I am interested in hearing everyone's thoughts about how much practice time should be spent doing drills vs sets. This is in regards to age group training...with specific interest in the 10 and under and 11-12 age groups.
My kids swim in a local club and the majority of the practice time is spent doing set after set. All the coaches do is throw the kids in the pool and tell them to swim laps. There is virtually no time dedicated to drills. I am very disappointed in the fact that my kids have developed bad stroke technique that is not being corrected in practice. As a result, their times are going up and they are becoming disenchanted with their experience.
I am currently a member of the board and would like to address these issues with the rest of the board and the coaches. However, I need information to help me with my stance.
What is everyone's experience with drills vs endurance training?
Thank you.
Getting the kids doing drills is a good step only if they're doing good drills, and if they know what the drills are supposed to be accomplishing. I remember plenty of coaches who would assign drills without having the foggiest idea why. As a kid I would abuse some coaches by simply asking them what aspect of my stroke I should focus on while performing the drill that they just assigned. I could practically read their minds - "I have no idea, but I can't admit that, so I'll just say something really vague."
Bottom line: are the coaches there to help the kids improve, or to be babysitters?
Getting the kids doing drills is a good step only if they're doing good drills, and if they know what the drills are supposed to be accomplishing. I remember plenty of coaches who would assign drills without having the foggiest idea why. As a kid I would abuse some coaches by simply asking them what aspect of my stroke I should focus on while performing the drill that they just assigned. I could practically read their minds - "I have no idea, but I can't admit that, so I'll just say something really vague."
Bottom line: are the coaches there to help the kids improve, or to be babysitters?
