VOL. XVII No. 1 JANUARY – FEBRUARY 2001

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CONTENTS

Analysis of Stroke Rates in Freestyle Events at 2000 Infant Aquatics – A Developmental Approach (Julie Olympics (David Pyne & Cassie Trewin)...... 1 Zancanaro)...... 34 Multi Disciplinary Approach to Performance (Wayne Goal Setting – Goal Setting (Julie Zancanaro)...... 39 Goldsmith)...... 6 Australian Swim Camp Report, Nudgee College (Robyn Preparation for Sprint Events (Gennadi Touretski)...... 8 Gross)...... 41 Swim Like a Fish (Terry Laughlin)...... 13 Pallikoodam: Coaching in India (Russell Parsons)...... 44 Blood Substitutes – Doping of the Future? (Andrei Open Water Swimming...... 46 Vorontsov)...... 15 Australian Swimming Selection Criteria 2001...... 48 Critical Speed & Critical Stroke Rate (ISBS Swimming Drugs in Sport Education (Pam Vincent)...... 52 2000) ...... 17 How I Found My Last Work (Len Sterlin)...... 53 The Effects of Visual Impairment on Competition Swim Letters to the Editor...... 63 Performance (ISBS Swimming 2000)...... 20 Dear Friends (Ursula Carlile)...... 63 Swim Teachers – Training the Brain! (Julie Zancanaro)27 FINA News ...... 68 Understanding ADHD (Julie Zancanaro) ...... 33 WSCA Newsletter...... 71

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As more and more articles with invaluable technical and research data have and will be published through our Magazine for our Members to read and use, it is timely to mention Copyright infringements. The ASCTA Magazine (SWIMMING in AUSTRALIA) Publisher strongly advises all concerned that any attempts to reprint articles or excerpts from contents is prohibited without the written permission of the publisher and author. Any infringements of copyright will be dealt with accordingly. Views expressed in articles are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the Editor or the Board of ASCTA. SWIMMING in AUSTRALIA – January-February 2001

ANALYSIS OF STROKE RATES IN (USA) the winner of the Women’s 400m Freestyle FREESTYLE EVENTS AT 2000 had the highest. Several observations can be made from the stroke OLYMPICS rate data presented in Table 1. Firstly, the average By David Pyne & Cassie Trewin stroke rates are higher for the shorter faster events Department of Physiology, Australian Institute of (e.g. the 50m Freestyle) compared with the longer Sport slower events (e.g. the 400m Freestyle). Indeed these data support the concept that there is a linear The aim of this article is to examine the patterns relationship between event distance and stroke rate of stroke rates of successful swimmers during the … the shorter the event, the higher the stroke rate. A 2000 Sydney Olympic Games. second observation is that the stroke rates are slightly higher for the female swimmers compared with the Stroke rates of swimmers in the Final (top 8 male swimmers across the range of events studied. swimmers) of selected Freestyle events were taken This may reflect the larger physical stature of the from the Competition Analysis of the 2000 Olympic male swimmers. The taller male swimmers will Games (courtesy of the Biomechanics Department, generally have a longer stroke length (distance per Australian Institute of Sport). stroke) than their female counterparts. The female swimmers compensate for this anatomical difference The stroke rates for each 25, 50 or 100m race split by increasing the stroke rate. and placing in the 50, 100, 200 and 400 m freestyle Another observation is the range of stroke rates events were collated. evident in the Freestyle finals. The average difference in stroke rate (highest-lowest) in a given event from The interesting questions are… the 50m to 400m Freestyle was 17% ranging from 8 to 25%. Clearly, there is no single stroke rate that Were there differences in stroke rates between the will suit all swimmers. sprint (50 and 100m) and middle-distance (200 and Another way of presenting this data is in 400m) events? percentage form (see Table 2). These results again Were there any differences in stroke rates between demonstrate that the shorter events are characterised the Men’s and Women’s events? by higher stroke rates. How much variation in stroke rate was evident Using the mean stroke rate of the Men’s 400m between swimmers in the same event? Freestyle as the criterion stroke rate (for the purpose And how much difference was observed between of this comparison only), the mean stroke rate for the first and last lap stroke rates compared to the average 200m Freestyle is approximately 112% faster, with for the event for each individual swimmer. figures of 124% and 140% faster for the 100m and 50m Freestyle events respectively. The comparative The individual and mean stroke rates for each of figures were 100%, 110% and 129% for the the finalists in the 50, 100, 200 and 400 Freestyle Women’s 200, 100 and 50m Freestyle events events are presented in Table 1. Statistical analysis respectively. (data not shown) indicated that there were no These percentage figures may be biased by the significant correlations between average stroke rate higher stroke rate for the Women’s 400m Freestyle on any lap and final placing. compared with the Men’s 400m Freestyle. The only exception was the Women’s 400m Interestingly, the average stroke rate for the Freestyle where the placegetters had a significantly Women’s 200 and 400m Freestyle events was higher average stroke rate over the race than those identical at 48 strokes/min. swimmers finishing outside the medals. This This could be interpreted as either a higher than indicates that there is considerable variation in stroke expected stroke rate for the 400m event, or a lower rate between different swimmers at the Olympic than expected stroke rate for the 200m event, or both. level. In comparison to the Men’s stroke rates it would There is no clear pattern between placing and appear that the stroke rate for the Women’s 400m is average stroke rate indicating that the hypothesis that markedly higher. This would suggest a different style the medal winners have a higher stroke rate cannot be of middle-distance swimming between the male and supported. female swimmers, with the females adopting a more For example, Ian Thorpe (AUS) the winner of the aggressive approach in terms of a faster stroke rate. Men’s 400m Freestyle had the lowest stroke rate of The mean stroke rates per lap are shown in Table all the swimmers in the final, while Brooke Bennett 3. For the 50m Freestyle events, each lap represents

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25m, while in the 100 and 200m events the average and one was one of only two swimmers (the other stroke rate per 50m lap is shown. being Dragos Coman who finished 5th) whose stroke In the 400m events the average stroke rate per rate in the last 100m was slower than the average for 100m is shown. It is common for the stroke rate to be the entire race. higher in the first lap where swimmers are fresh and In contrast to the 200m final, it appeared that the keen to establish the pattern for the race. 400m swimmers swam at a much more even stroke The challenge for swimmers to take the race out rate throughout the race. fast – but not too fast – or fatigue may become a The stroke rates examined here were collected and limiting factor in the last lap. In both the Men’s and analysed from filming of the Olympic Finals by the Women’s 50m Freestyle there was a noticeable drop- Biomechanics Department of the Australian Institute off from the 1st to 2nd 25m split. of Sport as part of its service to both the Australian The stroke rates were relatively even in the Men’s Swimming Team and all the nations represented in 100 Freestyle, although the Women’s 100 Freestyle Sydney. Of course, this extensive analysis is only showed a drop off similar to the 50 Freestyle. available to National Team swimmers. In the 200 events, the women had an even stroke Stroke rate can be measured simply with a right through the race (more like the 400 events) but stopwatch. Some models will have a stroke rate mode the men showed a slight drop off in the 3rd and 4th where the stroke rate will be instantly calculated and laps. displayed by timing a series (usually three) complete Although group trends are interesting, at the stroke cycles. Some watches only require a single Olympic level it is important to analyse results for stroke cycle to be timed for conversion into stroke each individual swimmer. rate (number of complete stroke cycles per minute). Table 4 shows the stroke rates for the Men’s 200 Even a basic stopwatch (those with a special and 400 Freestyle Finals in Sydney. In the 200 stroke rate mode) can be used to calculate stroke rate. Freestyle final, the winner Pieter van den To calculate stroke rate in this way, you need to Hoogenband (NED) a stroke rate of 46.3, with the record in seconds the time required to complete three Silver Medallist Ian Thorpe (AUS) has the lowest of full stroke cycles and divide 180 by this number. For all the finalists (41.8), yet the Bronze Medallist Massi example, if the time for three stroke cycles is 4.52 Rosolino (ITA) has the highest at 51.0 strokes/min. seconds, the stroke rate = 180 / 4.52 = 39.8 Van den Hoogenband had the same stroke rate in the cycles/minute. last 50m as he averaged for the entire race, where as The primary take-home message from this the 4-8th placegetters all had lower stroke rates in the analysis is that coaches should determine the stroke final 50m compared with their individual race rate for each individual swimmer over each event average. distance they swim. Three swimmers showed a difference of more The average difference in stroke rate between the than 4 strokes/min from the 1st 50m (compared to the swimmers in a given event was 17% ranging from 8 average stroke rate for the race) and these swimmers to 25%. There was no apparent relationship between finished 4th, 5th and 8th. It appears that male stroke rate and place in the sprint and middle- swimmers take the 200m Freestyle out fast, and then distance Freestyle events at the 2000 Olympic try and hang on and minimise the decrease over the Games. final 50m. Some swimmers will naturally have a higher Among the interesting observations in the 400m stroke rate and others a lower stroke rate. What might Freestyle final are: be important is to minimise the drop-off in stroke rate Ian Thorpe (AUS) the Gold Medallist again has in the last lap of the sprint events (50m, 100m and the lowest stroke rate of all the finalists, but Massi even the 200m Freestyle events) and maintain an Rosolino (ITA) has the second highest; the first 100m even stroke rate throughout the 400m event. split has the highest average stroke rate (43.3 The data examined here represents only one race, strokes/min) for any 100m split of the race; the 2nd and coaches should compare results for a given and 3rd 100m splits have a lower average stroke rate, swimmer with their previous stroke rates taken in but the final 100m sees an increase as the swimmers other high level competitions. There are of course fight for the finish. many different interpretations from the same set of Grant Hackett had a 5.4 decrease in stroke rate data, and coaches will place varying degrees of from the first 100m to the second 100m (46.1 to 40.7) importance on different aspects of competition.

