This is a strange one so bear with me...
I have become addicted to swimming as a result of my son taking to the sport. So, I asked him a breathing question today and I found out that he exhales/inhales with his head out for *** and free, and inhales/exhales out on butterfly. His form is right on and I never would have known (I haven't had a chance to tell the coach yet).
On his *** - head comes out every stroke
On free - head out every 3rd (alternate breathing)
On fly - head out every other
ok...my questions are:
How can he be swimming faster consistently at each meet and maintaining his form (sprint and longer events) while breathing this way? He is one of the fastest on his year-round team in his age group. What is he losing by doing this? Or, the better question might be, what could he gain by learning the traditional breathing out under water method? He is very good at staying under water after the turn and can do a proper breakout and he doesn't typically look winded like the other kids.
And, if this were a drill, would there be any benefits?
Thanks!
Parents
Former Member
I'm not telling you how to parent your child, but.....
I suggest that you allow his coach(es) to coach his swimming - and you provide the love and support. It sounds like he's in a good program. The structure, coach and training that kids receive today in a good USAS program is both amazing and outstanding.
Parents, as well meaning as we may be, can totally screw up a great swimmer / coach relationship.
As I've backed further away from 'swim talk' with my daughter the more success she's enjoyed as a swimmer - and I'm not just talking about winning events. It's things like not wanting to ever skip a practice and making it up if she does. Eating healthy. Living through the dreaded Saturday 2.5hr 9K IM workout and laughing about it afterwards. Looking towards the summer knowing that while her friends are sleeping in, she'll be in the long course pool at 6:30AM six days a week - with doubles 3x/week. As she's taken ownership over her swimming I've seen her mature and genuinely love the sport - I just make sure she's got a suit and goggles!
Just congratulate him on his achievements and allow him to progress and succeed based upon the program that his coach provides - knowing that you're proud of him no matter what he does will take him farther in the sport than you trying to dissect his stroke/technique.
Just my .02 as one swim parent to another - FWIW.
I'm not telling you how to parent your child, but.....
I suggest that you allow his coach(es) to coach his swimming - and you provide the love and support. It sounds like he's in a good program. The structure, coach and training that kids receive today in a good USAS program is both amazing and outstanding.
Parents, as well meaning as we may be, can totally screw up a great swimmer / coach relationship.
As I've backed further away from 'swim talk' with my daughter the more success she's enjoyed as a swimmer - and I'm not just talking about winning events. It's things like not wanting to ever skip a practice and making it up if she does. Eating healthy. Living through the dreaded Saturday 2.5hr 9K IM workout and laughing about it afterwards. Looking towards the summer knowing that while her friends are sleeping in, she'll be in the long course pool at 6:30AM six days a week - with doubles 3x/week. As she's taken ownership over her swimming I've seen her mature and genuinely love the sport - I just make sure she's got a suit and goggles!
Just congratulate him on his achievements and allow him to progress and succeed based upon the program that his coach provides - knowing that you're proud of him no matter what he does will take him farther in the sport than you trying to dissect his stroke/technique.
Just my .02 as one swim parent to another - FWIW.
