Speed Checkpoints

I did this set with my age 9-13 boys on Saturday.  There season is effectively finished, with their major champs swum, so I was looking for ways to keep them motivated and keep them in the water till our squad break over Easter…

This set worked really well..

DPS = distance per stroke

Base drill = any freestyle drill that targets streamline eg catch-up

MPT+6 = mid pool turn + 6 dolphin kicks

Stroke drill = any freestyle drill that targets length and catch eg 2La 2 Ra

20×25 designed to get their heart rate up.  Fly HVO (15m fast no breath) was to focus on fast starts, also believe that fly is great way for young swimmers to feel and find their anchor and not slip on the 1st strokes out of their breakout.  Cat n Mouse is a game we play where the swimmers scull in one line across the pool, at some point before the 15m mark into the wall, the nominated “mouse” must sprint to the wall and try and beat the “cats”.  They must go before the 15m mark so the closer they get to the mark the more the cats are ready.  This obviously focuses on finishing, and it is also interesting to see the different tactics of the mouse on when to take off for the wall

target was PB+1, and worked off about a 4min cycle.

The 15m was 1/4 PB +0.5 or better to progress…

The 25m was 1/2 PB +0.5 or better to progress…

The 35m was 3/4 PB + 0.5 or better to progress…

The 50m was PB+1 to progress to warm down.

Set really had the boys motivated and excited from the moment I explained it.  1st 15m checkpoint on average took about 3 attempts, which gave me the opportunity to teach and correct dive and breakout techniques and boys were a lot more receptive.. because of the incentive.  The 25m and 35m check points were all achieved on average in 2 attempts, and the 50m on average 4 attempts, which allowed me to talk about the value of holding their length and rating up into the wall..

Information overload maybe, so apologies if that’s the case, figure the more information provided, the greater opportunity for specific feedback..