Hi, I'm new to the board. I've read a lot of posts and think this is a great resource for people. Anyhow, a little background. My 8 year-old son, who has Asperger's syndrome and it's associated errrrr...lack of athleticism, is on the neighborhood swimming team. Surprisingly he really seems to enjoy swimming and gets excited about his improvements. He has improved from a 44 second 25 yard time to 34 seconds in this, his first year. I have never swam competitively but given his interest in swimming, I've developed a similar interest and have been reading about stroke mechanics while watching lots of video of Ian Thorpe and Alexander Popov. Of course I practice it on myself and have become infinitely better. I've been trying to teach my son proper technique as well, with some success. While other kids his age on the team (many more experienced) more or less bully their way through the water faster than him, I don't let him pull as hard as he can or stroke as hard as he can for obvious reasons...so he learns better. He will be taking lessons soon from one of the student coaches, although I'm a little weary about it because they may teach him their own bad habits (not that I'm not, lol). For example, pretty much all the older kids on the team do the classic S-shaped scull.
My question is as follows; I am trying to teach him the high elbow and getting a feel for "hard water". We're also working on timing his hip rotation to use that vertical forearm. As you can imagine, it's difficult for him to rotate the arm and shoulder like that during the stroke, although he can on dry land. I noticed Popov pronating his hand (palm facing out) in the beginning of his catch, which I imagine does 2 things; one, scull a little, and two, get him into the EVF. Is this a pretty standard thing? I don't see Thorpe do it on video, but maybe I'm not seeing it well amid the bubbles. I myself have more or less been able to get a reasonable EVF without pronation, but maybe I should do the same? The second question is do most of you prefer the front quadrant style? Again, Thorpe begins his catch as his recovering arm passes his head and he starts rotating, while Popov begins his catch earlier.
If you could give me advise on these issues, particularly as it pertains to teaching a child, I would be appreciative. Sorry for the lengthy post.
Taruky,
My 9-yo son also has Asperger's and also swims. I am not going to add to the instructions you are getting from others on this forum, they know freestyle mechanics better than I do (Mark Gill once described my freestyle as a "trainwreck," and he is not wrong).
What I will say is about successful swimming instruction with my son. I will second George's observation and add two more:
-- I have found my son to be VERY literal about instructions, almost to a fault. At times (particularly in races) I almost feel like telling him to stop being overanalytical about his swimming technique, just get in there are enjoy the race. Filling his head with technical advice can be counterproductive, PARTICULARLY AT MEETS. I am not saying that technique is not important -- it is almost the ONLY thing that is important at that age -- but also know when to stop. Even when it doesn't look like it, he is usually paying attention and trying hard to adopt the proper form.
-- There are times when I coach my son and I have found that being in the water with him is 1000 times more productive than coaching from the deck. Getting in there and moving his arms and body is much better than demonstrating it from the deck...and he often isn't looking at me anyway. I don't know if your son is the same, but my son avoids eye contact when receiving instructions. I have read that some Asperger's kids do this to avoid visual distractions, to concentrate on the words...which is fine but not if they need to see demonstrations!
I hope this helps. Good luck.
Are you sure we don't have the same son? :laugh2: You make very poignant observations, ones that I am aware of but need a reminder at times to follow. I always get in the pool with him (except when I had a horrific swimmer's ear) and move arms and legs for him to demonstrate. However I am guilty as the dickens of giving him last minute reminders at meets, and often repeating myself when he seems he's not looking. Funny, I'm a pediatrician who is well versed on Asperger's but has trouble doing as I suggest to others. I really appreciate your post, it gave me a sense of comfort.
By the way, if Tomtopo is reading this, I bought techpaddles for my son and I. I used them for the first time today, pretty cool. I can see how with repetition it can be a hige help. Although my son still intermittently dropped his elbows after we took them off, his sense of pressure on the arms was much better and I could see the improved propulsion. I have been doing some dry land exercises, particularly the ones in a video someone linked (the foreign coach resisting the female swimmer's arms to produce muscle memory).
Taruky,
My 9-yo son also has Asperger's and also swims. I am not going to add to the instructions you are getting from others on this forum, they know freestyle mechanics better than I do (Mark Gill once described my freestyle as a "trainwreck," and he is not wrong).
What I will say is about successful swimming instruction with my son. I will second George's observation and add two more:
-- I have found my son to be VERY literal about instructions, almost to a fault. At times (particularly in races) I almost feel like telling him to stop being overanalytical about his swimming technique, just get in there are enjoy the race. Filling his head with technical advice can be counterproductive, PARTICULARLY AT MEETS. I am not saying that technique is not important -- it is almost the ONLY thing that is important at that age -- but also know when to stop. Even when it doesn't look like it, he is usually paying attention and trying hard to adopt the proper form.
-- There are times when I coach my son and I have found that being in the water with him is 1000 times more productive than coaching from the deck. Getting in there and moving his arms and body is much better than demonstrating it from the deck...and he often isn't looking at me anyway. I don't know if your son is the same, but my son avoids eye contact when receiving instructions. I have read that some Asperger's kids do this to avoid visual distractions, to concentrate on the words...which is fine but not if they need to see demonstrations!
I hope this helps. Good luck.
Are you sure we don't have the same son? :laugh2: You make very poignant observations, ones that I am aware of but need a reminder at times to follow. I always get in the pool with him (except when I had a horrific swimmer's ear) and move arms and legs for him to demonstrate. However I am guilty as the dickens of giving him last minute reminders at meets, and often repeating myself when he seems he's not looking. Funny, I'm a pediatrician who is well versed on Asperger's but has trouble doing as I suggest to others. I really appreciate your post, it gave me a sense of comfort.
By the way, if Tomtopo is reading this, I bought techpaddles for my son and I. I used them for the first time today, pretty cool. I can see how with repetition it can be a hige help. Although my son still intermittently dropped his elbows after we took them off, his sense of pressure on the arms was much better and I could see the improved propulsion. I have been doing some dry land exercises, particularly the ones in a video someone linked (the foreign coach resisting the female swimmer's arms to produce muscle memory).
