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
Jack makes a good point. One with which I am struggling with right now. And that is the coach versus parent role. It's a very difficult thing for me with Erika as I see so much potential in her and am dying to help her do her best to reach it but I hold myself back as much as I can (which, contrary to my wife's opinion is a lot) but it is sooooooo hard.
Paul
I feel your pain.
It is really difficult not to cross that line. However, after a good year of backing off ME initiating the conversation about swimming - I've seen a transformation in my daughter (just turned 13). If she wants to talk about some aspect of swimming, that's fine but I always center my talks on team work, friends, good sportsmanship, etc. and not technique or results or anything technical.
Also, I speak of her coach with the highest regard, as I respect him and what he's teaching these kids. We are lucky to have a quality coach. It's still no cakewalk - I don't agree with everything that he does, but in every instance I've seen his reasonings always have the swimmers best interest at heart.
Jack makes a good point. One with which I am struggling with right now. And that is the coach versus parent role. It's a very difficult thing for me with Erika as I see so much potential in her and am dying to help her do her best to reach it but I hold myself back as much as I can (which, contrary to my wife's opinion is a lot) but it is sooooooo hard.
Paul
I feel your pain.
It is really difficult not to cross that line. However, after a good year of backing off ME initiating the conversation about swimming - I've seen a transformation in my daughter (just turned 13). If she wants to talk about some aspect of swimming, that's fine but I always center my talks on team work, friends, good sportsmanship, etc. and not technique or results or anything technical.
Also, I speak of her coach with the highest regard, as I respect him and what he's teaching these kids. We are lucky to have a quality coach. It's still no cakewalk - I don't agree with everything that he does, but in every instance I've seen his reasonings always have the swimmers best interest at heart.
