little stroke technique to a teammate in the next lane (I had swum with her for 5 years), and got a very chilly response. 2 years later, she had to have sugery on the shoulder that I was pointing out.
Most people are in the pool to put in a certain number of laps and get on with their day. The added discomfort of changing their stroke for the better is not always welcome, even if you explain that they will become comfortable in the new stroke in a short time.
Bottom line as I have sorted out, keep your mouth shut unless asked for help. I add the imaginary scenario that I am in the same age group (and sex, if necessary), and decide that it is not necessary to help the competition.