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Table 1: Summary of average stroke rates (cycles/min) for 1st to 8th placegetters at the 2000 Olympic Games in selected Men’s and Women’s Freestyle events Event 50 50 100 100 200 200 400 400 Place Men’s Women’s Men’s Women’s Men’s Women’s Men’s Women’s 1 60.4 63.4 52.3 55.2 46.3 47.8 36.5 55.2 2 59.5 60.0 48.0 53.5 41.8 47.1 46.2 49.5 3 63.0 59.5 49.6 50.6 51.0 53.3 40.3 50.1 4 61.9 68.3 56.2 52.7 48.9 44.8 39.1 51.5 5 57.3 57.8 49.4 51.5 48.4 52.0 47.4 41.4 6 58.5 60.8 55.8 52.2 46.2 47.7 40.5 48.3 7 52.2 64.6 50.7 55.1 49.9 46.8 41.7 46.3 8 61.3 63.6 52.4 53.0 43.4 45.7 43.7 44.5 Mean 59.3 62.3 51.8 53.0 47.0 48.2 41.9 48.4 SD 3.4 3.4 3.0 1.6 3.2 3.0 3.7 4.3 Highest 63.0 68.3 56.2 55.2 51.0 53.3 47.4 55.2 Lowest 52.2 57.8 48.0 50.6 41.8 44.8 36.5 41.4 % Diff 17 15 15 8 18 16 23 25

400m 200m 100m 50m Table 2: Average stroke rates for the 50, 100 and 200m Freestyle events at the Men 42 47 52 59 2000 Olympic Games using the stroke rate of the 400m Freestyle as the basis of 100% 112% 124% 140% comparison (i.e. 400m stroke rate assumed to be 100%) Women 48 48 53 62 100% 100% 110% 129%

Table 3: Stroke rates (cycles/min) for each lap in select Freestyle events at the 2000 Olympic Games Split Event 1st Lap 2nd Lap 3rd Lap 4th Lap Ave 50m Freestyle Men’s 61.6 56.9 59.2 Women’s 63.9 60.6 62.2 100m Freestyle Men’s 50.4 51.5 50.8 50.4 51.8 Women’s 56.5 52.8 51.9 50.7 53.0 200m Freestyle Men’s 49.8 47.4 45.0 45.6 47.0 Women’s 48.8 47.0 47.8 48.9 48.1 400m Freestyle Men’s 43.3 40.9 41.2 42.3 41.9 Women’s 48.5 48.0 48.2 48.6 48.3

Table 4: Stroke rates (cycles/min) per lap in the Men's 200 and 400 Freestyle Finals at the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games 1st 50m Last 50m Place Name 1st 50m 2nd 50m 3rd 50m 4th 50m Average Average Average 1 Pieter v d Hoogenband 48.3 45.9 44.5 46.3 46.3 2.0 0.1 2 Ian Thorpe 44.5 41.6 40.3 40.5 41.8 2.8 -1.2 3 Massi Rosolino 52.8 49.5 49.8 51.7 51.0 1.8 0.7 4 Josh Davis 53.1 48.4 47.2 46.7 48.9 4.3 -2.1 5 Paul Palmer 53.3 50.8 44.4 44.9 48.4 5.0 -3.5 6 James Salter 46.1 51.2 43.6 43.7 46.2 -0.1 -2.4 7 Rick Say 52.5 48.8 48.8 49.4 49.9 2.6 -0.5 8 Grant Hackett 47.6 42.8 41.4 41.7 43.4 4.2 -1.7 Average 49.8 47.4 45.0 45.6 47.0 2.8 -1.3

1st 100m Last 100m Place Name 1st 100m 2nd 100m 3rd 100m 4th 100m Average Average Average 1 Ian Thorpe 36.9 35.4 36.6 37.4 36.5 0.3 0.8 2 Massi Rosolino 47.2 45.1 45.8 46.9 46.2 1.0 0.7 3 Klete Keller 41.6 39.3 39.2 41.3 40.3 1.2 1.0 4 Emiliano Brembilla 39.7 38.2 38.8 39.6 39.1 0.6 0.6 5 Dragos Coman 50.6 46.2 45.7 47.2 47.4 3.2 -0.3 6 Chad Carvin 40.8 39.3 40.2 42.0 40.5 0.2 1.4 7 Grant Hackett 46.1 40.7 39.6 40.5 41.7 4.4 -2.2 8 Ryk Neethling 43.8 43.3 43.7 44.0 43.7 0.1 0.3 Average 43.3 40.9 41.2 42.3 41.9 1.4 0.4

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MULTI DISCIPLINARY APPROACH Just as the coach aims to find the right mix of training activities and techniques, the effective sports TO PERFORMANCE science program adopts a Multi Disciplinary The Integration of the Sports Sciences in Smart Coaching approach to achieve optimum performance. By Wayne Goldsmith It is like mixing a cake. The right mix of ingredients mixed at the right time and in the right Performance is multi faceted, complex, intangible, order results in a delicious desert. Leave out the eggs, often difficult to define and hard to measure. The add no sugar or cook on full power for four hours and proliferation of sports science/sports medicine you get an unpalatable mess. information, products and services now available has An endurance athlete who has great staying power made it even more so. but limited speed can’t figure in fast, sprint, tight Just as no one single aspect of performance can be finishes. An endurance athlete with speed but no credited for the success of an athlete, no one sports endurance can’t last long enough to use their speed science discipline is any more responsible for when it really matters. The coach then mixes speed successful performance than any other. and endurance (and the other aspects of performance) In track and field for example, a Performance to find the right formula. Needs Analysis (P.N.A.) of a middle distance runner Just as all cakes are not made of the same might identify the following performance ingredients or baked the same way, one formula does characteristics as being integral aspects of successful not apply to all athletes. athletes… The Multi Disciplinary Sports Science Model Speed; Endurance; Technique; Skills; Tactics; The sports science “industry” has evolved into Flexibility; Control; The Ability to relax; Pacing several distinct specialised disciplines. This has ability; Rhythm; Core stability; Strength allowed sports science and sports medicine But which of these performance characteristics are professionals in each specialist area to become highly more important than the others? Can you effectively skilled and extremely knowledgeable about their “rate” these performance characteristics in order of specific discipline. On the down side however, importance? Do these performance characteristics becoming a single discipline specialist can often limit change over a season? Do they change with the the professional’s ability to see “the whole picture” growth, development and maturation of an athlete? of sports performance. Are they different for males and females? Different The coach on the other hand cannot afford to look for Age group athletes versus elite senior athletes? at performance from a single perspective, relying on How do they apply to disability groups? To Masters skill, experience and judgement to find the right athletes? answers from a variety of angles. The same principle applies to the sports science Heart rate monitoring is a good example of the disciplines. In successful sports performance, several limitations of the single discipline approach to sports sports science disciplines may be involved in the training and athlete preparation. monitoring, measurement and management of The Heart Rate Debate training and competition. The use of heart rate monitors in the training and For example… development of athletes is now commonplace. Heart Sports Biomechanics; Sports Physiology; Sports rate monitors are part of many coaches “tool kits” in Medicine; Sports Nutrition; Sports Physiotherapy; the same way that stop watches and clipboards have Sports Chiropractic; Sports Massage; Sports been for some time. Recovery; Sports Optometry; Strength Training and Whilst heart rate monitoring is a valuable Conditioning; Motor Skill and Learning Sciences coaching tool, it is only one measure and importantly, Again, which of these sports science disciplines is NO ATHLETE WINS GOLD MEDALS BECAUSE the most or more important? THEY HAVE THE BEST HEART RATE. A shooter may learn to control their heart rate in Technique, skills, tactics, teamwork, attitude, competition (physiology, psychology) but if their equipment, strength and many other aspects of eyesight is poor under competition conditions, they performance also have a direct bearing on results. will not hit a target (sports optometry/sports Therefore it is not logical to base training solely on medicine). heart rate at the neglect of all other performance If a swimmer has outstanding technique characteristics. Put another way … as a coach, which (biomechanics) and great flexibility (physical do you believe is the more important? therapies, Strength and Conditioning) but a depressed An athlete whose program is based on balance, immune system (physiology, nutrition, recovery, skills, technique and attitude or an athlete with sports medicine) means they are unable to train deficiencies in these areas but who can train at the consistently due to poor health, they are unlikely to correct heart rate? succeed.

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It is a bit like trying to measure how much air is in The coach may also want an idea of how the your car tyres by looking at the oil pressure gauge. athlete approached the test mentally. Were the To measure the overall performance of a car, you athletes self motivated to do the test to the best of look at the engine, gearbox, cooling, fuel system, their ability and test their progress? Did they do the tyres, steering and so on. test unwillingly? Did they feel apathy towards If you take your car for a service to a mechanic completing the test? The coach may develop a who specialises in steering, they can measure the method of measuring these motivational/arousal effectiveness of your car’s steering system, identify factors in the test protocols (psychology). Another the problem areas and fix them. The same goes for variable that will impact on test performance will be your cooling system. Specialists can measure and nutrition and hydration. An athlete attempting a test analyse from a single perspective. You as driver in energy depleted or dehydrated state will be unable however, need to look at the overall performance of to perform at optimal levels. Therefore the coach may the vehicle as a co-ordinated piece of machinery want to include a pre test questionnaire, which designed to get you from safely and comfortably examines the athlete’s diet and hydration strategy for from Point A to Point B. the 24 hours prior to the test (sports nutrition). Training as a Multi Disciplinary Activity From this simple example it is clear that Training prescription has generally been written in approaching testing from the perspective of a single terms of physiological variables. Training sets and sports science discipline limits the effectiveness of training routines have traditionally been described in the test and the information available to the coach. terms of VOLUME and INTENSITY and measured Competition Assessment, Measurement and by gross physiological variables such as heart rate, Management lactate and power output. However, this approach has It is common to record results from competitions limited application in applied, effective coaching as it in terms of times, placings or points. restricts the coach and athlete’s perspectives of the However, a complete, detailed analysis of the complete nature of performance development. results of competitions can assist the coach and For example, if a rowing coach is able to measure athlete in the planning of future training programs an athlete’s heart rate at a given speed during a and competition strategies. Competitions are training session, the coach has basic information on opportunities for the coach to measure the the athlete that can be applied to future training and effectiveness of his or her training program and to exercise prescription. This information however, give direction for the planning of the next training applies only to heart rate and speed. It is a limited, phase or cycle. single discipline approach to performance. The Multi Disciplinary model of performance as it Taking a Multi Disciplinary Approach, the coach applies to competition looks at a variety of may prescribe the training activity in terms of performance aspects to develop a clear picture of the HEART RATE AND SPEED, but also in STROKES athlete’s strengths and weaknesses under competition PER MINUTE. The coach may also set some conditions. TECHNICAL parameters for the training session This approach could include… such as timing, acceleration, technique, tactics etc. • Before and after event “weigh ins” to assess the By incorporating and co-ordinating several distinct effectiveness of the athlete’s dehydration but interrelated performance variables, the coach is strategies. able to set a balanced, effective program. • Pre and post event questionnaires to assess the A Multi Disciplinary Approach to Testing athlete’s goal setting strategies (e.g. compare pre Testing has generally been limited to the event expectations with post event analyses). measurement of one aspect of performance using one • Measure the athlete’s recovery ability by sports science discipline. For example, what is the measuring heart rate at regular intervals post event athlete’s heart rate at a given speed? (e.g. every 15fifteen minutes for the first hours In sports like swimming, running, cycling and after the event). rowing, other elements of performance may also be • Have the competition videoed for later analysis of incorporated to provide the coach with a more technical areas and tactics. complete test. • Break down the event into segments and measure In swimming and rowing, an athlete may the athlete’s performance at a range of speeds and complete a test at a given speed and have his/ her levels of fatigue. heart rate measured (physiology). The Multi Disciplinary approach to competition The coach may also wish to measure the assessment, measurement and management is limited efficiency of the athlete’s stroke and may count only by the creativity and imagination of the coach. strokes per repetition (to get an idea of how far the Coaching Implications athlete moves each time they stroke) or the number of The role of the coach as a resource manager is strokes per minute (stroke rating), (biomechanics). now more important than ever. Successful coaches of

