Hello,
I am a veteran runner, but new to swimming. I've always known how to tread water, but didn't have a formal swim lesson until about five weeks ago. I guess I've had about 10 lessons.
Thinking it would improve my stroke, I participated in a Total Immersion workshop over the weekend. Anyone who knows about TI can probably guess what my dilemma is now.....I was told to never go back to swimming the old way again.
Last night I returned to the pool for an already scheduled swim lesson with my regular instructor. I was a bit discombobulated, to say the least.
Today I spoke with a few co-workers who swim and got varied opinions on whether I should go the TI route or stick with what I've been doing for the past five weeks.
Please share your insights and experience with me!
Thanks!
Cheryl
Parents
Former Member
I enjoy writing about this topic because I think it's interesting.
Swimmers who are learning how to get comfortable in the water should try TI because it teaches you to lay on your arm and hesitate during your freestyle and that's much more comfortable. TI is synonymous with streamlining and there isn't a coach in the world who doesn't try to improve a swimmer's streamlining. TI is a good thing.
From a propulsive perspective, in a recent meeting at the National Team Coaches meeting in 2006, Russell Mark the biochemist at USA-Swimming presented 70 national level coaches information showing that 16 of 20 gold medals and 43 of 60 medals at the last games were won with an Early Vertical Forearm (EVF) position or "high elbow stroke". Go to youtube and type in EVF + swimming to learn more.
EVF isn't a style like TI but a critical propulsive position that every swimmer gets their hand and forearm into (even TI Swimmers). The past president of the American Swimming Coaches Association said that the EVF is the component that separates every level of swimmer. And at the last National meet 11 national coaches were asked what part of the stroke was the most important and 9 of the 11 said EVF.
EVF is a difficult position to improve upon but even small improvements equate into faster times. The most streamlined vessel is motionless in the water without propulsion. When you combine an improved EVF, streamlining, kicking and endurance, you're going to get faster. Good luck!
I enjoy writing about this topic because I think it's interesting.
Swimmers who are learning how to get comfortable in the water should try TI because it teaches you to lay on your arm and hesitate during your freestyle and that's much more comfortable. TI is synonymous with streamlining and there isn't a coach in the world who doesn't try to improve a swimmer's streamlining. TI is a good thing.
From a propulsive perspective, in a recent meeting at the National Team Coaches meeting in 2006, Russell Mark the biochemist at USA-Swimming presented 70 national level coaches information showing that 16 of 20 gold medals and 43 of 60 medals at the last games were won with an Early Vertical Forearm (EVF) position or "high elbow stroke". Go to youtube and type in EVF + swimming to learn more.
EVF isn't a style like TI but a critical propulsive position that every swimmer gets their hand and forearm into (even TI Swimmers). The past president of the American Swimming Coaches Association said that the EVF is the component that separates every level of swimmer. And at the last National meet 11 national coaches were asked what part of the stroke was the most important and 9 of the 11 said EVF.
EVF is a difficult position to improve upon but even small improvements equate into faster times. The most streamlined vessel is motionless in the water without propulsion. When you combine an improved EVF, streamlining, kicking and endurance, you're going to get faster. Good luck!
