Swimming World Presents “Swimming Technique Concepts: Staying Focused”

Photo Courtesy: Matt Rubel of Rubel Photography

Swimming Technique Concepts: Staying Focused

Last month’s article explained the importance of using visual and kinesthetic cues to provide a swimmer with precise instructionalinformation about the orientation of body parts. Any swimmer hoping to make positive technique change permanent must focus on using that information for many thousands of strokes.

Even swimmers with the best intentions, however, face many obstacles to maintaining focus throughout a team training session.

A swimmer who wants to swim faster must continually focus on technique. Most swimmers maintain focus only at slower stroke rates. Unfortunately, most team training sessions require a faster stroke rate that produces fatigue and promotes swimming in the autonomous stage.

As speed and fatigue increase, the natural tendency for a swimmer will be to swim in the autonomous stage. If both the swimmer and coach realize this, they can take steps to maintain a focus on technique during workouts. In addition, solo practice can help a swimmer maintain that focus and, consequently, improve technique even faster.

Dr. Rod Havriluk is a sports scientist and consultant who specializes in swimming technique instruction and analysis. His unique strategies provide rapid improvement while avoiding injury. Learn more at the STR website: www.swimmingtechnology.com. You can contact Rod at info@swimmingtechnology.com. All scienti c documentation relating to this article, including scienti c principles, studies and research papers, can be provided upon demand.

To learn more about how to stay focused on technique, check out the June 2018 issue of Swimming World Magazine, available now!

[PHOTO COURTESY: THE LEDECKY FAMILY]

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Take a look inside Swimming World’s June 2018 issue:

FEATURES

016 PLENTY AT STAKE
by David Rieder
Although the Americans will not be facing all of the world’s best swimmers this year as they do during an Olympic or World Championship year, so much is on the line at this summer’s Pan Pacific Championships— including U.S. team selection for the 2019 international meets.

020 BOOM TIMES
by Michael Randazzo
USA Water Polo is expanding…but it is not without its share of growing pains.

023 LONG SWIM THE QUEEN
by Bruce Wigo
Queen Elizabeth II, now 92, used to be quite the swimmer. Those who saw her swim described her as a “very strong and graceful swimmer,” and she inspired many other children in the British Empire to follow her good example.

024 MENTAL PREP: BEFORE THE BEEP WITH MARGO GEER
by Annie Grevers

026 THE NEXT CHAPTER
by Annie Grevers
After two years of college at Stanford University and two NCAA team championships—and with two years remaining before the 2020 Olympics— Katie Ledecky, the world’s greatest women’s swimmer, is transitioning into life as a professional swimmer.

030 NUTRITION: AROUND THE TABLE WITH LIA NEAL
by Annie Grevers and Dawn Weatherwax

COACHING

010 LESSONS WITH THE LEGENDS: JACK SIMON
by Michael J. Stott

014 STAYING FOCUSED
by Rod Havriluk
Swimmers who want to swim faster must continually focus on technique. However, even those with the best intentions face many obstacles to maintaining focus throughout a team training session. This article suggests strategies that can help.

032 SWIM BENCHES: THE COACHES’ FRIEND
by Michael J. Stott
This installment is the second in a multi-part series in which Swimming World explores the role of swim benches in dedicated training.

039 SPECIAL SETS: REACH FOR THE (BIG) SKY!
by Michael J. Stott
Great things are happening in Big Sky Country. In December, Montana’s Ethan Harder and Katharine Berkoff became the state’s first-ever junior national swimming champions.

042 Q&A WITH COACH TOM HIMES
by Michael J. Stott

043 HOW THEY TRAIN BETH BOTSFORD
by Michael J. Stott

TRAINING

038 DRYSIDE TRAINING: FIT AND FAST FOR SUMMER
by J.R. Rosania

JUNIOR SWIMMER

035 GOLDMINDS: MAIN SET RESET
by Wayne Goldsmith
Over the past few years, there has been a big change in swimming coaching—and more specifically, a revolution in the way main sets are being completed.

045 UP & COMERS: DAWSON JOYCE
by Taylor Brien

COLUMNS

008 A VOICE FOR THE SPORT
013 BEYOND THE YARDS
046 GUTTER TALK
048 PARTING SHOT

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