Why swimmers need to train for power outside the water
Former Member
Bottom line is that we can improve our power more on land than we can just doing sprint sets and power racks in the water. Training for power in the water is essential for swimmers but should be complimented with a solid dryland/strength program.
Strength training does not have to include heavy lifting (in fact if you go to heavy, you move to slow and that is not ideal for increasing power output). Try simple bodywieght exercises such as squatting, lunging, pull - ups and of course a lot of core and rotational work. Once you master the basics you can progress to more explosive movements such as squat jumps, split jumps, and explosive pull - ups.
Of course there is much more to get into on this topic. It is just my opinion that to many swimmers and coaches use the "high rep to increase muscular endurance" philosophy in the weight room. Don't you think we get enough muscular endurance from all the volume we do in the pool?? I feel it is better to use our dryland time focusing on explosive movements, power is something that to many swimmers lack.
What are you thoughts out there?
My point about light lifting is that if we are spending time in the gym we should make the most out of it. If we are working on our endurance in the pool for the most part (at least this is most common) then why work on the same thing in the weight room. Wouldn't we be better off training for power development since a lot of us don't see enough of that in the pool?
I agree with this to a certain extent, but I think "muscular endurance" formed by doing exercises with 12-20 reps is much different than the type of endurance forged by doing repeat 1000s. Or even repeat 100s.
Doing 12-20 reps is akin to doing repeat 25s or 50s in the pool, but with higher resistance. I think there is some overlap but not a lot.
I agree that doing extremely light weights with a large number of reps (several dozen or more) is probably too much overlap.
My point about light lifting is that if we are spending time in the gym we should make the most out of it. If we are working on our endurance in the pool for the most part (at least this is most common) then why work on the same thing in the weight room. Wouldn't we be better off training for power development since a lot of us don't see enough of that in the pool?
I agree with this to a certain extent, but I think "muscular endurance" formed by doing exercises with 12-20 reps is much different than the type of endurance forged by doing repeat 1000s. Or even repeat 100s.
Doing 12-20 reps is akin to doing repeat 25s or 50s in the pool, but with higher resistance. I think there is some overlap but not a lot.
I agree that doing extremely light weights with a large number of reps (several dozen or more) is probably too much overlap.