USMS SwimFest '09 (The SUPER Clinic!)

Day 3 – SwimFest Recap Roughly 30-swimmers and 30-coaches participated in this last day of SwimFest ’09. Three sessions were created for those interested in open water and triathlon swimming. The highlights included: Kerry O’Brien leading the long axis session with Mentor coach Jim Montgomery in the water with the swimmers. Jim was able to demonstrate stroke technique, body position and balance. In addition, Jim assisted swimmers while in the water reinforcing what coach Kerry and the other coaches were teaching from the deck. Mike Collins leading the video tape segment. Over the last two days, Mike and Whitney Hedgepeth, video taped every swimmer who came to SwimFest. The videos were then taken in conference rooms adjacent to the pool where Mike and Whitney were able to play and breakdown for the swimmers. Mike has a real gift for using picture words when explaining to swimmers. One of his favorite analogies is imagine our bodies are canoes with a bowling ball in it. The goal is to keep the bowling ball in the center of the canoe. Each time though we lift our head and our feet sink, the ball rolls to the back of the canoe. The same when we cross our hands under our body. The ball rolls to the side. When the ball rolls, we lose efficiency in the water and this leads to stroke breakdown and fatigue. Another of Mike’s lessons that he demonstrates well when watching videotape with swimmers is how we keep pressure on chest and arm pit area when stroking underwater. If we release that pressure before the next stroke comes through, our elbows will fall thus leading to an inefficient stroke. Over and over, Mike shared his many years of lessons as a head coach with the swimmers both individually and in group sessions. The third session was lead by Sara McLarty. Sara, a professional triathlete and Masters coach at the USA National Triathlon Training Center, has never been beaten in her entire career on the swim portion of a triathlon. For her session, the lane lines were cleared from the 50-meter tank. Six balloons were placed in the pool to create an egg shaped simulated open water or swim triathlon course. Sara lead swimmers through a series of practical exercises including how to shore dive, how to tread in open water and then start, how to pass swimmers, how to sight buoys, how to swim straight, how to lift your head and still maintain body position, how to effectively turn when getting by a buoy, how to stay relaxed and make progress when in the middle of commotion, what to do if you lose your goggles, and how to draft. As a special treat, Sara jumped in the water with the swimmers as they swam several laps around the course providing a truly unique experience for both swimmers and coaches to watch from one of the best in the world. Dennis Crean, a member of Curl Burke Masters and Open Water enthusiast, flew in last night just to attend today’s Open Water session. Dennis, why are you so passionate about open water? Dennis; “I love the freedom of open water swimming. Last year, Margaret O’Connor and I introduced a summer open water clinic series. Every other week, we invited triathletes and open water swimmers to a local lake in the DC area. For about an hour, we’d teach them the basics of open water in a clinic style. Then we’d do the 1-mile swim with them. For the new person to triathlon or those wanting to hone their skills, this was the ideal practice setting. We are moving to a new lake this summer and looking to grow our clinic series.” SwimFest is a long trip for you. You raced yourself yesterday. Then you flew in last night for today’s clinic, and then you fly back home to DC tonight. Why come all the way out here? Dennis; “When I saw the list of coaches signed up for SwimFest and Sara and Mike Collins would be leading today’s session, I knew this would be good education for me. I want to take what I learn from them back to my home club, Curl Burke Masters, and also to help continue growing our open water clinics.” Concluding today’s SwimFest, Mel Goldstein gave a big thank you to all the coaches and swimmers who participated. The seven Mentor coaches then huddled and we recapped our experience, swimmer comments, and takeaways for how we can make SwimFest a better experience in 2010. This was our inaugural SwimFest. We were elated at the number of coaches who gave up their weekend and time away from families to attend and participate. This clinic experience was completely free to any Masters coach. We additionally offered scholarships to coaches who were financially challenged but wanted to be here. I recognize the importance of providing meaningful educational opportunities for our coaches. Coaches serve as Masters swimming’s greatest ambassadors. As your executive director, I commit to our coaches that additional coaching opportunities such as SwimFest will continue.

