Choose Your Descend with Coach John Ravestein

John Ravestein
TYDE Coach – National Team
YMCA of Northwest North Carolina

We did this yesterday, I liked it because it gave the kids some freedom of what they wanted to descend but the intervals were still hard enough that they couldn’t slack on the other part. I also played a game to see if I could pick which one they descended based on their effort. You can also have them pick it before they start to give them ownership of the set.

10x50s on :50

     Odds- fly, Evens- IM

     Desc 1-5

     You pick to either desc the fly or IM

Rest 1:00

8x100s on 1:25

     Odds- back, Evens- IM

     Desc 1-4

     You pick to either desc the back or IM

Rest 1:00

6x150s on 2:20

     Odds- breast, Evens- IM no Free

     Desc 1-3

     You pick to either desc the breast or IM

Rest 1:00

4x200s on 2:45

     Odds- Free, Evens- IM

     Desc 1-2

     You pick to either desc the free or IM

200 ez

 

Snake Fly plus Back-Breast-Free with Coach Chris Brookover

Chris Brookover
YBCC Phoenix – Head Coach
Director of Competitive Swimming

Snake Fly – Use all 6 lanes
3 x 3 x 150
Each set of 3 is comprised:
#1 – Fly/Free by 25’s @ 2:00
#2 – 50 Fly 25 Free @ 2:15
#3 – All Fly @ 2:30

 ———————-
Bk/Br/Fr Set
2x through the set below…
1st   75 = 50 Bk / 25 Br
125 = 25 Fr/50 Bk/ 25 Br / 25 Fr
2nd  75 = 50 Br/ 25 Fr
125 = 25 Fr / 25 Bk / 50 Br/ 25 Fr
6 × 75 @ 1:00 / 1:05
1 × 125 @ 1:45 / 1:50
4 × 75 @ 1:00 / 1:05
2 × 125 @ 1:45 / 1:50
2 × 75 @ 1:00 / 1:05
4 × 125 @ 1:45 / 1:50
R: 1:40

Above  2 X
1st   75 = 50 Bk / 25 Br
125 = 25 Fr/50 Bk/ 25 Br / 25 Fr
2nd  75 = 50 Br/ 25 Fr
125 = 25 Fr / 25 Bk / 50 Br/ 25 Fr

Backstroke Challenge Set for Underwater Kicking Habits

Ryan Woodruff
Head Coach
Lynchburg YMCA
 

The purpose of this backstroke set is for athletes to challenge themselves to hold near race pace while performing an increasing number of dolphin kicks off each wall.  In this case, on the first round swimmers were aiming for a time within 3.0 seconds of their 200 race pace (as shown on their pace cards) while doing at least 6 kicks off each wall for each of the two 50s.  If they were successful at that, they tried to hit the same pace while doing 8 or more kicks.  Third round… 10 or more kicks. Continue until nobody in the group can hit that pace while doing that many kicks.  Swimmers who fail to hit the target pace with a specified number of kicks simply tried to hit that number of kicks again on the next round.  For a shorter more demanding set, lower the +3.0 time standard to something faster.
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Freestyle and "Deep Practice" Stroke Set

Ryan Woodruff
Head Coach
Lynchburg YMCA
 

The Swimming Wizard’s goal is to publish at least one set, practice, or idea EVERY DAY for all of 2016! To keep it interesting, we need your help! Click here to help us achieve that goal by submitting one of your sets!
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This was a little technique/focus set we worked on the other day.  “Deep” practice refers to our intent to be totally engaged in our stroke and focused on improving one particular part of the stroke while swimming (not drilling or isolating).