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the future will manage and co-ordinate the resources that are available but increasingly will call on the Preparation for Sprint Events specialist expertise of sports science and sports You Cannot Dive Twice into the Same Water medicine professionals. By Gennadi Touretski Sports science and sports medicine professionals offer specific services usually on a single aspect of (Presented at ASCTA 1999 Convention) performance. The skilled coach is able to take the The Men’s 100 Freestyle is regarded as the blue SPECIALISED information and blend it into a ribbon event of Olympic and World Championship MULTI DISCIPLINARY perspective. swimming events. Many former gold medallists have The coach of this century needs highly developed become household names. Two former Olympic skills in leadership and people management to find, swimming champions became movie stars – the most recruit and develop an effective sports science / famous, Johnny Weissmuller, who later played the sports medicine team capable of adopting a multi role of Tarzan – won two successive Olympic gold disciplinary approach to success. medals in 100 Freestyle during the 1920s. Two Performance has many individual aspects and Australians have been successful Olympians in the elements. To effectively measure performance in 100 Freestyle – John Devitt in 1956-60 and Michael terms of training programming, testing and Wenden in 1968-72. competition results the coach needs to take a wide The undisputed current star of swimming is perspective and look at the results using the skills and techniques of several sports science/sports medicine Aleksandre Popov, double Olympic gold medallist, disciplines. World Champion, and world record-holder in the 100 Coaches should attempt to identify open minded, Freestyle. Although born in Russia, Aleksandre lateral thinking sports science professionals who are currently lives in Canberra and trains at the able to accept the importance of the various Australian Institute of Sport, where I have a coaching disciplines of sports science and who are prepared to contract until the 2000 Olympic Games. work co-operatively with other professionals in a At the 1998 World Champions in Perth, Western team environment. Australia, Australian sprinters achieved significant success, winning gold in the 200 Freestyle, silver in the 100 Freestyle and bronze in the 50 Freestyle. It is important to mention that, after a long dry spell, LEVEL 2 Australia was represented by two swimmers in the final of the 100 Freestyle. The successful 4x100 Congratulations to the following participants who Medley Relay team can be explained by the great have successfully completed their SWIMMING efforts of the Australian athletes in this event, and SPECIFICS assignment. also by improvements in the training and technology used to prepare these swimmers. JOHN SPEIRS Michael Klim became a household name after the ROBERT BAYLEY 1997 Pan Pacific Championships where he won the JUDY BERGMAN 100 and 200 Freestyle events. He set the national COLIN CRESSER record of 49.15 for 100 Freestyle in the relay in JOHN DAHL Fukuoka. His outstanding achievement some six WENDY HALICEK weeks later at the 1997 National Championships, CRAIG HARDY where he established a new world record in the 100 HEALEY HOLT butterfly (52.15), showed us that we had a new leader ZOWIE HORWOOD in the world of sprint swimming. MATTHEW HOWEL I would like to share my experience in developing TERRY LALOR Michael Klim’s talent. Reflecting back on the 1998 LEANNE LANDELS World Championships and the way we approached JANICE McCALLUM the plan, I realised that since 1993 when I first met STEVEN MORRIS Michael, I cannot recall an occasion when he was off DARREN NAYLOR track or disappointed. His motivation during this DOUGLAS RAYFIELD period was extremely high. Since this time, he has DEBBIE TATTOLI swum some 8000km in the pool with almost 500 MARK WIELAND races in his quest to become the number one swimmer in the world.

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Many people have asked me the key to Michael’s 3. Competitive success. The answer is always the same … natural 4. Recovery talent multiplied by the ability to work consistently … and understanding that you cannot dive twice into GENERAL PREPARATION the same water. The only way to win is with non-stop This phase starts with two weeks of technical and perfection. For developing athletes, it is extremely coordination work with about 40-50% of peak important that the model swimmer has a strong volume. This is usually some 35-50km per week with personality, and swimming with Aleksandre Popov, about 10 sessions per week in the water, and 5x45- the world’s fastest swimmer, helped Michael to minute dryland sessions of fitness work with 2x30-40 improve his technique and educate himself in the way minute running sessions. At this time, we discuss the champions should behave. plan for the season and the means of developing technique. Progressively, the plan is to re-establish PHILOSOPHY OF COACHING the level of the previous preparation. Testing is The philosophy of coaching sprint swimmers is conducted including blood testing, body composition not very different to that of training other distances. (skinfolds) and the 7x200 step test, and also the My philosophy is based on the understanding of two 5x25m speed testing. It is very important to motivate things. First, athletes should be fit both physically the swimmers and prepare the swimmers for the goal and mentally. And second, technique should be of the cycle. A great deal of communication between perfected. This approach helps us divide the the swimmer and the coach is essential. preparation into specific parts. There is no one In this stage we use sprint-assisted training with particularly successful method over every other surgical tubing, towing machine, fins with the method, because of the great individual variation in purpose of stimulating speed and swimming fast the make-up of athletes – age, gender, and while holding good technique (distance per stroke). anthropometrical characteristics. Occasionally, we use fitness exercises in the water If we examine current champions in the sprint such as water polo and other games, and a great events, most of them are very tall (greater than variety of swimming drills during regular training. 190cm in height), look very athletic, and are between The next stage is to increase the training volume 18 and 25 years of age. Some of them are at the stage in three weeks up to a maximum of 80-100km per of stable performance, and others in the stage of week. This is achieved primarily by low-to-moderate- physical maturation and variable performance. In intensity aerobic work in the AM sessions with total developing athletes, it is very important to find the volume of 5-6km per session, with individual sprint key that is suitable for each individual personality. and technique work conducted at the end of the For example, the key for Michael Klim’s session. An example of this would be… performance for all distances and strokes is the 200 Freestyle. If we compare Michael Klim with 300 warm up Aleksandre Popov, Aleksandre prepares for the 50 4x25 IM 1 x 5000 distance with cruise speed and 100 events only, without paying attention to his 400 kick + 8x50 kick on 50 200 performance. His complementary preparation is 400 resistance (surgical tubing) + 8x25 assisted sprint for the 100 and 200 backstroke events. One of the most important parts of the preparation The afternoon session is based on repeating the is the training plan. Our approach represents the previous distance work, this time broken into 100 transformation of training methods from general to metre intervals but with a similar structure: specific, from aerobic to anaerobic, from endurance to speed. The key to this preparation is to support and 500 warm up maintain speed throughout every phase right through 10x25 on 60 the training season. If there is a single factor that can 30x100 on 1:30 (1:10 for Michael Klim, heart rate 140-150bpm) identify the champion sprint athlete, and a common 500 drills feature of the best sprint training programs, it is the 20x100 on 1:40 (1:05, heart rate 150-160bpm) ability to swim competitive speeds under the pressure 400 kick of high workloads and training volumes during the 4x100 on 1:40 8x25 dive start on 2:00 preparation, about 4-5 weeks prior to the competition.

The plan usually consists of four parts: The requirements for distance swimming and

longer intervals include controlling the number of 1. General strokes per lap. For Michael, he is instructed to use 2. Specific

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no more than 30 strokes per lap in Freestyle. We TECHNIQUE continue this type of work for two to three weeks The key is constant attention to the quality of with the intensity increasing after two weeks. technique but without making excessive changes such that swimmers “lose” their technique and/or feel SPECIFIC for the water. To illustrate this point, I would like to The goal of the Specific phase is to prepare the tell a story from 1997 when we invited Scott Volkers skills and energy systems necessary for competition. and a top Russian coach, Victor Avdyenko (coach of At this stage, the aim is to maximise the volume of Olympic Champions Denis Pankratov and Evgeny swimming undertaken at competitive speeds. From Sadovyi). Both presented their training theories in analysis of the training of the best athletes, it is about 20 minutes, and journalists and coaches were evident that the proportion of speed and/or specific very surprised that the two coaches had very different work rarely exceeds 20% of the total training volume. approaches. Advyenko’s approach could be While the volume of work decreases some six weeks characterised as high volume-low intensity … while before racing, the weekly training volume is still Volker’s is medium volume and higher intensity. quite substantial and some reach 50-60km per week Both coaches have been extremely successful at the in this phase. In this phase, Michael Klim does not international level. I have had the opportunity to swim further than 6.5km per session with up to 10-12 work with both Volkers and Avdyenko, and they sessions per week. share one characteristic … a great ability to control, An example of the afternoon session for a influence, and teach their swimmers efficient standard Wednesday in the weekly program is… technique. The most important aspect in teaching is that the 600 warm up swimmer is learning and acquiring the correct 8x50 on 50 (descending 1-4) technique. The swimmer needs to develop a self- 8-10 x 400 (4:30) + 60s rest + 100 Freestyle (55 to 52 seconds) organised psychosomatic system based on positive 1000 kick and pull feedback or information derived from the training 10x50 alt 100 pace, easy program. The role of the coach is extremely 300 swimming down important in selecting the information and using the correct words and images for the swimmer to COMPETITIVE understand and learn the skills. In Australia, this is The word “tapering” is very commonly used by best illustrated by the “heart rate” set in which the coaches. The swimmer should develop his readiness coach informs the swimmer of the desired pace and in the general and specific phases to achieve heart rate. The swimmer needs to develop a balance competitive speeds in a heavy workload. This is between effort and technique in order to achieve the particularly important for the second 50 of a 100 correct pace and intensity. In my opinion, when we race, and the second 100 of a 200 race. Later this is speak of technique we need to understand that this achieved by reducing the volume and improving the includes the biomechanical information such as the recovery. Speed will develop automatically through stroke rate and stroke length, physiological responses more heightened activity of the nervous system and such as lactate and heart rate, and performance time. supercompensation of physiological capacities. This should act as positive feedback and influence At this stage, a favourite exercise is three days of the technique in the best possible way. simulated competition approximately three weeks Immediately after the 1996 Olympic Games, from competition, with a further day approximately Michael Klim’s technique was modified to 10 days from competition. This work typically takes incorporate the old-fashioned straight-arm recovery. the form of… The longer recovery seems to lengthen the stroke. The particularities of Michael’s technique (straight Day 1 (Monday – AM) arm recovery and late body pitch) move his centre of 300 warm up 1x100 butterfly (e.g. 54.60) mass forward, which helps him to reach the correct 3x50 on 3:00 (e.g. 25.0, 24.6, 24.6) horizontal body position without overkicking. 6x100 recovery on 1:40, heart rate 130-140bpm Generally I use the principle of the three R’s to 8x25 dive on 2:00 explain and teach good swimming technique. 1000 kick and drills Rhythm: the basis of maintaining the quality of motion. As The last high intensity training session is held 5 soon as rhythm is lost, distance per stroke and speed days before competition. decrease.

