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?
If they have awful technique I generally say nothing,unless they have been coming awhile and I am starting to know them. If they are pretty good and have visible stroke flaw I generally will say something. I start by saying something like"you have a better stroke than most of the people I see here,but would you mind if I made a suggestion?" They always say they'd love any help and always seem grateful.
As a rule I don’t give unsolicited advice to strangers, unless they ask. I will make comments to the people I swim with regularly or I’ll point something out to our coach and see if she wants to pass it along to another swimmer.
“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.” Who’s to say that the goal of the other swimmer is to burn maximum calories per length, instead of going faster? If this is the case then, the inefficient stroke will be just as effective as an Ian Crocker-esque butterfly.
Not more than a week ago, some guy during my noon lap swim workout stopped me and told me I rolled way too much and should keep my body very flat and only turn my head to breath. I thanked him for his insights.
Sometimes I end up talking briefly with the people in and around my lane. If they seem friendly, I might offer a pointer on 'how you can swim faster' (since that makes them know that you think they CAN go faster).
I've had people do the same for me, so it's the least I can do.
That's a good point rob, but I guess what I'm thinking of are people who's stroke technique are causing them to go slower AND spend more energy (therefore they arn't able to swim as long as someone who's swimming more efficiently) than they could be if they were to pick up their legs or stop moving in a certain way.
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.
Originally posted by Guvnah
He's a triathlete, and a pretty damn good one. Turns don't matter for his purposes, and I fully understood and let it drop.
I think this is a definite fallacy on his part and on tris/open water swimmers in general. An improper flip turn or even an open turn takes a whole lot more effort than a decent flip turn. If your tri buddy could do a proper turn, he could devote even more of his energy to proper swimming, which in the long run benefits him more. By choosing to do a bad turn, he is wasting effort.
I have found that the more I work on my flip turn, the more I am able to improve my swimming overall. But, I guess that's not part of the tri manual.
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?
