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?
Ignore them if you can.
If you feel compelled to help them say,
I've been watching you swim and I have a few suggestions that might help you swim better
would you like to hear what they are?
or
I've been watching you swim and I have a few suggestions that might help you swim better
would you like for me to show you and work with you to improve your technique?
If they say YES then proceed.
Personally I like to ask,
if they say yes then I test them with no instruction,
then I show them and work with them to correct their technique then I test them again to see if the change made them faster.
Most often people appreciate the help and attention.
Ande
Originally posted by hmlee
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?
Ignore them if you can.
If you feel compelled to help them say,
I've been watching you swim and I have a few suggestions that might help you swim better
would you like to hear what they are?
or
I've been watching you swim and I have a few suggestions that might help you swim better
would you like for me to show you and work with you to improve your technique?
If they say YES then proceed.
Personally I like to ask,
if they say yes then I test them with no instruction,
then I show them and work with them to correct their technique then I test them again to see if the change made them faster.
Most often people appreciate the help and attention.
Ande
Originally posted by hmlee
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?