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Range: through the stroke we can determine the optimal • The effects of various training factors such as range for competitive swimming. In training the goal is to volume, intensity, race schedule. reduce the number of strokes per length. Relaxation: Johnny Weissmuller was reported to have said • Methods of controlling and monitoring the that the secret of sprint is relaxation at top speed. The feel athlete’s condition. of the water is the ability to balance the propulsive force • Calculating the magnitude and structure of the and counter it through the stroke. In training, the goal is to training loads. minimise the intracycle fluctuations in acceleration and deceleration that occur at different phases of the stroke. • The principal model of rehabilitation and support for the training process. STARTS • Prediction of positive and negative factors during The importance of starting and turning is well training and competition phases up to and during described. In the 100 Freestyle event, the start and the 2000 Olympics. turn cover almost 30% of the total distance at a speed greater than the average race speed. There are six The problem of organising sprint training is essential points… complex despite its outward simplicity. Perhaps sprint swimming is at a lower level of evolutionary 1. Centre of gravity is in line with the front edge development than that of other events in the of the block. swimming program. Animal experiments and 2. The hips push forward as a trigger motion. practical experience show that speed develops 3 to 4 3. At the moment of leaving the block, the body times slower than strength and 23 times slower than is outstretched in a straight line, at the lowest endurance. Who is going to be the number one possible angle to the water. sprinter in Sydney 2000? 4. The whole body enters the pool through the As his coach I see three key steps in the planning same small hole. process: 5. The body remains rigid and streamlined in a torpedo-like trajectory. 1. Increase the number of competitive opportunities. 6. The body reaches the surface at the smallest 2. Improve the swimming technique. possible angle. 3. Improve the fitness qualities.

TURNS 1. Maintain the maximal possible speed in the last 5 metres before the wall. 2. Use a minimum radius of rotation (head close to knees). 3. No twisting of feet on the wall. 4. Streamline the body in the drive from the wall. 5. Stay under the following wave. 6. Keep lowest possible angle when breaking the surface.

SUMMARY Is Australia going to be the fast swimming nation in the world in 2000, and start the new millennium with the fastest swimmers in the world? There is a lot of work to do and not much time available. As the Sydney Olympic Games approach, time seems to go more quickly and tension mounts. We need to answer many questions. In order to predict the situation in the Olympics, I will consider the following issues:

• Predicting the opposition. • Competitive model for each individual event. • A model of the basic characteristics of each athlete.

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SPRINT TRAINING FOR 50M & 100M EVENTS BASIC SYSTEM MAX SWIM VELOCITY DECREASE IN SWIM THE START 10M FINISH 10M COMPONENTS 15M SPEED TYPICAL 50 10% 60 20 10 CONTRIBUTION TO OUTCOME 100 5% 35 40 20 MOTOR COMPONENT REACHING MAX. OPTIMUM RATIO OF THE STABILISH OF TECHNIQUE OF TRIGGER MOTION VELOCITY OF STROKE LENGTH AND STR/PACE RATIO LENGTH OF DIVE SWIMMING PACE BODY BUILD, HEIGHT, STRUCTURE OF BASIC LIMITING MOTOR FIBRES, FACTORS HORMONAL STATUS, 1. STABLE TYPE OF NERVOUS SYSTEM, SPEED OF NERVE PROCESSES REACTION TO THE EXPLOSIVE 2. DEVELOPING START SIGNAL SPEED – STGRENGTH SPEED – STRENGTH PROPULSION OF UNDER TRAINING ABSOLUTE CHARACTERISTICS CHARACTERISTICS STROKE (KICK AND EFFECTS STRENGTH OF OF KICK AND PULL OF KICKING PULL) EXTENSORS

Use of statistical data allows calculation of planning result, CREATINE-PHOSPHATE (Sprint) st V + IV + III + III + V + taking into account: time of start, first half of distance and 1 Session V + I Rest II I I I I finish lap. nd t 2 I + I + III + I + For 50 50 = 1.98 + 1.96 x t25 I II Rest Session VI V I VI t50 = 11.2 + 3.41 x t start t I AEROBIC 50 + 5.13 + 3.75 x t finish II ANAEROBIC THRESHOLD III MVO2 IV GLYCOLYTIC V ALACTATE SPRINT VI EXPLOSIVE POWER EXERCISE TRAINING SESSIONS DISTANCES These are suggested distances that could be used in the planning of individual training sets that target specific energy systems. The distances are approximate only and will depend on several factors including current fitness level and immediate training COMPOSITION OF WORKLOADS IN 4 DAY MICROCYCLES background, event specialisation, and the phase of Days of M.C. 1st 2nd 3rd 4th RECOVERING MICROCYCLE training. 1st Session II II + IV III I + V Category Distance Mid-Dist Sprint 2nd Session I + VI I I Rest A1 5000-6000 4000-5000 3000-4000 AEROBIC MICROCYCLE A2 4000-5000 3000-4000 2000-3000 1st Session V + I III + I IV + II I + V AT 3000-4000 2400-3200 1600-2400 2nd Session II – VI III – I II – VI Rest VO2 2000-3000 1600-2000 1200-1600 CREATINE PHOSPHATE (Sprint) LT 600-800 600-800 600-800 1st Session V + I IV + II III + II V + I LP 400-800 400-800 400-800 2nd Session II + VI I + VI III + 1 Rest SP 100-300 100-300 100-300 GLYCOLYTIC MICROCYCLE (All distances in metres.) 1st Session III II + IV IV + I I + V SWIMMER PROGRESS CHART 2nd Session II + VI II + VI III + VI Rest Name: Coach: Cycle: Competition: DAYS 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Competitive Training Meet: Start Current Target RECOVERY M.C. Model Model st I + I + IV + I + Date Date 1 Session II III Rest V VI I VI Volume nd Result 2 I + I + (km) II II III II Rest Session VI VI Splits A1 AEROBIC M.C. Stroke Rate A2 st II + III + IV + III + IV + Stroke 1 Session I + V Rest AT V I I I I Length nd 2 II + III + II + III + I + Stroke II Rest MVO2 Session VI I VI I VI Count GLYCOLYTIC M.C. Turns LT st IV + IV + III + IV + V + 1 Session III Rest Start LP I I I I I Finish SP nd 2 I + II + I + I + Efficiency II II Rest Other Session VI V IV VI Index

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P

T

R Swim Like a Fish By Terry Laughlin (Reproduced from Swimming Technique, S October-December 2000)

P – MOTOR POTENTIAL Terry Laughlin is the founder and Head Coach of Total T – ABILITY OF USING MOTOR POTENTIAL Immersion Swimming. For more details on how to “swim R – TRAINING STIMULUS like a fish”, check out TI’s Web Site at S - SKILLS www.totalimmersion.net. The greatest effect of training on the growth of In 1978, I began coaching at a pool in Midlothian, physical qualities can be expected during the period Va., with a large underwater window. The first time I of the most intensive growth of these qualities. climbed down to watch my swimmers – like The timing of this sensitive period of development watching fish in an aquarium – I gained better insight of certain physical qualities or functional systems is into fast swimming in five minutes than I had gained determined by the attainment of certain levels of in five years of coaching on deck. Streamlined biological maturity. Therefore, it is necessary to plan swimmers travelled much farther and faster after the direction and level of training impact around the pushoff. As soon as they began stroking, they moved level of biological maturity. much slower. Those who were poorly streamlined SOCIAL ASPECTS looked as if they had literally run into a wall. The long-term plan must be based on Comparing those vivid impressions with what I consideration for the social, family, educational and saw when watching fish glide effortlessly by relaxation requirements of the individual swimmer. aquarium windows, I saw for the first time that the Success is dependent on optimum training on all true secret to effective coaching was not in how hard aspects… I made their workouts, but in how rigorously I made VOLUME; INTENSITY; TECHNIQUE; them work at being “fishlike”. RECOVERY Ten years later, I created Total Immersion and … but with due regard to developing the life of the started conducting workshops, using “fishlike athlete outside the pool as a well rounded personality swimming” as our theme. with a future after competition. Earlier this year, Ron Johnson, in his article on SUPPORT SYSTEMS in education, therapy, “The New Australian Crawl” (Swimming World, nutrition, medicine with TOTAL INVOLVEMENT January), dismissed references to fishlike swimming by the coach in the process is imperative in the as an “impossible and misleading goal”. He wrote, successful adult swimmer. “Many of our experts have advised us to swim ‘like AIS Swimmer’s Individual Performance Analysis fish’. A more useful model would be to swim like the Matt Dunn 200m Medley fastest humans. The plain truth is that, Matt Dunn 200m Freestyle v. World Record physiologically, we don’t resemble fish. We are not Aleksandre Popov 100m Freestyle v. World Record built like fish, and we cannot emulate the movements Aleksandre Popov 50m Freestyle v. World Record of fish.” Lars Frolander 100m Butterfly In actuality, the described fishlike technique, in all Lars Frolander 100m Freestyle important respects, is exactly the style we have been Geoff Huegill 100m Butterfly teaching in our workshops for over 10 years. In fact, Michael Klim 100m Butterfly a portion of the inspiration for teaching in this Michael Klim 200m Freestyle manner came from Coach Gennadi Touretski, the Michael Klim 100m Freestyle