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The ? Set

Ryan Woodruff
 
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SCY

? x 50 @ :50
Using a dry-erase board, give the swimmers a different set of instructions for every 50, erasing the old instructions and writing the new one while they swim. Mix it up, changing speeds, strokes, drills, breathing patterns, etc. Don’t let the swimmers know what is coming beyond the next 50. All swims are choice unless the stroke is specified. Here’s an example:
#1- P200+5
#2- P200+3
#3- P200+1
#4- P200-1
#5- EZ free B3
#6- Free B5
#7- Free B7
#8- At count
#9- Race!
#10- At cycle count -1
#11- 25 underwater dolphin kick/ 25 sprint
#12- 25 sprint/25 underwater dolphin kick
#13- 25 race/25 ez kick
#14- Fly B 1 up/1 down
#15- Fly B 1 up/2 down
#16- Fly B 1 up/3 down
#17- Fast fly
#18- EZ breaststroke
#19- Race!
#20- At cycle count -2
#21- 12.5 fast/12.5 ez of same stroke as #20
#22- At cycle count
#23- Breast with dolphin kick
#24- Backstroke 12.5 spin drill/12.5 swim
#25- P1650

The set could go on for as long as you like. The changing up speeds and instructions every 50 keeps the swimmers alert and the set fresh and interesting. What other interesting instructions can you come up with?

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Cougar Aquatic Club Workout

Pat Collins

Cougar Aquatic Team


Here’s a set I did with our Senior 1 (National) Group. I thought it went real well, kids loved it, but were dead tired.

The entire pre-set was done on simply 15 secs rest after the leader of each lane would touch. Distance per stroke / cruising speed was expected.
Main Set: Our fastest two lanes did the first two 250s on 3:00 and then the four on 2:50. We have a black line across the middle of our pool at the 12.5 where we expect each swimmer to kick to minimum. The five 250s with no fins were then also done on 3:00, expecting near race-pace on them.

WARM UP (1800)
600 free long/loose
400 Rev. IM d/k/s
16x25s kick on side on :30, :35, :40
6x50s descend w/fins on :40, :45
100 EZ
PRE-SET (1000) 15 secs rest in between each
Technique – DPS
150 – 100 fly/50 bk
150 – 100 bk/50 br
150 – 100 br/50 fr
150 – ALL FREE
400 IM – DPS – perf tech
MAIN SET (3300) varying intervals
2x250s fr/bk w/ fins working UWK
4x250s fr/bk w/ fins working UWK
5x250s free – no fins
50 EZ @ 1:30
500 free for time
COOL DOWN (300)
300 EZ
TOTAL: 6400

"Sneaky "400IMs

Greg Johnson
Head Age Group Coach
Here’s a great way to make your 10-13 year old age groupers conquer some solid 400 IM work (without groaning and whining…until the end):
6 x
    2 x 50 fly @ 50
    1 x 100 Bk @ 1:30
    2 x 50 Br @ 50
    1 x 100 Fr @ 120
Odd rounds swim order as listed above.  Even rounds flip flop the 100s and 50s 
    1 x 100 fly @ 1:40
    2 x 50 Bk @ 45
    1 x 100 Br  @ 1:40
    2 x 50 Fr  @ 40

North Jeffco Stroke Set

Brett Stoyell
North Jeffco Swim Team

Best Stroke Practice working Quality and Endurance (Sectional-Trials level group)
This set was done at 5,500 ft above sea level in Arvada, Colo. almost every swimmer started the primary set holding at or under their best time and finished the set 5-10sec under their best 200 time.

Warmup
(2x)
400 @ 530 Snorkel Stk Count Free
300 @ 430 IM R#1 K-K-D, R#2 K-D-S
4×50 @ 1 Stk
#1 Drill
#2 Fast-EZ
#3 Kick
#4 EZ-Fast

Primary Stk (Breaststk and some flyers went on + 15sec for the 175s)
4×175 @ 240 Hold Best 200 time control stk count and HR
1×200 @ 300 Free Stretchout
3×175 @ 250 Hold Best 200 time – 2-3 seconds
1×300 @ 430 Free Stretchout
2×175 @ 300 Hold Best 200 Time -4-5 seconds
1×400 @ 600 Free Stretchout
1×175 @ 310 Hold as Fast as possible from a start
1×500 Recovery choice

Followed by a circuit (1min to switch stations)
G1 8×50 on medium in water cords @ 130 Either IMo or best 2 stks (Stk count against resistance – Stk tempo with assistance)
G2 12×50 @ 1:00 Fins 25 15mtr uH2O – 10 mtr sprint IMo or Best 2 stks on surface
G3 2×400 IM from a dive @ 6 Each stk as follows: 25 Build-25 Kick-25 Drill-25 ALL out. (Working Transitions all out!)

