OK, I'm a Dinosaur. I actually like sets like 10x100 on the same interval all the way through.
Why do all of the sets have to have some kind of break in stride or change in interval or undefined purpose today? I have been swimming in Masters long enough to know that our bread is buttered by the fitness swimmers and their singular lack of desire to compete. But do the coaches believe that we are all ADD enough not to be able to complete one set on one interval ? Or do we as swimmers really pose such a dilemma that the coaches do the very worst thing possible - try to make every one happy. The ultimate result of that is to make virtually no one happy.
If you are giving a set to your swimmers, can you tell them what it (the set) should accomplish for them? What they should get out of it? If you simply gave the same set oveer and over again every day, it would become boring, of course. But it would also become a benchmark to which each swimmer could chart his or her progress. A desireable outcome by any standard, I would venture.
I fully realise that the Masters coach is handed a bewildering array of talent and motivation with his swimmers, but you, as a coach, do not have to confuse, bewilder or befuddle your swimmers with meaningless or useless sets. Keep them simple and straghtforward, with one defining mission per set. There is nothing surer to get me to go home as a (competitive) swimmer than a set with multiple intervals and distances, changing intensity and changing strokes. And don't deny that you give such sets. Many coaches thrive on designing sets that are like circuit training in the water. I would go on and on, but I have to get up early to find out what new torture my coach has in store. Take it away, folks.
Parents
Former Member
Well, I'm sure your post will be met with mixed emotions and responses, but I have to say I do share a little of your frustration as far as the secret of success through workouts.
I have participated in coached workouts in the past with Masters(now I have to self-coach for schedule purposes). I never questioned that our coach would get us where we wanted to be, simply because he "walked the talk" and is very accomplished in the pool himself. I realized very positive results through those workouts, but at the same time, I couldn't always decipher the means that got me to that end over the weeks & months... and that part was a little frustrating.
I'm not at all suggesting that it is the coaches responsibility to have a pre-workout briefing to explain the dynamics of every set, but I have often wished that I had access to a weekly summary (printout or verbal) of what it all means.... aerobic Monday - anaerobic Tuesday - Wednesday's distance ties in this way.... and so on.... just to provide a bigger picture.
Now that I'm on my own I find it even more difficult to put together an effective training approach (effective to me being getting faster moreso than fitness and maintenance).
I detected a hint of tonge in cheek in your post so I think overall you will agree.... Anyone who has access to a qualified coach should be thankful even though the coach dosen't reveal all the secrets of success.
:D
Well, I'm sure your post will be met with mixed emotions and responses, but I have to say I do share a little of your frustration as far as the secret of success through workouts.
I have participated in coached workouts in the past with Masters(now I have to self-coach for schedule purposes). I never questioned that our coach would get us where we wanted to be, simply because he "walked the talk" and is very accomplished in the pool himself. I realized very positive results through those workouts, but at the same time, I couldn't always decipher the means that got me to that end over the weeks & months... and that part was a little frustrating.
I'm not at all suggesting that it is the coaches responsibility to have a pre-workout briefing to explain the dynamics of every set, but I have often wished that I had access to a weekly summary (printout or verbal) of what it all means.... aerobic Monday - anaerobic Tuesday - Wednesday's distance ties in this way.... and so on.... just to provide a bigger picture.
Now that I'm on my own I find it even more difficult to put together an effective training approach (effective to me being getting faster moreso than fitness and maintenance).
I detected a hint of tonge in cheek in your post so I think overall you will agree.... Anyone who has access to a qualified coach should be thankful even though the coach dosen't reveal all the secrets of success.
:D