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man probably most responsible for popularising this see effort and are glad to tolerate ragged movement technique in Australia. as the price of “getting through” a tough set or In the July 14, 1996 edition of The New York workout. Times, Touretski was quoted, “Why can the dolphin With over 10 years of intensive teaching, I have swim at 80 kilometres per hour? That should take the found that swimmers progress far faster when they power of a small jet, but it has no power. Dolphins do learn to swim with grace, flow, economy, relaxation not create resistance and they use elasticity to and ease before focusing on speed or effort. When generate speed. And so my way is to try to flow becomes a habit – speed should follow. understand dolphins better.” Over the past few years, many coaches of all Emmett Hines, a coach for Total Immersion, levels who are persuaded by the logic of this noted that “swim like a fish” is not to be taken approach have decided to shift their coaching literally. Instead, kit connotes “something different paradigm from one that is training-oriented to one than swimming like most humans do”. that is more teaching-oriented. The quality of a One of the reasons that Total Immersion uses the swimmer’s technique determines how much and how “fishlike swimming” phrase to summarise its hard he or she trains. As the swimmer’s skill level approach is because great swimmers – both dolphins and fluency increase, so can the volume and intensity and Olympic medallists – share one striking of training. In every instance, these coaches report characteristic … the ability to move with grace, flow that their teams have progressed dramatically. and economy at all swimming speeds. Any swimmer can become more “fishlike” by If you wish fish in an aquarium, then watch trying the following… humans from an underwater window as I did, you see Practice flow – not force obvious differences in movement quality. When learning a new stroke or skill, rather than • Fish leave barely a ripple no matter how fast they struggling to do something you are not ready to do swim. Humans churn up the water crazily. well, practice the simplest part of it instead of trying • Fish give no impression of “trying” – they just go! to do the whole skill right away. Start with simple Humans have to try quite hard for even the tiniest “mini-skills” that lead progressively and naturally to increase in speed. more difficult ones. • And some fish can swim as fast as 50 mph, while the Practice economy fastest any human has ever swum is about 5 mph! Doing something new or difficult usually involves Comparing elite human swimmers with the rest of a degree of strain. Difficulty tends to make you try us, you see similar contracts. If you watch warm-ups too hard. When you feel this happening, try again at the typical Age Group meet, you will see much more slowly and with greater awareness of when you more ragged than smooth movement. Watch the are straining. With repeated practice, you can Olympics, and the signature flow pattern you’ll see progress with greater economy. And be patient both during warm-up and in races is smooth and enough to continue working on “mini-skills” until economical. Fluency is the signature difference you achieve true mastery. between average swimmers and great ones. Great Swim slowly swimmers are far more “fishlike”. Perhaps the simplest and truest guide to follow This is not a unique insight. Great athletes are would be … “You have to learn to swim well slowly always smoother than lesser ones. Michael Jordan before you can swim well fast”. Racing the clock or and Wayne Gretzky always managed to look as if other swimmers will only cause you to thrash and they were playing at half-speed even as they ran and splash and practice inefficiency. At times, swim skated circles around everyone else. much slower – on purpose – than you think you are But the critical thing that distinguishes swimming capable of. Swimming slowly is the easiest way to from all other sports is that swimming happens in begin developing habits of ease, efficiency and water. Water penalises any movement that is rushed economy. or rough and rewards any movement that is smooth, Swim gently and silently unhurried and fluid. When teaching workshops, I focus as much on the Considering this, it is only logical that swimmers qualities of fluent swimming as I do on the ought to make it a habit to practice movements that mechanics. And the qualities emphasised most often are smooth, unhurried and fluent. And they should are ease and silence. Think of noise – sound energy – avoid practicing movements that are rushed or rough. as audible evidence of wasted energy in your However, because the work ethic is so ingrained swimming. Do any drill or stroke as quietly as you in swimming, most coaches are happiest when their can and you will soon find yourself doing it far more swimmers are visibly “giving their all”. They want to efficiently and easily.

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– even in the process of intensive training. While devoted coaches and sport scientists desperately search for new effective methods of development of the aerobic endurance, cheats are looking for new (ARTIFICIAL BLOOD) performance-enhancing drugs. It is very well clear that introduction of BS may create a “revolution” in sport records and turn endurance sports upside down. New Dangerous Challenge for Despite the danger that such drugs as oxyglobin Competitive Sport increase blood pressure and when used many times can potentially stop the production of natural By Andrei Vorontsov, Ph.D., haemoglobin and red blood cells, this compound may GB Swimming Sport Science/Coach become a “drug of choice” in endurance sports. The oxyglobin is just one representative of the Common morals and images of the top new class of pharmacological agents called Blood international sport, already eroded in times of Cold Substitutes (BS) or artificial blood. Many more are War, are now even more severely damaged by coming onto the market. International spot numerous drug scandals with nandrolone (and other community should be aware of the dander and be steroids), “auto-haemo-transfusion”, EPO, etc. We all prepared and well armed to fight misuse of those were waiting passionately for a long time when real magic drugs, created for the sake of that millions of recognition and financial support will come to help human beings who, due to accidents, become the and give impetus to “amateur” sports. Money came at patients of emergency medicine every year. last and changed the face of the sport forever. It is not WHAT ARE BLOOD SUBSTITUTES? a secret that a pretty big group of sport professionals HOW DO THEY WORK? made a sense and purpose of existence – not the Blood Substitutes [“Artificial Blood”] are life- fighting for a Glory and Olympic Ideals – but for saving products, which actually reproduce only one very lucrative financial rewards. These slicks are physiological function of real blood – O and CO watching very attentively after the achievements of 2 2 transport function. They may be used in “field modern medicine and pharmacology. They try to environments” on scenes of road or industrial anticipate the appearance of new compounds and accidents and on battlefields, as well as in hospitals methods, which will be able to provide the winning in the cases of extensive blood losses. edge FOR SURE and will be “invisible” to detection. Millions of litres of donors’ blood are transfused These smart guys are always on the top, in the right to individuals each year during surgery and place in the right moment. This is a situation when emergency procedure, but the blood supply has not any short putter may be a better swimming coach, been able to keep up with demand. While donated than any of those highly skilled, experienced, who blood carries dangers such as disease and type- spent all their lives in swimming and still believe in specific antibodies, artificial blood does not. Donated the spirit of fair play. blood must be typed and tested prior to use, requires Recently, information appeared in mass media refrigeration for storage, and has a limited shelf life. that a blood substitute, called Oxyglobin, which is Depending on how long it has been stored, donated used by veterinary doctors, might be the successor to blood can take several hours after infusion to reach erythropoietin (EPO) as a performance-enhancing normal oxygen-carrying capacity. drug. This blood substitute is enhancing the blood’s Recently, donor screening and blood testing oxygen-carrying capacity without increasing the procedures have improved in response to concerns hematocrit or red cell count. about the transmission of immunodeficiency (HIV) In endurance sports, the capacity and power of the and Hepatitis viruses. However, residual risks oxygen transport system is the main determining remain. Whole blood also expires quickly (with a factor in respect to sport achievements. Endurance shelf life of six weeks at most). It is for these reasons training uses methods aimed to enhance… that artificial blood (BSs) becomes an issue of great 1. Ability of cardiovascular system to pump maximal importance to the emergency service and other volume of blood per time unit through lungs and muscles. branches of medicine. 2. Respiratory system – to ventilate lungs. Several projects, in order to discover an effective 3. Blood – to transport oxygen from lungs to muscle replacement for human blood in emergency fibres and carbon dioxide from muscle fibres to situations, are conducted in countries like USA, lungs. Russia, UK, Germany and Italy. The compounds to Adaptation changes of such integral criterion of be used as BSs should meet such criteria as ability to aerobic abilities as maximal oxygen intake [VO2max] carry adequate amounts of oxygen from the lungs to are determined genetically by 80-85%. VO2max the body and carbon dioxide from the body to the demonstrates very little improvement in adult athletes

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lungs, and be stable enough to last long enough for One of the most promising PFCs is called the body to replace the blood lost. Oxygent (perflubron emulsion). Oxygent is intended There are two very distinct approaches to the to reduce the need for donor blood transfusions development of oxygen carriers… during surgery and other periods of acute oxygen 1. One that uses Haemoglobin-based (Hb-based) deficit. Unlike donor blood, Oxygent is compatible compounds (derivatives of chemically or with all blood types, is sterilised and has a shelf life genetically alternated haemoglobin), such as of about two years. It was efficiently used in clinical oxyglobin … and… studies for therapeutic support of patients undergoing 2. One that uses Perfluorochemicals or both cardiac and non-cardiac surgical procedures. Perfluorocarbones (PFC) such as Oxygent and Oxygent does not contain any human or animal Fluosol blood components. Oxygent is a stable emulsion that These approaches differ significantly in many is used directly from the bottle and does not require respects, including the mechanisms by which Hb- frozen storage. based and PFC molecules carry and deliver gases, Oxygent is not a one-to-one replacement for potential safety and efficacy, and the raw materials blood. As its creators claim, it is – gram-for-gram – and processes used to manufacture the products. three times more efficient, releases oxygen more The example of Hb-based BS is an artificial easily (than red blood cells), and increases oxygen- blood product called Oxyglobin, which is already carrying capacity and efficiency of existing red blood accepted for use in veterinary hospitals in the US. cells. Oxyglobin is created when haemoglobin molecules The most fundamental difference between the are treated with special chemical that binds the mechanisms by which haemoglobin [Hb] and PFCs haemoglobin molecules together. This provides a transport and deliver oxygen is that Hb chemically stabilising effect for the molecule and prevents its binds O2, while PFCs physically dissolve O2. Each decomposition into a toxic form (this preventive Hb molecule has a fixed capacity to carry a function is normally accomplished by the membrane maximum of four O2 molecules. Oxygen-carrying of the red blood cell). capacity of PFCs surpasses that of Hb by 2-3 times. O2 loading and unloading is approximately twice as The molecules of Oxyglobin are much smaller than rapid with PFC as with Hb. While only about 20-30% the red blood cells of human blood have and thus are of the O2 carried by Hb is actually extracted more efficient when delivering oxygen into capillaries. (delivered) to the tissues and consumed, extraction of dissolved O2 from PFCs is generally greater than Genetically constructed polymerised haemoglobin 90%. exhibits a five-fold increase in oxygen affinity. Thus I think that all arguments mentioned above show Oxyglobin and some other Hb-based BS have higher what potentially powerful drugs are BSs in relation to oxygen-carrying capacity than natural haemoglobin. enhancement of blood’s oxygen-carrying capacity. If Despite the fact that only a half of Oxyglobin cheats found approaches to many prescribed molecules last in the blood stream more than 12 medicines (steroids, human-growth hormones, EPO, hours, compared to the 40-60 day range of a human etc.), they will find the way to BSs too. In Track & red blood cell (RBC), it may be more than enough to Field so-called “invitational money” paid to stars just enhance competitive results. Still more clinical trials for a single appearance may be $US50-60,000. “Drug have to be done before Oxyglobin will be allowed for cycle” from “steroid-guru” or other kind of “gurus” use in humans, but this can hardly stop the cheats. may cost just from 5-15,000 a year. The annual profit While certain Hb-based BS may be toxic for liver surpasses expenses by many times. We know that the and kidneys … they also may cause a constriction of situation with drugs in our lovely sport also is far blood vessels and thus reduce O2 delivery to tissues from ideal. So, when I see that the athlete finishes the … Oxyglobin does not. race, breaking the World Record and Personal Best Some scientists insist that the use of PFC as blood by several seconds, without even minor traces of substitute has many advantages over Hb-based BS. fatigue and pain on his/her face, without short wind PFC compounds may absorb more oxygen than even … I start to doubt. Is it winning euphoria that makes haemoglobin. The PFCs form an emulsion that acts him/her so tireless? Or maybe something else? as a sponge, soaking up the oxygen and releasing it My dear colleagues, I wish to be wrong, so I beg easily at its designation. your pardon for my dark thoughts. What relates to BS Research groups claim that… detection? It looks like Hb-based compounds will be Though PFCs are 40 times smaller than RBCs, they easier to detect (maybe total blood haemoglobin can carry twice as much oxygen twice as quickly due test?). PFC detection may be more difficult and to absorption of the O2 versus the actual bonding demand longer time to create appropriate methods. completed by the iron in the haemoglobin molecule. Therefore, we should recognise the problem and start preparing ourselves to the new challenge in advance.

