#300 : Level Up Every Day: The Art of Consistent Progress with Andrew Sheaff
Sep 20, 2023
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Andrew Sheaff, author of 'A Constraints-Led Approach to Swim Coaching,' shares valuable insights for swim coaches and swimmers. Topics include: effective coaching for large groups, fun and effective teaching techniques, simplifying swim technique analysis, improving body alignment and kick effectiveness, reversing swimming misconceptions, individualized swimming instruction, coaching language and analogies, the power of questioning in coaching, efficient skill development, common mistakes in increasing speed, measuring progress in remote coaching.
Skill development is crucial for swimmers to reach their full potential and overcome limitations.
Improving alignment and balance is essential for enhancing efficiency and control in the water.
Effective communication, through the use of analogies and questioning, empowers swimmers to take ownership of their development and facilitates continuous improvement.
Deep dives
Developing Skills in Swimming
The podcast episode discusses the importance of skill development in swimming and how it can benefit both swimmers and coaches. The guest, Andrew Sheif, shares his insights and experiences as a swim coach and author of a book on swim coaching. He emphasizes that skill development is essential for swimmers to reach their full potential and overcome limitations. Sheif highlights the challenges coaches face, such as maintaining swimmers' attention, teaching large groups effectively, and bridging the gap between skill development and training. He suggests strategies like using teaching activities, creating drills that encourage desired swimming techniques, setting clear goals, and fostering awareness through questions and self-evaluation. By incorporating skill-focused activities into training, swimmers can see tangible improvements and become more engaged in their progress.
Developing Alignment and Balance
One key aspect of skill development in swimming is improving alignment and balance. Sheif explains that many swimmers struggle with maintaining proper body position in the water, which affects their overall performance. To address this, coaches can help swimmers understand that they can float effortlessly and use their lungs for support. Sheif suggests activities like floating in a ball position and gradually lowering the head to develop awareness and control of body alignment. He also recommends exercises that promote tension in the back and hips to improve stability. By focusing on alignment and balance, swimmers can enhance their efficiency and control in the water.
Using Analogies and Questioning for Skill Development
Sheif emphasizes the power of effective communication in skill development. He highlights the use of analogies to convey concepts and empower swimmers to adapt techniques to their own bodies. For example, he suggests using the analogy of creating a 'big hook' with the hand during the catch phase. Sheif also encourages coaches to employ questioning techniques to deepen swimmers' understanding and engagement. By asking swimmers how certain movements or positions feel and where they notice improvements, coaches can foster self-awareness and independent problem-solving. This approach helps swimmers take ownership of their development and facilitates continuous improvement.
Implementing Skill Development in Training
Incorporating skill development into swim training is crucial for long-term improvement. Sheif highlights the importance of having swimmers perform training tasks that require them to swim well in order to achieve success. He suggests using various training techniques, such as stroke counting, tempo trainers, and controlled stroke parameters, to challenge swimmers and develop their skills. By introducing constraints and performance goals, swimmers are encouraged to focus on stroke efficiency, stroke count, and stroke length. Sheif also emphasizes the significance of regular self-assessment and the use of metrics and video analysis to monitor progress and identify areas for improvement.
Assessing Progress and Monitoring Skill Development
To assess progress in skill development, Sheif recommends conducting regular tests or performance measurements. Swimmers can test their skills by monitoring their times, stroke counts, and stroke efficiency during specific sets or intervals. Sheif believes that consistency and gradual improvements over time are key indicators of progress. Additionally, he suggests that swimmers pay attention to how their swimming feels, as improvements in technique and skill often result in a sense of ease or efficiency in the water. By combining objective measurements with subjective perceptions, swimmers can gain a comprehensive understanding of their development and make necessary adjustments to continue progressing.
Join us on this podcast episode with Andrew Sheaf, author of "A Constraints-Led Approach to Swim Coaching." Andrew shares valuable insights and strategies for swim coaches and swimmers. His systematic training and skill development approach helps swimmers achieve tangible results by avoiding the pitfall of abandoning techniques too quickly. This podcast is a must-listen for coaches and swimmers looking to enhance their methods and training.
01:24 The inspiration behind the book "A Constraints-Led Approach to Swim Coaching" 04:16 How to Be the Most Effective Coach When You Manage a Big Swim Team 06:39 Techniques for Teaching Swimmers That Are Both Fun and Effective: Contrast Drills and Feedback Exchange 09:02 Simplifying Swim Technique Analysis for Effective Coaching 11:26 . Improving Body Alignment and Kick Effectiveness in Adult Swimmers 14:57 Reversing Swimming Misconceptions 16:39 The Nuances and Challenges of Providing Individualized Swimming Instruction 18:05 Effective Coaching Language and Analogies for Swimmers 22:48 The Power of Questioning in Coaching and Training 28:08 Efficient Skill Development for Swimmers with Limited Time: Making the Most of Short Workouts to Improve Technique 34:48 Common Mistakes and Challenges in Increasing Speed while Maintaining Stroke Rate 39:28 Measuring Progress in Remote Coaching: The Importance of Testing and Consistency 42:01 How to Get a Copy of Andrew's Book and Contact Him
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