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.
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As you pointed out Rob, some people will complain on deck when they get a sneak preview of the practice. Others will prepare for a challenge. And some will strategically save their reserve energy for their favorites. I vote on seeing the workout before hopping in the pool.
I agree with Michael about the predictability of a set rather than bouncing around all over the place. Sets like (10) 200's with descending intervals are much better in my opinion than mixing up stroke drills, and kicking within a swim set. This stuff should usually occur during warm-up rather than interrupting the rhythm of a set.
Also,..familiar sets from week to week create a benchmark for understanding how the improvements are coming along. One will never know if they can go 10 x 100 on a tighter interval without lowering the "limbo bar" just a bit. Repitition isn't necessarily a bad thing. ...at least not in the pool. (Unless it's that 30 minute swim for time. That's just outright dreadful.) No offense to the distance people....
As you pointed out Rob, some people will complain on deck when they get a sneak preview of the practice. Others will prepare for a challenge. And some will strategically save their reserve energy for their favorites. I vote on seeing the workout before hopping in the pool.
I agree with Michael about the predictability of a set rather than bouncing around all over the place. Sets like (10) 200's with descending intervals are much better in my opinion than mixing up stroke drills, and kicking within a swim set. This stuff should usually occur during warm-up rather than interrupting the rhythm of a set.
Also,..familiar sets from week to week create a benchmark for understanding how the improvements are coming along. One will never know if they can go 10 x 100 on a tighter interval without lowering the "limbo bar" just a bit. Repitition isn't necessarily a bad thing. ...at least not in the pool. (Unless it's that 30 minute swim for time. That's just outright dreadful.) No offense to the distance people....