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are determined by such factors as anthropomorphic CRITICAL SPEED & CRITICAL STROKE variables, muscular strength, physical conditioning, RATE and swimming economy. It has been acknowledged Could be useful Physiological & Technical Criteria for that biomechanical skill in swimming is of far greater Coaches to Monitor Endurance Performance in importance for metabolic economy than in running Competitive Swimmers and cycling and that elite swimmers adopt very P.Pelayo, J.Dekerle, B.Delaporte, N.Gosse, M.Sidney different combinations of stroke parameters Laboratoire d’Etudes de la Motricite Humaine compared to their less proficient counterparts. Faculté des Sciences du Sport Several studies showed that efficiency during Universite de Lille 2, France constant work depends on frequency in many cyclic (Reproduced from ISBS Swimming 2000 Web Site) sports as well as in swimming (Swaine and Reilly 1983; Weiss et al 1988; Pelayo et al 1996 and 1998). The purposes of this study were to determine Thus, the swimmer has to know whether his whether the concepts of critical swimming speed spontaneously chosen SR corresponds to the minimal (CSS) and critical stroke rate (CSR) could be reliable energy cost and he needs to be advised by coaches in and used by coaches in order to control and monitor the different combinations of stroke rate and stroke endurance performance in competitive swimmers. length to make the most effective choices in order to The results of this study conducted with well-trained develop endurance capacity. The relationships swimmers showed that CSS could be determined between velocity and stroke rate have been illustrated easily from two common distances and more previously as a stroke rate-velocity curves (Craig et accurately from 200 and 400m tests after a correction al 1985). Keskinen and Komi (1993) found a strong of minus 1.4%. Moreover, CSS was well correlated positive correlation (r=0.86) between V and SR. with swimming velocity corresponding to 4 mmol.l-1 Thus, besides the concept of critical velocity, it was of blood lactate concentration and could avoid using hypothesised that a theoretical stroke rate would exist lactate testing. Furthermore, the concept of a critical which could be maintained without exhaustion for a stroke rate defined as ‘the stroke rate value, which long period of time. can be theoretically maintained continuously Stroke rate, which could be reported from indefinitely without exhaustion’ and expressed, as the competitive events or maximal tests, could be plotted slope of the regression line between the number of as a function of race times. The velocity-time stroke cycles and time seemed to be reliable. relationship (V=a/t+b) could be extended to a stroke Coaches, in order to set not only aerobic training rate-time relationship as follows: SR=a/t+b. The loads but also to control swimming technique, could critical stroke rate (CSR) is the stroke rate at which easily use CSS and CSR. one swims indefinitely, and thus SR will approach b. INTRODUCTION Since SR=n/t, integration yields to n=b.t+a, in which Currently, coaches employ critical swimming ‘n’ denotes the number of stroke cycle realised. speed (CSS) as a method for determining the training Accordingly, CSR equals b … i.e. the slope of the intensity to improve and monitor the aerobic capacity regression line between the number of stroke cycles of swimmers. CSS was defined by Wakayoshi et al and time. (1992) as the theoretical maximal swimming speed Hence, the purposes of this study were twofold… that could be maintained without exhaustion for a 1. To investigate the accuracy of the different long period of time. It can be assessed by the slope of methodologies using swimming performances and the regression line determined between the test used by coaches in order to determine CSS. distance and the time needed to cover it at maximum 2. To evaluate the existence of a critical stroke rate and its reliability. intensity. CSS has been shown to be well correlated METHOD with the swimming velocity corresponding to the First Part: Ten well-trained competitive onset of blood lactate accumulation (VOBLA) and swimmers (eight males and two females; aged the maximal lactate steady state (Wakayoshi et al 18.6±1.9 years) volunteered for this study. Mean 1992a and 1993). Very often and unfortunately, height, body mass and arm span were 1.78±0.11m, coaches have not enough time to use lactate testing or 63±9kg, and 1.83±0.12, respectively. During a 10- to assess a large number of performances in a short day period, the best average velocity (V50, V100, period during the training program. Thus, some V200, V400, and V2000) was recorded for each authors such as Maclaren and Coulson (1998) have swimmer on 50, 100, 200, 400, and 2000m front suggested using 100 and 200m tests in order to crawl tests. During each test, stroke rate (SR50, calculate CSS and monitor aerobic training. SR100, SR200, SR400, and SR2000) was measured Besides, coaches must also take into account the three times across the length of the pool using a very similar velocity values with different Seiko frequency-meter (base 3) and expressed in combinations of stroke length (SL) and stroke rate cycles per minute. All the swimmers also performed (SR) achieved by each swimmer. These differences

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a 30min test and V30min and SR30min were RESULTS & DISCUSSION measured. All the combinations of the distance tests First Part: The velocities measured in the 50, (from 50 up to the 2000m) were used in order to 100, 200, 400, 2000m tests are reported in Table 1 calculate the slope (CSS) of the regression between and V30min was 1.30±0.05m.s-1. time and distance. Furthermore, all the distance tests Table 1 Velocity Values reported in the Different Tests and CSS Values (from 50 up to the 2000m) were used in order to expressed in % of V Distance calculate the slope (CSR) of the regression line 50m 100m 200m 400m 2000m Tests between the number of stroke cycles and time. At the V(m.s-1) 1.73+0.09 1.63+0.09 1.50+0.08 1.42+0.09 1.32+0.05 CSS end of the 2000m and 30min tests, blood was 76.5 81.4 87.9 93.1 100.2 sampled from fingertips into capillary tubes for (% of V) lactate determination [La]s. Blood samples were [La]S values measured in the test of 30min and 2000m were 3.68±1.58 and 4.17±1.28mmol.l-1, analysed using Dr Lange’s photometric method. The -1 -1 respectively. Hence, V4 was 1.32±0.06m.s . The swimming velocity correspondent to 4 mmol.l of -1 blood lactate concentration (V4) was determined swimming velocity corresponding to 4 mmol.l of individually, by inter or extrapolation, based on the blood lactate concentration (V4) was not significantly regression line computed between the [La]s values different to V2000 and V30min, and with the values reported in 2000m and 30min tests (Fernandez and of CSS calculated from the slope of the regression Vilas-Boas 1998). between 200 and 400m and between 2000 and the Second Part: Nine well-trained competitive other distances. V4 was significantly correlated with swimmers (six males and three females; aged all values of CSS calculated from two distances 16.1±1.1 years) volunteered for this study. Mean except from 50 and 100m, and 100 and 200m [(50 height, body mass and arm span were 1.77±0.07m, and 200m; r=.63), (50 and 400m; r=.88), (100 and 64.1±4.6kg, and 1.81±0.8, respectively. During a 10- 400m; r=.88), (200 and 400m; r=.90)]. Moreover, all day period, the best average velocity (V200 and values of CSS calculated from 2000m and the other V400) and stroke rate (SR200 and SR400) were distances are also correlated with V4. Method recorded for each swimmer on a 200 and 400m front comparison analysis demonstrated that V4 is crawl tests. CSS and CSR were calculated from the overestimated by 8.3, 4.5, 3.0, and 1.4% when the pre-cited methodologies but CSS was decreased of combinations of 50 and 200m, 50 and 400m, 100 and 1.4% according to the results of the first part of the 400m, and 200 and 400m were used to calculate CSS, study. Then, the swimmers had to perform two tests. respectively. The first (TCSS) consisted to a 30min swim at CSS The mean stroke rate values measured in the 50, regulated by an aquatic row of lights connected to a 100, 200, 400, 2000m tests are reported in Table 2. speed programmer. Spontaneously stroke rate was The coefficient of the regression line between the measured throughout this test. In a second 30min number of stroke cycles and time for all subjects ranged from 0.99 up to 1.0. CSR calculated from 50 swim test (TCSR), the stroke rate set at the critical -1 stoke rate was imposed by means of a beeper fitted in up to the 2000m tests was 35.9±6,1 cycles.min and was not different with SR2000. the swim cap. In fact, an acoustic metronome was Table 2 placed under the swim cap and set at the imposed Mean (+SD) SR Values in each Event and CSR Values rate. This method has been previously used by expressed in % of SR Distance 50m 100m 200m 400m 2000m Chollet et al 1996. Spontaneously velocity was Tests SR measured each 50m throughout the test. In TCSS and 53.8+5.1 48.9+5.1 44.1+4.5 40.7+5.3 36.4+5.9 (cycles.min-1) TCSR, and capillary blood samples for lactate CSR 66.6 73.3 81.4 88.1 98.5 determination were taken at rest and three minutes (% of SR) post-exercise during passive recovery and analysed Second Part: The mean velocity values reported using Dr Lange’s photometric method. in the 200 and 400m tests were 1.33±0,10 and -1 Statistical Analysis: All data are reported as 1.42±0.10m.s , respectively. CSS calculated from means ± SD. The relationships between time and 200 and 400m and corrected by 1.4% was -1 distance, between the number of stroke cycles and 1.19±0,08m.s and corresponded to 85.5 and 91.1% time, and between V4 and different CSS were of V200 and V400, respectively. Mean stroke rate -1 examined using simple regression. A non-parametric values were 35.1±2.7 and 37.9±2.8 cycles.min procedure, the Wilcoxon test was used to test during the 200 and 400m tests. CSR calculated from -1 differences between the different CSS calculated these two tests was 32.6±2.7 cycles.min . The values in the first study, between CSR calculated and spontaneously chosen stroke rate measured during -1 measured values in the different 30min tests, and TCSS was 32.1±2.3 cycles.min and was not between blood lactate values. A 95% level of significantly different with CSR. In TCSR, the confidence was accepted for all comparisons. spontaneously adopted velocity by the swimmers was 1.19±0.07 and was not significantly different from CSS. [La]s values measured in TCSS was

