I'm looking to gain more knowledge about sprint freestyle swimming. As an long retired distance freestyler I don't have a great deal of personal knowledge of how to swim the 50 or 100 freestyle. I've coached many sprint freestylers and I know that many of the best sprinters have what I would say an amazing strategy to their sprint swims. I am currently giving private lessons to many age groupers and high school swimmers and I've been explaining to them that some of the best sprinters in the world swim their 50 or 100 with more strategy than just the plain old thought of swimming "FAST".
I would very much appreciate any of you sprinters out there who would like to share your strategies for swimming these two events. I would love to be able to pass on some of this information, but I think many of us in the masters community could learn from some of you as well. I look forward to seeing some of the responses. Maybe I will try sprinting one day (LOL):rofl: .
Former Member
I ALWAYS swim harder when there is somebody next to me. I've had a race or two where I was well ahead of the group and lost the drive to accelerate. But I have also had races where I was in the thick of it and that pushed me to really perform. I like to warmup in the competition pool to get a feel for the pool markings and how to set up my turns. My first meet was SCM and I made the mistake of setting up for a turn at the first T, 25 yard T. My goal is to be comfortable with the pool but psyched about the race. Aside from that, it's all about having fun.
Who is this "Leslie" woman ?
This woman knows her stuff.
There is no time to think during a 50 free. It's animal instinct, caffeine and preformed habits in action.
John Smith
Don't give your swimmers a long list of crap to think about when they race
Give them things to think about when they train
Meets are where swimmers apply what they've trained to do
Racing is war
it's fight or flight
get out of your head and in into the moment
ATTACK
race commands need to be short simple and specific
you can create different commands for each part of the race
you can be pretty sure when popov went 21.6 his self talk during the race were things like "GO attack win destroy, I will not lose"
aquaholic
Leslie what is your 50 time and what stroke? -I'm just wondering I'm 45 also and wonder what others are doing.
Unfortuatly I don't have anyone to practice with, but I do agree I as a sprinter will swim faster if I have someone next to me, I have a -I have to try to finish first even in practice mentallity.
I agree you have to plan ahead, know what your going to do and when. All pools will feel different, use your plan during warm up and then you'll see if works. After that, all you can do is swim like there a big giant shark ready to eat you swimming behind you.
I agree completely that when it comes to the time of the race you shouldn't have to think about anything. You want to be in the "zone". Most perfect or best races happen when the swimmer can't remember anything about the race. Everything feel together and it just happened they way the planned it, dreamed it, and practiced it for hours. What I want is the plan, the strategy, the 90 % of the races where you thought about what you are doing. What do sprinters practice, how to they feel, what things or thoughts are most important to making a great race. I love the 100 meter track reply about avoiding deceleration. One of my best sprinters who went 19.8 in the 50 always told me he went out in the first 25 at about 90 % speed, he had to be controlled, he always wanted to hit his turn on the right arm with acceleration going in to help accelerate coming home. He focused on perfect technique comig home and holding his stroke. Racing is such a challenge...
I think one mistake coaches often make is to practice sprints only at the end of workout.On my sprint days I start sprints right after warm-up(which is an especially long warm-up.) You are not going to be tired before a 50 at a meet(hopefully) so why be tired before sprinting in practice? That way you have no excuse for sloppy swimming. As was said,you can't make a mistake and win a 50,so don't practice making mistakes.
What do sprinters practice, how to they feel, what things or thoughts are most important to making a great race.
We had a bulkhead in our pool which separated the lanes from the diving tank. When given a set of 500's, every opportunity was taken to swim under that thing and pray for practice to end. (Our coach did finally split the team up into two different categories. Swimmers and sprinters.)
Personally, during practice, I remember thinking alot about beer...and sorority girls. In no particular order.
The testosterone did all the work when we had meets.
I'm a firm believer in "Don't think, just sprint" for the 50 free. The problem (for me) is to keep my stroke from becoming a thrash-fest. Only way to do that is to practice practice practice sprinting... with thought... at practice so you don't have to think in a race.
As for the 100, my goal is to split it exactly like Ande says... and maybe break a minute! :D Want to be able to come off that 3rd wall with a great underwater dolphin. Did anyone see Phelps kicking off the wall into the last lap of the 200 IM when he was racing Lochte at Pan Pacifics? Wow!!!
And to Leslie, I have swam with Patriot Masters a few times during a business trip to Fairfax. You guys have a fantastic facility there at George Mason. Very cool! I have much pool-envy! :)
The plan, think win. It was go like hades hope I finish the 100. If I am first to the 50 they have to catch me. Don't breathe the last 10 yards.
By trial and error as a young man...this strategy for the 100 had allowed me the joy of wearing the proverbial piano on the last lap. Out in 21 back in 25+. Pitiful!!!
Right now I'd be happy to do the 21 again. :)
