Monday Night SCAQ Swim
June 19, 2017
Christina, our typical Monday evening SCAQ coach, is on vacation for the next two weeks, so we have substitute coaches while she is away. Today’s substitute coach was Coach Clay Evans. I’ve been coached by him 5 or 6 times, now, and each time I learn something new. Today’s lesson was how to hold a kick board. Something so simple! I didn’t think there would be a way to do this!
If you aren’t familiar with what a kick board looks like, the basic ones are shaped like gravestones: long straight sides, a short straight bottom, and a short curved top. I’ve always held it with one hand on each long side, position about ¾ of the way up to the curved top. I was coached to hold it by placing my hands on the curved top, one on each side of it. The placement is better because it causes one to put additional pressure on top of the board, so the arms are pushing it down slightly. The slight push down causes the hips to rise, which means your body is a little flatter in the water. Flat bodies are better because there will be less drag in the water, causing one to swim faster. Voila!
Now I just have to remember that every time and work on kick drills during my own swim workouts. Since I’m not a big fan of kick drills, this will be a challenge for me to work on. That said, I made it through the challenges of Coach Clay Evans’ other technique suggestions, and I’m a better swimmer because of them.
Here is a video I found, by Robb Beams, that illustrates proper kick board technique. I really understand his points and will definitely incorporate his tips into my drills. Thank you, Coach Robb!
The Workout:
- 250 warm up
- 6x50 kick
- 3 rounds, 50, 100, 150; middle round is all kick
- 50 easy
- 3 rounds, 150, 100, 50, all free
- 50 easy
- 50 all out
- 2x25 all out