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4.65±1.28mmol.l-1, and was not significantly 1985, clearly demonstrated the importance of stroke different to [La]s values measured in TCSR technique on the energy cost of swimming and its (3.73±0.96mmol.l-1). subsequent influence on aerobic performance. The results of the first part of this study CONCLUSION emphasised that critical swimming speed could be Therefore, CSS and CSR calculated from easily determined from the distance-time model. competitive events such as the 200 and 400m could Results from this investigation reported r2>0.990 for be used as relevant criteria to evaluate physiological all subjects in each combination of distance tests. and technical status and to monitor and give advice Although the relation between time and distance is concerning training. Indeed, coaches have to not strictly linear (Hill, 1995), the present results currently set training loads by defining both intensity indicate a good linearity and support previous and technical parameters. findings (Wakayoshi et al 1992b; MacLaren and References: Coulson 1998). The use of lactate testing to monitor • Chollet, D., Pelayo, P., Moretto, P. & Sidney, M. (1996). Energetic effects of controlled swimming speed and stroking frequency in less aerobic training has been well established and the skilled swimmers. In Troup et al. (Eds.), Biomechanics and Medicine -1 blood lactate concentration of 4 mmol.l could in Swimming : Swimming Science VII (pp.172-176). E. & F.N. represent an index of endurance performance and for Spon: Chapman & Hall. • Costill, D.L., Kovaleski, J., Porter, D., Kirwan, J., Fielding, R., & setting intensities. This study suggests that CSS could King D. (1985). Energy expenditure during front crawl swimming: be associated with lactate variables yet does not Predicting success in middle distance events. International Journal of require invasive procedures nor expansive Sports Medicine, 6, 266-270. equipment. However, the present results are not in • Craig, A.B., Jr., Skehan, P.L., Pawelczyk, J.A., & Boomer, W.L (1985). Velocity, stroke rate and distance per stroke during elite accordance with previous data of MacLaren and swimming competition. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, Coulson 1998, which have shown that CSS can be 17, 625-634. predict from 100 and 200m performances. Indeed, the • Fernandez, R. & Vilas-Boas, J.P. (1998). Critical velocity as a criterion for estimating aerobic training pace in juvenile swimmers. present findings strongly suggest that CSS should be In Keskinen, K.L., Komi, P.V, Hollander, A.P. (Eds.), Biomechanics calculated from performances ranging from 200 to and medicine in swimming VIII (pp.233-238). University of 2000m … i.e. from exhaustion times ranging from 2- Jyväskylä. 30min. Nevertheless, considering the different • Hill, A.V., Steward, R.P. & Lane, C.J. (1995). Application of the critical power concept to young swimmers. Paediatric exercise significant relations, CSS could be determined easily Science, 7, 281-293. and usefully by coaches from two common distances • Keskinen, K. L. & Komi, P. V. (1993). Stroking characteristics of and more accurately from 200 and 400m tests after a front crawl swimming during exercise. Journal of Applied Biomechanics, 9(3), 219-226. correction of minus 1.4%. • MacLaren, D.P.M. & Coulson, M. (1998). Abstracts of the VIII Critical Stroke Rate, defined as ‘the stroke rate International Symposium on Biomechanics and Medicine and value, which can be theoretically maintained Swimming, June 28 & July 2, 1998. Jyväskylä, pp.87-88. continuously without exhaustion’, is expressed as the • Pelayo, P., Sidney, M., Kherif, T., Chollet, D. & Tourny, C. (1996). Stroking characteristics in free style swimming and relationships slope of the regression line between the number of with anthropometric characteristics. Journal of Applied stroke cycles and time. Results from the first part of Biomechanics, 12, 197-206. the study clearly showed a good linearity according • Pelayo, P., Sidney M. & Weissland, T. (1998). Effects of variations 2 of spontaneously chosen rate during crank upper-body and to the r >0.99 for all subjects. Moreover, velocity and swimming exercise. Journal of Human Movement Studies, 33, 171- stroke rate values reported in the 2000-m test were 180. very closed and well correlated (r>0.94) with CSS • Swaine, I. & Reilly, T. (1983). The freely chosen swimming stroke and CSR, respectively. Results of the second part of rate in a maximal swim and on a biokinetic swim bench. Medicine and Science in Sport and Exercise, 5, 370-375. the study confirmed that CSR could be also a good • Toussaint, H.B., Wakayoshi K., Hollander, H.P., Ogita F. (1997). index in order to monitor aerobic training load Simulated front crawl swimming performance related to critical according to the similar blood lactate concentrations speed and critical power. Medicine and Science in Sports and when the subjects swam with a speed set at CSS or a Exercise, 24, 144-151. • Wakayoshi , K, Ikuta, K., Yoshida, T., Udo, M., Moritani, T., Mutoh, stroke rate set at CSR. In fact, set CSS or CSR lead Y. & Miyashita, M. (1992a). Determination and validity of critical the swimmer to swim at the same speed and the same velocity as an index of swimming performance in the competitive stroke rate, and vice versa. These results showed that swimmer. Eur. J. Appl. Physiol., 64, 153-157. • Wakayoshi , K, Yoshida, T., Udo, M., Kasai, T., Moritani, T., the stroke length was maintained at a constant level Mutoh, Y. & Miyashita, M. (1992b). A simple method for spontaneously throughout TCSS and TCSR. CSS and determining critical speed as swimming fatigue threshold competitive CSR could be useful criteria in order to control swimming. International Journal of Sports Medicine, 13, 367-371. technical and intensity training loads at the same • Wakayoshi , K, Yoshida, T., Udo, M., Harada, T., Moritani, T., Mutoh, Y. & Miyashita, M. (1993). Does critical swimming velocity time. Hence, the improvements could be, either to represent exercise intensity at maximal lactate steady state? maintain CSS with a lower SR or to maintain CSR European Journal of Applied physiology, 66, 90-95. with a higher swimming speed. The ability of the • Weiss, M., Reischle, K., Bouws, N., Simon, G. & Weicker H. (1988). Relationship of blood lactate accumulation to stroke rate and swimmer to improve his technique … i.e. his stroke distance per stroke in top female swimmers. In B.E. Ungerechts, K. length, particularly in aerobic training load will Wilke, & K. Reischle (Eds.), Swimming Science V. Human Kinetics probably determine success. Indeed, Costill et al (pp.295-303). Champaign, Illinois.

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EFFECTS OF VISUAL IMPAIRMENT males, 131 females) from 50 countries competing in 115 individual events. In an attempt to ensure fair ON COMPETITION SWIM and equitable competition, the International PERFORMANCE Paralympic Committee (IPC) Sports Assembly Laurie Malone, Virginia Commonwealth University, Executive Committee for Swimming uses a Richmond, Virginia, USA classification system to place athletes into different Daniel Daly, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Leuven, groups for competition. A unique classification Belgium procedure is used for swimmers with physical Robert Steadward, University of Alberta, Edmonton, disabilities, cognitive disabilities, and visual Alberta, Canada impairment. (Reproduced from ISBS Swimming 2000 Web Site) For those swimmers who are blind/visually impaired, competition for all events is divided into Several factors contribute to successful swim three classes based on visual acuity, visual field and performance, but how are they affected by impaired light perception. Classification criteria are based on vision? The purpose of this study was to examine the the requirements of the International Blind Sports relationship between degree of visual impairment and Association (IBSA), the international governing body performance variables during the 100m Freestyle and for athletes with visual impairment. Profiles of each Backstroke events in Paralympic swimmers and to class are outlined below (www.paralympic.org). Class B1 Swimmers who are totally blind – may possess light compare the performances with those of Olympic perception – but are unable to recognise hand swimmers. A competition video analysis conducted shapes at any distance … recently changed to Class at the 1996 Paralympic Games showed that S11. Class B2 Swimmers with visual acuity up to and including 2/60 performance tends to decrease in all aspects of the and/or a field of vision limited to less than 5 degrees race with increasing visual impairment. Continued …recently changed to Class S12. Class B3 Swimmers with visual acuity greater than 2/60 but competition race analyses and delivery of results to less than 6/60, or a field of vision ranging from 5 to the coaches will help in strengthening the 20 degrees … recently changed to Class S13. competition of Paralympic swimming. Coaching: All swim participants deserve the best INTRODUCTION coaching possible, including those with a disability. The highest level of competition for athletes with At the most basic level of swimming, proper a disability occurs at the Paralympic Games. The technique is a major factor in developing good habits Paralympics, not to be confused with the Special and preventing the occurrence of injury. As the level Olympics where the focus is on participation, is a of performance increases, so does the need for a competition of elite, world class, well-trained thorough understanding of the underlying athletes. The Paralympic Games, like the mechanisms for skilled performance. Sport science in corresponding Olympic Games, take place every two the area of biomechanics has attempted to address years, alternating between summer and winter sport these issues with regard to able-bodied swimmers, competition. The events are Olympic events (or however, swimming for persons with a disability has equivalents), with modifications of the rules where not been afforded the same attention, and only needed to account for the functional differences of recently has it become the focus of scientific the athletes. The first games for individuals with a research. disability held in the same venue as the Olympic Today, as disabled swimmers are being integrated Games occurred in Rome in 1960 where 400 athletes into able-bodied clubs, and as competition at the with spinal cord injury from 21 countries competed Paralympic level is increasing, the need for coaches (Steadward & Peterson 1997). Over the years, to understand the requirements for successful tremendous growth has occurred as witnessed at the performance by these athletes is more important than 1996 Atlanta Paralympic Games, where 3195 athletes ever. In the case of disabled swimming, not only from 103 countries competed in 19 sports. Various must the general requirements for each swim stroke disability groups including spinal cord injured, be understood, the functional aspects of different cerebral palsy, amputee, les autures, mental handicap impairment profiles (e.g. no arms; paralysed legs; and visual impairment were involved, oftentimes blindness) must be examined. The various achieving results comparable to those of Olympic combinations of swim stroke, classification, gender, athletes. and individual impairment profile leads to an Classification: Swimming is one of the most enormous task for the coach together with sport popular forms of physical activity for persons with a scientists in developing the proper competition model disability. At the Paralympic Games in Atlanta, the for a particular individual. swimming competition included 374 athletes (243