Mid Season Long Course IM Workout

Ryan Woodruff
ryan.d.woodruff@gmail.com

LCM

Warmup – 1200m, 20:00
400 smooth swim @ 6:00
4 x 150 50 kick/50drill/50 swim @ 2:30
4 x 50 25 fast/25 easy @ 1:00

Main Set – 5500m, 1:08:00

Hold stroke 100s steady & strong. Descend 200s, 400s, and 600 IMs.
1 x 100 FLY @ 1:30
200 IM @ 3:00
1 x 100 BK @ 1:30
200 IM @ 3:00
1 x 100 BR @ 1:40
200 IM @ 3:00
:30 rest

2 x 100 FLY @ 1:30
400 IM @ 6:20
2 X 100 BK @ 1:30
400 IM @ 6:20
2 x 100 BR @ 1:40
400 IM @ 6:20
:30 rest

3 x 100 FLY @ 1:30
600 IM @ 9:40
3 x 100 BK @ 1:30
600 IM @ 9:40
3 x 100 BR @ 1:40
600 IM @ 9:40
100 easy @ 3:00

Kick/Speed Set
4 x 100 @ 3:00 ALL CHOICE
#1 – FROM START, 25m FAST SWIM/75m KICK
#2 – FROM START, 50m FAST SWIM/50m KICK
#3 – FROM START, 75m FAST SWIM/25m KICK
#4 – FROM START, 100m ALL OUT SWIM

WARM DOWN

A Dayton Christmas Part 1

Gary Galbreath
Dayton Raiders

SCY
200 Swim, 200 kick, 200 Pull, 200 Swim @ 13:00                          13
15 x 100                                                                       
       5 @ 1:20/1:25
       5 @ 1:15/1:20
       5 @ 1:10/1:15
———1 Min———-                          2300
Main Set
3 x                                                                            
6 x 25 Fly @ 20/25 (200 Pace)
1 x 50 @ 45
6 x 25 Back @ 20/25 (200 Pace or 400 IM Pace)
1 x 50 @ 45
6 x 25 Breast @ 25/30 (200 Pace or 400 IM Pace)
1 x 50 @ 45
6 x 25 Free @ 20/25 (200 Pace or 400 IM Pace)
1 x 50 @ 45                    2400/4700
——–1 Min——–
Main Set II
4 x                     Descend 1-4                                            
1 x 100 IM @ 1:25/1:30
1 x 100 IM @ 1:20/1:25
1 x 100 IM @ 1:15/1:20
1 x 100 IM @ 1;10/1:15
                                   1600/6300
——–1 min——–
Kick Set
20 x 50                                                                        
       Odd @ 50
       Even @ 45
                                   1000/7300
——–1 Min——
Pull Set
10 x 75 @ 55/1:00                                                              
                                   750/8050

Medley and Free Sets for Success

Great mixed Medley/Fs sets that work well with all swimmers (times adjusted accordingly)
1600 IM as
50 Fs, 50 Fly
100 Fs, 100 Bk
150 Fs, 150 Brst
200 Fs, 200 IM
150 Fs, 150 Fly
100 Fs, 100 Bk
50 Fs, 50 Brst
Focus on good technique, especially towards end of set
20 x 100 Fs as
8 @ 1.20
6 @ 1.15
4 @ 1.10
2 @ 1.05
Work distance per stroke, turns & finishes
8 x 150 as (twice through)
# 1 – All Fs
# 2 – All Kick
# 3 – IM (Leave out Form stroke)
# 4 – All Form
20 x 50 Fs Jump Outs as
10 @ 50
6 @ 45
4 @ 40
Individual Pressure Swims;
Pick swimmer for ‘Pressure swim’ and give him/her 10/15 minutes to prepare. Leave poolside whilst others continue with session. Bring ‘competitior’ out and get all other swimmers out of pool to support him/her. Swimmers then has to race and be within 1% of best time. If they make the time, all swimmers swim down and leave early. If the swimmer fails, they ALL do 1000m Max for time. Great for teamwork/team building.

