I'm absolutely amazed at the amount of misinformation on swimming, especially on the internet. One website I saw instructing the specifics of the backstroke advocated a completely illegal turn.
A bodybuilder site said that depleting your stores of Glycogen by starving your body of it actually helped the body move faster. I'm not buying that. You can't swim without it.
Other sites like USA Swimming, have a lot of kids with a lot of questions who for some reason don't ask their coaches or parents. Lots of ear infection questions - which are fairly preventable by wearing a swim cap.
Early on in my learning I suffered a severe injury by practicing a drill recommended by one of the so-called experts in swimming technique, who shall remain nameless. That's led me to pay closer attention to sports medicine specialists and surgeons who swim.
Everybody's body is different and has specific limitations. For example, the Neer Test for your shoulders. The entire approach to pitch, catch, pull, etc... is highly individual. I trust top athletic coaches and top swimmers and doctors.
One site on backstroke listed something very technical which actually made sense and works wonders but after running a search a dozen ways through Google I found no one knew of it or spoke of it other than that 1 site!
Who do you trust? What are your thoughts on this?
Parents
Former Member
Originally posted by PeirsolFan
More very good points. Would you pay a coach more if they were ASCA certified? Only universities can afford them it seems. I would pay more and have more faith.
You're right about not analyizing other swimmers too closely. What works for one person may not work for another. I learned another sport by watching someone else and guess what I picked up? A very precise very specific movement that only the two of us do.
I lost my individuality which is something I'm striving to maintain in swimming.
For example, my own coach has a masters degree in sports psychology, is ASCA Level IV coach, and in a month or two getting the level V certification (the highest there is), has about 25 years of experience of coaching etc
Still has a hard time finding a masters coach position that allows a livable wage.
Has to have it supplemented with private lessons, clinics and a 2nd part time job as a PE faculty at a local JC to make ends meet.
It's little different for USA swimming coaches. But, if one wants to be a dedicated masters coach and run a team of their own, it;s difficult.
For example, in our organization, kids pay $125 a month to swim 10 per lane.
Masters pay only $55 a month to have access to any of the thre to four personally coached workouts a day, where they seldom have to swim more than 2 per lane, and have a lot more coaching attention then kids do.
Also, the kids program has a lot more assistant coaches. Kids still don't get more coaching attention, you just don't get a single coach doing all 3-4 workouts per day plus 6 hours administrative work a day. But, can't hire assistants, or get a pay increase unless masters are willing to pay more for their membership.
Originally posted by PeirsolFan
More very good points. Would you pay a coach more if they were ASCA certified? Only universities can afford them it seems. I would pay more and have more faith.
You're right about not analyizing other swimmers too closely. What works for one person may not work for another. I learned another sport by watching someone else and guess what I picked up? A very precise very specific movement that only the two of us do.
I lost my individuality which is something I'm striving to maintain in swimming.
For example, my own coach has a masters degree in sports psychology, is ASCA Level IV coach, and in a month or two getting the level V certification (the highest there is), has about 25 years of experience of coaching etc
Still has a hard time finding a masters coach position that allows a livable wage.
Has to have it supplemented with private lessons, clinics and a 2nd part time job as a PE faculty at a local JC to make ends meet.
It's little different for USA swimming coaches. But, if one wants to be a dedicated masters coach and run a team of their own, it;s difficult.
For example, in our organization, kids pay $125 a month to swim 10 per lane.
Masters pay only $55 a month to have access to any of the thre to four personally coached workouts a day, where they seldom have to swim more than 2 per lane, and have a lot more coaching attention then kids do.
Also, the kids program has a lot more assistant coaches. Kids still don't get more coaching attention, you just don't get a single coach doing all 3-4 workouts per day plus 6 hours administrative work a day. But, can't hire assistants, or get a pay increase unless masters are willing to pay more for their membership.