Day 3 – SwimFest Recap Roughly 30-swimmers and 30-coaches participated in this last day of SwimFest ’09. Three sessions were created for those interested in open water and triathlon swimming. The highlights included: Kerry O’Brien leading the long axis session with Mentor coach Jim Montgomery in the water with the swimmers. Jim was able to demonstrate stroke technique, body position and balance. In addition, Jim assisted swimmers while in the water reinforcing what coach Kerry and the other coaches were teaching from the deck. Mike Collins leading the video tape segment. Over the last two days, Mike and Whitney Hedgepeth, video taped every swimmer who came to SwimFest. The videos were then taken in conference rooms adjacent to the pool where Mike and Whitney were able to play and breakdown for the swimmers. Mike has a real gift for using picture words when explaining to swimmers. One of his favorite analogies is imagine our bodies are canoes with a bowling ball in it. The goal is to keep the bowling ball in the center of the canoe. Each time though we lift our head and our feet sink, the ball rolls to the back of the canoe. The same when we cross our hands under our body. The ball rolls to the side. When the ball rolls, we lose efficiency in the water and this leads to stroke breakdown and fatigue. Another of Mike’s lessons that he demonstrates well when watching videotape with swimmers is how we keep pressure on chest and arm pit area when stroking underwater. If we release that pressure before the next stroke comes through, our elbows will fall thus leading to an inefficient stroke. Over and over, Mike shared his many years of lessons as a head coach with the swimmers both individually and in group sessions. The third session was lead by Sara McLarty. Sara, a professional triathlete and Masters coach at the USA National Triathlon Training Center, has never been beaten in her entire career on the swim portion of a triathlon. For her session, the lane lines were cleared from the 50-meter tank. Six balloons were placed in the pool to create an egg shaped simulated open water or swim triathlon course. Sara lead swimmers through a series of practical exercises including how to shore dive, how to tread in open water and then start, how to pass swimmers, how to sight buoys, how to swim straight, how to lift your head and still maintain body position, how to effectively turn when getting by a buoy, how to stay relaxed and make progress when in the middle of commotion, what to do if you lose your goggles, and how to draft. As a special treat, Sara jumped in the water with the swimmers as they swam several laps around the course providing a truly unique experience for both swimmers and coaches to watch from one of the best in the world. Dennis Crean, a member of Curl Burke Masters and Open Water enthusiast, flew in last night just to attend today’s Open Water session. Dennis, why are you so passionate about open water? Dennis; “I love the freedom of open water swimming. Last year, Margaret O’Connor and I introduced a summer open water clinic series. Every other week, we invited triathletes and open water swimmers to a local lake in the DC area. For about an hour, we’d teach them the basics of open water in a clinic style. Then we’d do the 1-mile swim with them. For the new person to triathlon or those wanting to hone their skills, this was the ideal practice setting. We are moving to a new lake this summer and looking to grow our clinic series.” SwimFest is a long trip for you. You raced yourself yesterday. Then you flew in last night for today’s clinic, and then you fly back home to DC tonight. Why come all the way out here? Dennis; “When I saw the list of coaches signed up for SwimFest and Sara and Mike Collins would be leading today’s session, I knew this would be good education for me. I want to take what I learn from them back to my home club, Curl Burke Masters, and also to help continue growing our open water clinics.” Concluding today’s SwimFest, Mel Goldstein gave a big thank you to all the coaches and swimmers who participated. The seven Mentor coaches then huddled and we recapped our experience, swimmer comments, and takeaways for how we can make SwimFest a better experience in 2010. This was our inaugural SwimFest. We were elated at the number of coaches who gave up their weekend and time away from families to attend and participate. This clinic experience was completely free to any Masters coach. We additionally offered scholarships to coaches who were financially challenged but wanted to be here. I recognize the importance of providing meaningful educational opportunities for our coaches. Coaches serve as Masters swimming’s greatest ambassadors. As your executive director, I commit to our coaches that additional coaching opportunities such as SwimFest will continue.