A Set from Down Under

Clare Labowitch, Darwin Swimming Club
Northern Territory, Australia
I am an unashamed magpie when it comes to collecting swim sets and often mix and match different components. My squad is an age group one.
We are in an endurance phase at the moment the what follows is the first of two Wednesday morning aerobic endurance sets which the swimmers handled particularly well.
Warm Up 10 sec RI
400 free; 300 Claytons IM (25 fly 50 free, 25 back 50 free etc); 200 backstroke; 4 x 50 main stroke – stroke count D1-4 on 60
Main – Quality Endurance
2 x [ 4 x 200 free on 2:45 + 10 x 50 form on short rest cycle] as
                200 free + 1 x 50 form
                200 free + 2 x 50 form
                200 free + 3 x 50 form
                200 free + 4 x 50 form 
What I appreciated about the main was that the swimmers set their own cycle for the 50s and all of them challenged themselves
Fins
20 x 50 as 1-3 technique 4 pace

The Towson Tune-up

Jeb Beaver, Assistant Coach
Monocacy Aquatic Club/ Towson University

Let me start off by saying that I really enjoy the website!

SCM
500 Twitch (25 free/25 non-free)
10 x 100 (50 Kick/50 Drill) 2:00  
Hypoxia:  10 x 50 Fins (25 underwater Fly (10secs rest at wall), 25 sprint Free no breath) 1:20
Easy 100
4 x 50   (backstroke 15 meters, flip into boat skull to the wall) 10 sec rest per 50.
Main Set
100’s Breaststroke
150’s 25 free, 50 fly, 25 bk, 25 br, 25 free (rotate per round) (2nd round 50 bk)
200 Free
Bold = SPRINT!

100
100
100
100
100
150
150
150
150
150
200
200
200
200
200

4 x 50   (backstroke 15 meters, flip into boat skull to the wall) 10 sec rest per 50.

Swim For Maximum Distance

Ryan Woodruff

This test set is useful when you have a large group of swimmers performing different strokes at different speeds in only a few lanes. Bang a lane wrench on the inside of the pool gutter to notify the swimmers when it is time to stop.

2:00 swim for maximum distance
300 ez drill breaststroke
4:10 swim for maximum distance (Goal: double your 2:00 distance)
300 ez drill backstroke
8:40 swim for maximum distance (Goal: double your 4:10 distance)
300 ez drill fly
1:00 swim for maximum distance (Goal: 1/2 of 2:00 distance +5m)
200 ez drill breaststroke
2:05 swim for maximum distance (Goal: 1/2 of 4:10 distance +10m)
200 ez drill backstroke
4:20 swim for maximum distance (Goal: 1/2 of 8:40 distance +15m)
200 ez drill fly

The American Standard

Chris Webb, SwimMAC Carolina
cwebb@swimmaccarolina.org

1×100 fly on 3:00
1×100 bk on 3:00
1×100 br on 3:00
1×100 fr on 3:00
1×200 IM on 6:00
1×200 fly on 6:00
1×200 bk on 6:00
1×200 br on 6:00
1×200 fr on 6:00
1×400 IM

All 100's must be within 10 seconds for boys and 8 seconds for girls of the American record,all 200 must be within 20 seconds for boys and 16 seconds for girls, and the 400 IM  I like to use 30.  All  the seconds you accumulate over the records add up for a total score.

 The lowest total boy's and girl's score set the “standard”.  Set whatever time standard or “seconds over the record” that fits your group's ability. 

On a swim by swim basis for every second a swimmer misses the 10 or 8 over standard the swimmer will owe 2 burpees at the end of the entire set.

 This set helps familiarize swimmers with the fastest times in every event. 

  Do this set once per cycle and compare times. Have title belts/ and or plaques with a ceremony for the top girl and boy that rewards their well rounded IM racing focus.

