I have pretty much been working out on my own, trying to improve through books, videos, GoSwim, Mr. Smooth, you name it. I haven't yet taken the plunge into a Masters class yet, partly because my work schedule is not consistent, and partly because I enjoy swimming on my schedule and doing my own routine. That said, part of me feels that I may be cheating myself of the chance to improve. So a couple weeks ago I was swimming early in the morning and kind of eavesdropping on a Masters coach talking to his swimmers, to see if it might be something I would want to join. Then I asked one of his swimmers afterward how he liked it. "I love it" he said, "I've improved so much. For example, now I always make sure to put my hand in the water thumb first..."
It may be that this coach (an out of shape gentleman probably in his 60s, who incidentally I have never seen swim in the pool) will improve many aspects of my stroke, but if there is one thing that I have read lately it is not to internally rotate my arm on the recovery because of the stress it places on the shoulder. So, if I were to join this class do I just politely say "I would prefer not to enter thumb first, but teach me what else you know"? What if he says "OK, pull in an S-shape". I'm sure he knows more about swimming in his little finger than I do, and just having someone watch my body position, etc. would be helpful, but...
How do you go about finding the right coach, and do you follow the instructions to a tee? Thanks.
I'm with the "others" comment Taruky makes above.
You can get great advice from other swimmers you swim casually with, and sometimes even from a person you notice is watching you from the deck. Again, that "second" set of eyes provides great advantage.
Or, in my case, where I am the lone USMS swimmer at a pool with nothing but noodlers lurking about, my non-swimmer husband and our point-and-shoot digital camera (with video capabilities) has been a great second set of eyes! :applaud: In between my (very part-time) private coaching at another pool in the next county, having my husband record me has provided great instant feedback. He's even watching the Pan Pacs with me and looking over my shoulder when I watch instructional videos (Go Swim, for example), so he can help watch for things I'm trying to fix in my strokes. Then, we watch my videos together and I point out what I'm still doing wrong and show him how I want to do it, instead. (Example: Keep a lower profile in my fly arm recovery, like Phelps, so my shoulders survive for the long haul.)
Seriously, if you have never been recorded swimming, try to get somebody recording not only your strokes and races, but drills, as well. :)
(As an extra bonus, my coach got in the pool, swam along with me, and recorded me with his underwater digital camera, during our last session. The camera picked up flaws in my fly and backstroke that he hadn't caught topside, so it was a huge help! It was a nice addition to the analysis done on my breaststroke by "The Athlete Village", at Nationals.)
I'm with the "others" comment Taruky makes above.
You can get great advice from other swimmers you swim casually with, and sometimes even from a person you notice is watching you from the deck. Again, that "second" set of eyes provides great advantage.
Or, in my case, where I am the lone USMS swimmer at a pool with nothing but noodlers lurking about, my non-swimmer husband and our point-and-shoot digital camera (with video capabilities) has been a great second set of eyes! :applaud: In between my (very part-time) private coaching at another pool in the next county, having my husband record me has provided great instant feedback. He's even watching the Pan Pacs with me and looking over my shoulder when I watch instructional videos (Go Swim, for example), so he can help watch for things I'm trying to fix in my strokes. Then, we watch my videos together and I point out what I'm still doing wrong and show him how I want to do it, instead. (Example: Keep a lower profile in my fly arm recovery, like Phelps, so my shoulders survive for the long haul.)
Seriously, if you have never been recorded swimming, try to get somebody recording not only your strokes and races, but drills, as well. :)
(As an extra bonus, my coach got in the pool, swam along with me, and recorded me with his underwater digital camera, during our last session. The camera picked up flaws in my fly and backstroke that he hadn't caught topside, so it was a huge help! It was a nice addition to the analysis done on my breaststroke by "The Athlete Village", at Nationals.)
