Swim Bike Run

One thing most any person who was on a swim team will lament is swimming drills. They will tell you tales of torturous coaches who created long drills. They will tell tales of practices which seemed to last all day and left them drained. All will admit in the end the drills made a difference in their ability to swim strong and outlast the competition. These are drills which you can complete yourself with the same stellar results. The important thing to remember is you may not enjoy the drills while you are doing them. Stick with it and you will see undeniable results.

Pyramid Drills

One of the swimming drills which are done by most coaches is the pyramid drill. This drill involves starting with a short sprint of about 50 yards and then building gradually to 500 yards. You then go back down to 50 yards. The trick is to allow only a certain amount of time for each interval as you go up and down. You will notice a difference in your ability to complete the intervals as your strength and skill improves. You will crave the breaks as well as the increased speed this drill will help to create.

Timed Drills

This is a drill which is similar in nature to the pyramid drills. The difference in the timed swimming drills is you maintain a certain length of swimming. The amount of total time in which you have to complete the length will remain constant. What will change is the length of the intervals. A normal overall length for these drills is 500 yards. You will start with 25 x 50 yard drills. Increase to 1 x 500 yard drill with either 25 or 50 yard increases. The goal is to increase your endurance by increasing the speed at which you can complete the sections.

Drag Drills

Creating drag is one of the swimming drills every coach seems to like to use. This means using kick boards, floaters or weights to create drag and resistance. The object is to complete increasing lengths every time you work out. This will help to develop the strength in upper and lower body strength. You will train your muscles to pull an even heavier load than your body weight. This way when you are swimming without the resistance you will be able to glide through the water. This is also a good opportunity to concentrate on your swim stroke.

Closed Fist Drill

There are many variations on swimming drills which do not occur normally to people. Closed fist drill is a drill which teaches you to use your forearm as a mechanism to pull you through the water. By not being able to use your hand to pull you through the water, you have to use the forearm to pull you. The drill is completed by completing 10 x 25 yard sets. Start out with untimed sets with a one minute rest between. Gradually work in time restrictions with less rest in between swims.

Photo Credits: kenoncjones

Originally posted 2010-03-31 10:15:35. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

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There is more to swim gear than just a pair of swim trunks. The gear you purchase will help you to train as well as during competitions. You do not have to spend a lot on the stuff you will use. The important thing is more just to have the equipment which will help you to get the most out of your swimming. You can invest in items which will help to strengthen the muscles you will use during competition, equipment to reduce drag and items which will make it possible for you to swim more comfortably.

Training Gear

There are many different kinds of swim gear you can use to train with. Of the most recognizable is the kick board. This helps to improve the strength of your legs. You can either use the board with or without flippers. The way the board helps you is by allowing your torso to stay out of water and creating drag. Your legs alone will be responsible for forward momentum.

For those looking to build upper body strength, the swim gear you can purchase is a little different. You can purchase push boards which strap on to your hands. These are little more than pieces of plastic in a square. How they help you is by giving you a good idea about whether you are completing a proper stroke or not. All power from your stroke will be translated instantly into movement. You can also purchase floaters which are clenched between your thighs. This creates more drag and forces your legs to stay together. This helps to build upper body strength while training you to keep your legs together as you swim.

Drag Reducing Equipment

The kind of swim gear you wear should help you to swim faster by reducing drag. This starts with the right suit. This includes making sure the suit is as close to your body as possible. One thing to look out for here are seams which do not bulge out from the suit as it meets your body. Another important piece of equipment to reduce drag is the swim cap. This is little more than a piece of latex which will be stretched over your hair and head. The cap should contain all of your hair as well as your ears. This will reduce as much drag as possible from your head without having to shave off all of your hair.

Comfort for the Swimmer

Not all swim gear has to be uncomfortable when you wear it. In fact, some pieces of equipment will actually improve your comfort as you are swimming. One of the most important pieces of equipment which will make your swimming more comfortable is the right swim goggles. While the square frame goggles are very popular, it is possible to buy goggles which are more like bubbles. These will reduce drag while allowing you to see in every direction. This way whether you are in competition or in training, you will not have to compromise anything.

Photo Credits: kenoncjones

Originally posted 2010-04-02 03:22:38. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

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