The No-Free Mixer

Ryan Woodruff, North Carolina Aquatic Club
coachryan@ncacswim.org

400 25 free/25 no free 5:25
12 x 100 no free descend 1-4 to best 100 + 10 seconds @ 1:25
6 x 50 kick @ :55
#1 – 25 fast/25 ez
#2 – 25 ez/25 fast
#3 – all fast

400 same
12 x 75 no free descend 1-4 to best 100 – 7 seconds @ 1:05
6 x 50 same

400 same
12 x 50 no free descend 1-4 to 1/2 of best 100 +2 seconds @ :45
6 x 50 same

400 same
12 x 25 no free RACE!!! @ :30
6 x 50 same

Get out of the Box

Gary Galbreath, Dayton Raiders

So many kids train in the comfort zone! This set is to get them out of that box, to feel uncomfortable. That uneasy feeling they all feel at the end of a race.
 
Short Course meters
 
4 x 200 Free     2:25   
4 x 50 (25Fly/25Back)      40     
4 x 150 Free     1:50
4 x 100 (50 Back/50 Breast)   1:30
4 x 100 Free     1:10
4 x 150 (75 Breast/75 Free)   2:10
4 x 50 Free        35
4 x 200 (100 Free/100 IM)   2:35 

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Luke and Mariel Liked this I.M. Set

Ryan Woodruff, North Carolina Aquatic Club
coachryan@ncacswim.org

This set is a follow-up to the I.M. Transition Set from last week. Its purpose is also to work on transitions, though it does not depend on the rest from that set’s broken swims.

6 x 100 50 fly/50 back
3 @ 1:20
2 @ 1:25
1 @ 1:30

3 x 200 IM descend @ 2:40

6 x 100 50 back/50 breast
3 @ 1:25
2 @ 1:30
1 @ 1:35

2 x 300 IM descend @ 4:00

6 x 100 50 breast/50 free
3 @ 1:25
2 @ 1:30
1 @ 1:35

1 x 600 IM all out for time

Put a strong emphasis on the final 10 yards of each stroke and the first 10 yards of the next stroke.

Prime Time

Ryan Woodruff, North Carolina Aquatic Club
coachryan@ncacswim.org

LCM
Prior to this set, perform a 1,000m swim for time of your prime non-freestyle stroke.

3 x 100 at P1000 @ 1:50
2 x 50 at P100-2 @ 1:00
1 x 100 ez free @ 2:00

3 x 100 at P1000 @ 1:50
4 x 50 at P100-3 @ 1:00
1 x 100 ez free @ 2:00

3 x 100 at P1000 @ 1:50
6 x 50 at P100-4 @ 1:00
1 x 100 ez free @ 2:00

3 x 100 at P1000 @ 1:50
8 x 50 at P100-5 @ 1:00
1 x 100 ez free @ 2:00

Backstroke Race Pace and Drill

Ryan Woodruff, North Carolina Aquatic Club
coachryan@ncacswim.org

Here is a set designed for 200 backstrokers. Distances listed for even 25s, 50s, and 75s are for underwater kicking

12 x 25 backstroke @ :40
odd at P200
even kick, 5m+ on #2, 10m+ on #4, 15m- on #6
3 x 100 backstroke drill @ :10 rest

6 x 50 backstroke @ 1:00
odd at P200
even kick, 5m+ on #2, 10m+ on #4, 15m- on #6
3 x 100 backstroke drill @ :10 rest

4 x 75 backstroke @ 1:20
odd at P200
even kick, 10m+ on #2, 15m- on #4
3 x 100 backstroke drill @ :10 rest

Twenty Ways to Do 20 x 25 – #18

Chris Plumb, Carmel Swim Club

#18 – P100 All the Way

Set the Tempo Trainer for your 100 pace using this chart.

Take as much rest as needed to make the pace. Beat your 100 pace to your feet every time.

Other Swimming Wizard Tempo Trainer Posts:
Aerobic Tempo Set
Sub-Threshold Tempo Set
The Whatchamacallit
Twenty Ways to Do 20 x 25 #9
Find Your Threshold Tempo

The Near-Race-Pace Set

Ryan Woodruff, North Carolina Aquatic Club
coachryan@ncacswim.org

This set is designed for the swimmers to achieve near-race-pace speeds and progress in intensity through the set.

4 x 175 @ 3:30 Beat your best 200 time
400 ez swim
6 x 90 (float the last 10)@ 3:00 Beat your best 100 time
400 ez swim
8 x 50 @ 2:30 Be within 2.0 sec of your best 50 free time or within 1.0 of your dive P100 time (see the Race Pace Calculator to determine this time).

