Anyone have ideas on reducing the reaction time off the blocks? Only one of my events at Nationals posted a reaction time, and it looks like I went ahead and finished a cup of coffee before I left. Was I just thinking too much? Or do I need a cattle prod?
2) Sumerfield, Bill H M46r:-0.12
Looks like you got away with one, Bill.
I actually had the opportunity to practice relay starts the week before the meet using a touchpad in the water and one on the block. It was pretty cool to get instant feedback. After a few tries it was pretty easy to consistently get within the .1-.2 second range. My coach suggested the best way to do relay starts is to NOT look at the swimmer. Instead concentrate on the "plane" the swimmer needs to break. As soon as they cross this plane start your arm windup and stepup without paying any more attention to the swimmer in the water. Once you're commited to that start you should go full bore and not try to adjust for what the finishing swimmer is doing. I really think this is good advice, but it's not as easy as it sounds!
2) Sumerfield, Bill H M46r:-0.12
Looks like you got away with one, Bill.
I actually had the opportunity to practice relay starts the week before the meet using a touchpad in the water and one on the block. It was pretty cool to get instant feedback. After a few tries it was pretty easy to consistently get within the .1-.2 second range. My coach suggested the best way to do relay starts is to NOT look at the swimmer. Instead concentrate on the "plane" the swimmer needs to break. As soon as they cross this plane start your arm windup and stepup without paying any more attention to the swimmer in the water. Once you're commited to that start you should go full bore and not try to adjust for what the finishing swimmer is doing. I really think this is good advice, but it's not as easy as it sounds!
