A Better Push-Off

by Coach Mat | 23 Dec, 2012

Experimenting with head position during push-off from the pool wall is a great exercise, as it will build the feel for which position is truly the most hydrodynamic. In pool training I have a regular habit of marking the 6m mark (just past the flags), either by noting...

Over-Training Children?

by Coach Mat | 21 Dec, 2012

Here is a response I gave on the TI Forums to a coach from SE Asia. I didn’t answer her question directly, instead I expanded the question to get her thinking (hopefully) about the traditional assumptions held under that question. I thought it would be useful...

Swimmer Dashboard

by Coach Mat | 14 Dec, 2012

Here is the basic TI Swimmer dashboard that I hold in my head. After sitting on my sketches for maybe a year I’ve finally built a diagram of it that I can share with you. I have some plans for using this in a workbook for swimmers eventually but I would like to...

Animal Brain

by Coach Mat | 13 Dec, 2012

Good comment on my last post! Thank you for sharing some thoughts with me on the topic… My problem is this. Despite the fact that I’ve gotten rid of the need to prove something for myself or others, that natural competitive instinct comes out when there’s...

Transparent Coaching

by Coach Mat | 12 Dec, 2012

How is your training going? I thought it would be helpful to just be a little transparent about what I am doing and thinking these days on a personal level in my swimming and coaching. The water and weather are gradually cooling. And it is gradually becoming a little...

Cold Showers Are Cool

by Coach Mat | 5 Dec, 2012

I mentioned in a previous post on this topic that while the sea was warming up last spring I noticed an interesting phenomenah – my body felt more chilled in 22 C water than it did in 21 C. I proposed a hypothesis that there was some sort of breaker switch in my...

Virtual Competition

by Coach Mat | 4 Dec, 2012

We’ve sparked some interest on the TI Forums in what Coach Suzanne, Terry and I call the Virtual Competition with Sun Yang. However, the format I’ve laid out can be used for a competition between any swimmers separated by space or time anywhere in the...

TI Training 102

by Coach Mat | 3 Dec, 2012

The answer to speed as we approach these limitations in physics and physiology is improving the shape of the hull and the prop-  what in physics (and boat-building) is called hydrodynamics. The longer, and narrower the shape of the hull, the faster the boat will slide...

TI Training 101

by Coach Mat | 3 Dec, 2012

Total Immersion has two dimensions as a technique: A technique for shaping a swimmer’s stroke into superior form A technique for how to train a swimmer to swim at optimal performance with that superior form Let me discuss this #2 aspect briefly: Total Immersion as a...

Meet The Tempo Trainer Pro

by Coach Mat | 3 Dec, 2012

Below is a simple reference guide to learn how to use the buttons on the Finis Tempo Trainer Pro. You can get the manual here for the complete and official instructions from Finis. ** It has three buttons. One on top and two on the bottom. TURN ON – press the...