OK gang.
The "kicking" bullies have rounded on me even though I had a fantastic swim this weekend. They are telling me I need to kick, my coach said don't over do it b/c it disrupts the stroke...
I can kick, I maybe didn't intergrate it in my 100FR to their approval but I am not convinced that kicking alone is the way to go.
I think working 100's with kick focus is a better way rather than yards and yards at "meh" pace.
What % of your yards do you kick per week, and how much of that is with fins?
Former Member
I put 10% no fins because while we do use fins on occasion, it isn't anywhere near 1/4. I wish we did more kicking sets actually.
I put 30%. It is probably about 25%, but 30% is about right if you subtract the warmup (there is no 25% option or I would have chosen that).
I am not going to try to convince anybody. But I will point out some interesting observations/quotes from the new "Complete Conditioning for Swimming" by Dave Salo and Scott Riewald:
-- "strive to have kicking make up at least 25% of the distance you swim during practice"
-- "we view kicking as a form of strength training and do a lot of kicking sets to build lower-body strength. In recent years, more and more coaches are placing greater emphasis on kicking."
-- "the majority of the kicking sets in our program are designed to be performed at a very high intensity, and many of the kicking sets are done with snorkels as well as fins."
-- "kicking with fins is just like doing weight training for the legs."
Take from this what you will.
Oh, and to any of my competitors out there who don't like kicking in workouts: you're absolutely right, it is a waste of time, don't do it. :)
So if I am a lifter who does squats and leg press, do I need to kick? I don't like kicking.
So if I am a lifter who does squats and leg press, do I need to kick? I don't like kicking.
Yes, yes, yes.
Not many folks actually LIKE kicking but if you want to maximize your results. You gotta kick. PERIOD.
Guess it's a good thing I don't compete against Chris Stevenson and I never cared to follow along with what the majority of the 'great' coaches think I should be doing. Hmmm, does that make me a maverick?
Judging from your alcohol intake, Mel, I'm thinking you're Joe Six Pack. :chug: Or is this a personal attack?
It's not personal. If it were I would have asked if it made me The Maverick, not a maverick. I wonder how far I have to go to push someone's trigger?
I was just joshing. But, wait a minute here, froggy legs, no gun control on the forum? :hijack:
Very nice, Rich! :applaud: Workouts don't happen by clicking your heels and wishing to get to the pool. 1:00 is going down!
Given Mel's platform of "no kicking" I'm tempted to write him in for President next Tuesday. If kicking is outlawed, only outlaws will kick, after all.
I answered 30% with no fins. Definitely no fins. I enjoy kicking and will often take the assigned set and kick instead of the assigned pull or swim set. When I feel like my stroke is not feeling strong for a couple practices in a row, I will do even more kicking than usual and it almost always brings me out of my stroke funk.
Tim
