Opinion

Opinion: New PSS Format Has Intriguing Potential, Early Wrinkles

While the adjustment to a wave of new changes wasn’t without some execution wrinkles, it also shows a remarkable amount of intriguing potential, particularly from a spectator standpoint.

  17 Comments

Swimming with Siblings: Rivalry vs. Camaraderie

From Elizabeth Wickham: “4 Tips For Parents About Sibling Rivalry” As the oldest in my family, I have seen and…

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SwimSwam Pulse: 78.8% Care More For SCY Than SCM

SwimSwam voters overwhelmingly voted in favor of short course yards, with almost 8 out of 10 voters selecting the yards system.

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Why we should rotate our bodies in freestyle and backstroke

All of the elite swimmers of the world rotate their bodies along the long axis, the axis that their body is moving down the pool, while swimming freestyle and backstroke. They don’t just rotate a little bit. They rotate a lot. The question is, why?

  23 Comments

5 Tips for Swim Parents on How to Encourage Your Swimmer

I was asked recently by a new swim parent on how to motivate your swimmer. The short answer is that you cannot motivate your child. Motivation comes from within.

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Ashley Twichell: “Thank You,” Coach Rose

U.S. National Team member Ashley Twichell is a 2-time World Champion in open water swimming, including an individual win in the…

  6 Comments

3 Tips to Help Swim Parents Deal with the Dreaded Plateau

The plateau for a swimmer can be a scary time. No matter what your swimmer does, he or she doesn’t drop time. Here are three tips to help your swimmer make it through a plateau…

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SwimSwam Pulse: Cal Tops Texas For #1 Rank By 1.2%

In a margin that came down to just 6 votes, SwimSwam poll voters said that the California Golden Bears should have the #1 rank in the NCAA Power Rankings over the Texas Longhorns.

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4 Creative Kicking Sets to Pump Up Leg Strength

If a swimmer is determined to use the kick for strong propulsion, the way most great swimmers do, then a six-beat kick is necessary…

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Why the One Arm Backstroke Drill Matters

Two of the most important ways of getting a faster backstroke is by reducing frontal drag and by increasing propulsive power. The one arm backstroke drill accomplishes both tasks.

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2 Great Ways to Test your Breaststroke Kick

There are two simple tests to evaluate your swimmers’ mobility and potential to kick breaststroke fast. See them here…

  10 Comments

SwimSwam Pulse: 58% Pick The Walsh Sisters As Most Impressive Siblings

Voters picked sister combo Alex and Gretchen Walsh as the most impressive sibling duo at the Winter Junior Championships.

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How Roland Schoeman works Dolphin Kick with a Kickboard and Snorkel

Roland Schoeman shows us how kicking with an alignment board and snorkel can both allow the undulation the body needs in the fifth stroke while remaining as streamlined on the surface as possible.

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How Does Social Media Affect College Recruiting?

It’s a good idea to talk about social media with your kids earlier rather than later

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SwimSwam Pulse: 51% Pick Grothe’s 500 Free Over 1650

In a very tight poll result, 51.7% of voters said Zane Grothe’s 4:07 500 free was more impressive than his 14:18 mile.

  4 Comments