by Coach Mat | 15 Dec, 2018 | Breathing Skills, Breathing Trouble, Pool Training, Starts, Turns, Breakouts
We are often focused on fixing breathing problems during the stroking part of the swim, what’s happening away from the wall in the lap lane of the pool. But as I work with swimmers to uncover the causes of their breathlessness we may eventually come to look at...
by Coach Mat | 8 Dec, 2018 | Uncategorized
What basic gear would I recommend for your swim bag (or swim kit, as some folks call it)? Well, let’s take a look in mine to give you an idea what might go into yours. Swim Suit Probably the first, and most important item is my swim suit (or costume). I wear...
by Coach Mat | 1 Dec, 2018 | Attention/Focus, Buoyancy Shorts, Fins, Fistgloves, Hand Paddles, How To Train?, Mastery Process, Neurological Training, Neuromuscular Training, Skill Mastery, Swimmers Snorkel, Tempo Trainer, Wetsuits
[Note: I am sharing this post, one among hundreds, from our Mediterra Dojo library.] Training devices are extremely popular among swimmers and triathletes – with new fads coming each year – and people are often looking to their coach to have an opinion on these....
by Coach Mat | 25 Nov, 2018 | About Coach Mat, Coaching Ethics, Cold Water Adaptation, Cool Water Training, Getting Chilled, Metabolic Training, Open Water Challenges, Wetsuit Training, Wetsuits
Comfort Barrier If the water is cooler than you are comfortable with, or even really cold, should you wear a wetsuit? Well, my short answer to this question is, if the cold will keep you from swimming, but otherwise you are fit, capable and eager to go, then wear a...
by Coach Mat | 17 Nov, 2018 | About Mediterra, Courses, How To Train?, Online Coaching Program, Online Training, Self-Coaching
So, you’ve read one of the TI books, viewed all the free videos found on Youtube, studied a TI DVD or two, and even taken a workshop or series of private lessons, or attended a swim camp. How do you put all those ideas together and actually train during the...
by Coach Mat | 10 Nov, 2018 | Fear, Mental Training, Motivating Swimmers, Muscle Tension, Overcoming Fear, Recommended Reading, Survival Instincts, Training Psychology
The Polyvagal Theory developed by Stephen Porges, describes the way the internal body states influences the brain and perception of the environment, and the environment (especially the social environment) influences internal body states. In my own words, there are...
by Coach Mat | 3 Nov, 2018 | Attention/Focus, Boredom, Distraction, Kaizen (Continual Improvement), Mastery Process, Meditation, Practice Examples, Student Stories
Finding Acceleration Again The other day I was helping one of my students, whose challenging life circumstances in the last few months had regretfully kept him away from the pool too much. He was in need of tune up on some skills that were progressing previously, but...
by Coach Mat | 28 Oct, 2018 | How To Train?, Immobility, Injury, Injury Management, Injury Prevention, Swimming Physics, Training Theory
This continues from Part 2 of One Stroke Technique For Everyone? In the previous part I discussed how we might allow a swimmer to make compromises away from the ideal because she has limitations in her body that are unimproveable or there are other reasons that stack...
by Coach Mat | 20 Oct, 2018 | Aging and Improvement, How To Train?, Injury, Injury Management, Injury Prevention, Martial Arts, Mastery Process, Motivation, Swimming Physics, Training Theory
This continues from Part 1 of One Stroke Technique For Everyone? Improve What Is Improvable Let’s consider some of the features that could be improved if an athlete were motivated to do so: soft-tissue and joint immobility low flexibility low strength poor...
by Coach Mat | 13 Oct, 2018 | Aging and Improvement, Discomfort, Injury, Injury Prevention, Internal Feedback, Pain, Physiology, Training Psychology
Continued from Part 2… Emotional Resilience There is a level of grit – technically known as ’emotional resilience’ – that is good for each of us to develop, when the pain can’t be reduced further. It is really tough to train for...
