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!
Former Member
As parents we have to be careful. My oldest daughter was in a club and I had been been the coach while my coach was in the hospital. The president of the club was in conflict with our family for years. My brothers always beat him in swimming and this was the same guy who had me suspended from the CASA so I could not compete as an amateur. No more Olympics etc for me.
He also had me barred from coaching our club and took over the coaching. I opened my swim school and started teaching my kids and others and they were great. My little kids training in my little pool swimming twice a week would enter the age group meets and beat the local swim club kids who were training under him 6 days a week. He would come up to me and say you Parks are only into swimming for the money. Granted I had a swimming school.
We had moved the swim school out of our town and it was 40 miles from our home so my daughter had to attend the local club and he was the coach. She had lots of trouble with him, she would say to him thats is not what my dad said.
He is in the swimming hall of fame for our province along with a few other jerks that I know. They asked me to send in my stuff but I do not want my name in the group because I do not have any respect for two of these guys.
Wow...you've really been through it and not sold out when others may have.
I have noticed a lot of political dynamics in this sport. I try to stay out of certain conversations because the less I know about some things, the better. Thankfully, our site coach sticks to his guns, stays true to his coaching technique, and is somehow always there and on time even when his car breaks down, he is sick, etc. For all this, he gets paid...not so much. He is truly in love with the sport - every kid is important no matter what level. I am very thankful we have him here.
I would say hang in there, but you already seem to have that down!
