Training | Mediterra Swim & Run

Wet Fingers

by Coach Mat | 10 Jan, 2013

I am fascinated by physiology, and I am guessing many of you are also. Here’s an article on ScienceMag.com that I caught wind of from Daily News Of Open Water Swimming: Wrinkles Help Fingers Get a Grip Recent photo of Antalya Mountains-City-Sea by my friend...

Training Pace Perception

by Coach Mat | 7 Jan, 2013

It may or may not be surprising to you to learn that holding consistent Pace is one of the most important skills for any swimmer desiring to race or accomplish a particular distance goal for the best possible outcome. This applies to 50 meters sprints to 1500 meters,...

Private Virtual Competition

by Coach Mat | 29 Dec, 2012

This is how a virtual competition (with Sun Yang or any swimmer in the world you choose!) might work: Pace is a simple calculation of Stroke Length (SL) x Tempo. We will use SL because it is a universal measurement – it doesn’t matter what length pool you...

Best Head Position?

by Coach Mat | 27 Dec, 2012

When I do childrens lessons I keep a 20m section of rope in my swim gadget basket. I tie a small loop in one end. Then I give that loop to a swimmer, have them get out in the pool to the end of the rope. I stand on deck ready to reel the rope in. They will lay flat on...

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...