Done correctly, the athlete will be swimming at 88% of 200 race pace on the 175s, at 90% of 100 race pace on the 90s, and at least 90% OF 100 race pace on the 50s.

Negative Split Work

Greg Johnson, CCA Marlins

 
Here is a set we did focusing on negative splitting.  To get good quality negative splitting, we did these broken so the kids could read the clock and make sure they are hitting the split goals.  I set the intervals somewhat loose to give them rest and allow them to read the clock.  It really helped motivate them to swim fast.  I saw some good splits.  We did round 1 freestyle and round 2 prime stroke (+10 on the swim and 15 on the pull). 
 
2 x
 
    4 x 150 NEG SPLIT WITHIN 3 sec.  broken 10 sec at the 75 @  2:00  2:10
 
    P 1 X 200  BP 5  @  2’40  2’50
 
    4 X 100 NEG SPLIT WITHIN 2 sec.  broken 5 sec at the 50  @ 1’20  1’30
 
    P 2 X 100 BP 5/7 BY 50  @  1:20  1:25
 
   4 x 50 NEG WITHIN 1 sec broken 5 sec at the 25  @  55
 
    P 6 x 50  dec. 1–> 3 BP 7   @ 50
 

Back and Free Sprint Set

Ryan Woodruff, North Carolina Aquatic Club
coachryan@ncacswim.org

WARMUP W/ SNORKEL – FREESTYLE

30 X 100 @ :10 REST

                #1 – 50 STREAMLINE FACE DOWN KICK/50 FISTS DRILL

                #2 – 50 KICK ON SIDE/ 50 CATCHUP

                #3 – OVERKICK AND CATCHUP

 

BACKSTROKE

50 – 3 SCULLS/3 STROKES DRILL @ :10 REST

3 X          200 SWIM RACE PATTERN (FOCUS ON UNDERWATERS AND TURNS) @ :20 REST

                4 X 25 @ :30   12.5 YDS SPIN DRILL/ 12.5 YDS EZ SWIM

 

 

POWER TOWER SET –

 

6 X 75 BACKSTROKE  @ 1:45  FAST GOING OUT, EZ COMING BACK IN

200 EZ FREESTYLE B3– NO BELT

6 X 50 BACKSTROKE @ 1:15  5+ YARDS KICK, 20 YARDS BUILD/25 EZ BACKSTROKE

200 EZ FREESTYLE B3 – NO BELT

6 X 25 ALL OUT SPRINT BACKSTROKE @ :40

200 EZ FREESTYLE B3 – NO BELT

The ? Set

Ryan Woodruff, North Carolina Aquatic Club
coachryan@ncacswim.org

Here’s a workout for when you only have 30 minutes.

300 smooth swim for warmup

? x 50 @ :50
Using a dry-erase board, give the swimmers a different set of instructions for every 50, erasing the old instructions and writing the new one while they swim. Mix it up, changing speeds, strokes, drills, breathing patterns, etc. Don’t let the swimmers know what is coming beyond the next 50. All swims are choice unless the stroke is specified. Here’s an example:
#1- P200+5
#2- P200+3
#3- P200+1
#4- P200-1
#5- EZ free B3
#6- Free B5
#7- Free B7
#8- At count
#9- Race!
#10- At cycle count -1
#11- 25 underwater dolphin kick/ 25 sprint
#12- 25 sprint/25 underwater dolphin kick
#13- 25 race/25 ez kick
#14- Fly B 1 up/1 down
#15- Fly B 1 up/2 down
#16- Fly B 1 up/3 down
#17- Fast fly
#18- EZ breaststroke
#19- Race!
#20- At cycle count -2
#21- 12.5 fast/12.5 ez of same stroke as #20
#22- At cycle count
#23- Breast with dolphin kick
#24- Backstroke 12.5 spin drill/12.5 swim
#25- P1650

The set could go on for as long as you like. The changing up speeds and instructions every 50 keeps the swimmers alert and the set fresh and interesting. What other interesting instructions can you come up with?