So I finally got some video of myself and my son up. This is the first time I'm seeing myself swim, and I'm horrified, lol.
My self-critique: Elbows not high enough, not extending arms very well, arms crossing midline a little on extension, and extending hand almost pushing water a little. Please feel free to add anything, and I'd appreciate advice on drills to address my specific weaknesses (and my son's).
www.youtube.com/watchwww.youtube.com/watch
My son's critique: Elbows drop some, he tends to pull a little too much to the outside rather than down the middle, and his left arm tends to go left on extension. Believe it or not he's much faster than the last time I posted video, he's gotten his 25m time down to 26 sec from 45 when the season started. Please add anything.
www.youtube.com/watchwww.youtube.com/watch
Thanks guys.
Parents
Former Member
You know, technical analysis is useful, but I'm not sure how much it would help to tell your son to improve this or that, because children are growing and they change. What is best? At this age, help them to improve the "feel" for the water, don't tell them what they need to fix, show them a video of a top swimmer that seems to emulate their natural tendencies. For your son, possibly KLIM or SULLIVAN, but showing Phelps could be useful as well, show them underwater video, and ask them to try and swim like that... Show your son the video of him swimming, and then show under-water of the best in the business. Let them learn. Even the best in the world have variations in their stroke patterns, from Klim to Popov, pick what works best for you.
If you absolutely feel the need to make verbal corrections, then use tactile words like, flow, heavy water, light water, pressure, catch the ball, hold the ball, push the ball. (in that order for freestyle) All these words help to develop kinesthetic awareness, which in my opinion, is the most important factor at that age.
You know, technical analysis is useful, but I'm not sure how much it would help to tell your son to improve this or that, because children are growing and they change. What is best? At this age, help them to improve the "feel" for the water, don't tell them what they need to fix, show them a video of a top swimmer that seems to emulate their natural tendencies. For your son, possibly KLIM or SULLIVAN, but showing Phelps could be useful as well, show them underwater video, and ask them to try and swim like that... Show your son the video of him swimming, and then show under-water of the best in the business. Let them learn. Even the best in the world have variations in their stroke patterns, from Klim to Popov, pick what works best for you.
If you absolutely feel the need to make verbal corrections, then use tactile words like, flow, heavy water, light water, pressure, catch the ball, hold the ball, push the ball. (in that order for freestyle) All these words help to develop kinesthetic awareness, which in my opinion, is the most important factor at that age.