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Competition Swimming Analysis: Competition During competition, eight cameras directly linked swimming analysis has been conducted during the to two control panels recorded all swimmers in each Olympic Games since 1988. Such research involves heat. The video cameras were positioned in front of the video recording of athlete performances during the first row of spectator stands running the length of competition and the subsequent identification of key the pool, with six cameras operating into one recorder performance variables. Data obtained provides and two cameras (for stroke rate analysis) operating comparative information for the coach and athlete into another recorder. Cameras were placed such as the effectiveness of starts, turns, and finishes, perpendicular to the swimming direction at 7.5m, stroke rate changes throughout an event, stroke 10m, 15m, 25m, 40m and 42.5m from the start. The length calculations, and measures of clean swimming distances used for measurement of the various race speed at different points throughout the race. As components and stroking variables agree with those pointed out by Mason 1999, the results of a used by Arellano et al 1994, and suggested by competition video analysis can be used to identify Haljand 1997. Each recorder was operated from a where a swimmer’s weaknesses exist, to compare central control panel and videotaping was switched performance between swimmers, and to identify from camera to camera as the race progressed. Video general competition models for each event. timers were triggered by the starting gun and the Previous research related to swimmers with official timing system was used to determine time of disabilities had been limited to the examination of wall touch at each end of the pool. performances of those with physical impairment Before filming each day, the cameras were using only end race result (Daly & Vanlandewijck calibrated using pre-measured marks on the pool 1999; Wu & Williams 1999) or analysis of stroking deck. Using a special effects generator, a researcher parameters in one event (Pelayo et al 1999). One viewing a colour monitor matched a thin white line, group of swimmers that had not been the subject of a which had been added to the lens of each camera, competition analysis was those with visual with the markings on the deck. Each camera line impairment. This group of swimmers poses an represented a given distance from the start and interesting question as to the affect of impaired vision delineated a segment of the race for subsequent on performance of a motor skill. Several factors analysis. Following an event, frame-by-frame contribute to successful swim performance (i.e. clean viewing of the recorded race allowed the viewer to swim speed, stroking parameters, effectiveness of determine the time at which the swimmer’s headfirst starts and turns), but are they all affected the same by crossed the reference line in each camera view. impaired vision? It can be hypothesised that visual Data Reduction and Analysis: Following each impairment would have a greater affect on turning event, the data obtained from the video recordings ability than stroke rate for example. Hesitancy to hit was downloaded into a computer. For the purposes of the wall could decrease turning speed, whereas stroke this portion of the study the 100m Freestyle and rate should not be limited by loss of sight alone, but 100m Backstroke events were examined. End race by a combination of other factors (i.e. physiological result (ERR) for each swimmer was acquired from measures, training background). the official timing system. All events were analysed The purpose of this investigation, therefore, was in 25m segments and the following swim to examine the relationship between degree of visual performance variables were identified from the video impairment and swimming performance variables recordings: start time (ST), clean swimming speed during the 100m Freestyle and Backstroke events in (CSS), stroke rate, stroke length, turn time (TT), and male and female Paralympic swimmers and to finish time (FT). ST was measured as the time from compare the performances with those of Olympic the official start to the 10m mark; TT as the time to swimmers. swim 7.5m into the wall to 7.5m out from the wall; METHOD FT as the time to swim the final 7.5m of the race. To examine the performance of visually impaired CSS was calculated for four sections of the race (10- swimmers and to collect information for additional 25m, 25-42.5m, 57.5-75m, and 75-92.5m), and then investigation, a competition swimming analysis was combined to determine an average CSS for each lap. conducted with the approval of the International Stroke rate and stroke length were each measured at Paralympic Committee, Sports Assembly Executive the 25m and 75m marks. Stroke rate was calculated Committee for Swimming at the 1996 Atlanta as the average number of strokes completed in one Paralympic Games. Data was collected on all minute, calculated from the time to complete two full swimmers with visual impairment, as well as those stroke cycles. Stroke length, as a measure of distance with physical disabilities, during all events (Malone, covered with one complete stroke cycle, was Steadward & Smith 1997). calculated from the stroke rate and clean swimming

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speed for that length. Similar data was obtained for having the best times (B1>B2>B3>Oly). Conversion the top sixteen Olympic swimmers competing in the of ERRs to point scores, as an indicator of 1996 Olympic Games (IOC 1996). competitiveness within a class, showed that the B1 To compare the competitiveness between groups and B2 classes were less competitive than the B3 and ERR for each swimmer was converted to a point Olympic groups. score (Daly & Vanlandewijck 1999). The point Clean swim speed increased with an increase in system is based on a function in which the World class (B>B2>B3>Oly) during both laps. All groups Record (WR) for each event – gender, stroke, class had a slower CSS during the second lap. The B1 class and distance – receives 1000 points (Van Tilborgh, had a significantly slower stroke rate than Olympic Daly, Vervaecke & Persyn 1984). A constant (C swimmers for both laps. No significant difference in event) specific to each event can be calculated as stroke rate was seen between the B classes. B1 and follows: B2 had a significantly shorter stroke length than C event = WR( 3 )event* 1000 Olympic swimmers in the first and second lap. B1 When all the constants were determined, each and B2 had a significantly slower start speed than the individual time was assigned a point score specific to B3 and Olympic groups. For turn and finish speeds, the event: there was an increase in speed with an increase in For statistical analysis, ANOVA tests and class (B1-.85), and also the most RESULTS related for the Olympic swimmers (-.57). Finish 100m FREESTYLE speed was also significantly correlated to ERR for Men: The Olympic swimmers had significantly classes B1 and B3 (>-.85), whereas start speed was faster ERR times than the three B classes for B2 and Olympic swimmers (-.75 and -.51, (B1>B2=B3>Olym). The B1 swimmers were the respectively). slowest, with no significant difference between B2 100m BACKSTROKE and B3. Conversion of ERRs to point scores, as an Men: The Olympic group had significantly better indicator of competitiveness within a class, showed ERR times than all three B classes that the B1 class was least competitive and the (B1=B2=B3>Oly). Point scores indicated that the Olympic group the most competitive. Olympic group was the most competitive followed by The Olympic group had a significantly faster CSS B2, B3 and B1. than all three B classes during both laps The B classes had significantly slower CSSs and (B1-.82), as was turn speed for the significantly faster start, turn and finish speeds than Olympic group (-.87). the B classes, B1 swimmers being the slowest. There Women: All three B classes had significantly was no significant difference in turn or finish speed slower ERR times than the Olympic group. between B2 and B3. (B1=B2>B3>0ly). Point scores indicated that the B2 The correlation results showed that disregarding class was the least competitive and the Olympic CSS, turn speed was most related to ERR for classes group most competitive. B1 and B3 (-.81, -.92, respectively) … whereas, for During both laps, the Olympic swimmers had a class B2 swimmers it was both finish and turn speed significantly faster CSS than the B classes. In the (-.86, -.85), and for Olympic swimmers, start speed (- second lap, B3 was also significantly faster than B1 .75). Start speed was also strongly related to ERR for and B2. There were no significant differences in the B1 and B3 classes (>-.72). stroke rate between the groups during either lap. The Women: There was a significant difference in B classes had a significantly shorter stroke rate than ERR between all groups, with Olympic swimmers the Olympic group in lap 1, whereas B1 and B2 were

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significantly slower than B3 and Olympic in the B3 and B1 held the first four positions, respectively. second lap (B1=B2- class B1 lost more time in turning than the other .97) and the Olympic group (-.73). Equally important groups and did not finish well. In women this group for B3 were stroke rate and length during the first lap also lost time turning but finished better. (.99). Stroke rate during the first lap was also related In general, for men and women in both events, the to ERR for B2 (-.82). Finish speed was strongly stroking parameters tended not to be as highly related related for B2 swimmers (-.91), and was most to ERR as was the speed of starts, turns and finishes. important for B1 swimmers (.-78). With the exception of 100m Freestyle for men, the DISCUSSION groups showed a similar relationship between SL and Unequal n and variances between the groups and a CSS as has been seen in functional class swimmers low number of participants in some classes made it (those with physical disabilities). It should be difficult to detect statistical differences. What is remembered, however that there is a relatively small consistently evident is that performance decreases in range of ERR in the men’s 100m Freestyle. all aspects of the race with increasing visual In Backstroke all visually impaired classes turned impairment. This at least gives some credibility to the slower than the Olympic swimmers, with the B1 classification system used. swimmers tending to finish the race most slowly. The In men, nevertheless there was almost no correlations showed that turn speed was strongly difference in performance between classes B2 and B3 related to ERR for the men and women B classes in in either Backstroke or Freestyle. In fact the 100m both events, and more important in the Backstroke, as Freestyle WRs hardly differ between class B3 and B2 compared to the Freestyle, for Olympic swimmers. resulting in no difference in competitiveness. When Although the visually impaired swimmers receive a all male 100m Freestyle swimmers were ranked signal indicating that they are nearing the wall, and in without considering class, B2 swimmers held the 2nd the Backstroke the flags are lowered to 3.5 feet above and 3rd places. There was only 0.35s difference the surface of the water, hesitancy in order to avoid between the first two swimmers. The best B1 hitting the wall is difficult to overcome. Coaches swimmer was also faster than three B3 and three B2 should work with swimmers to take advantage of the participants. Of all 32 B-class swimmers, only three signal and then use their full capacity to turn and swam more than 10s slower than the absolute fastest push off without worry. Coming off the turns, the swimmers. In women the fastest B2 swimmer was visually impaired swimmers may also tend to swim 10s slower than the fastest B3 swimmers and the B1 relatively slowly because of the need to count their first place was 7s further behind. The very best strokes, to determine their position in the lane, and woman, however, would have placed 4th among all the difficulty in maintaining a straight swimming men. It could therefore be concluded that the depth of line. These problems may be especially apparent in ability of men is much greater than that of women in the backstroke because, unlike the Freestyle where all classes of 100m Freestyle, but that the very best athletes are able to use other information for women are relatively better than the very best men, guidance (e.g. the wide black lane line), the certainly in class B3. It is interesting to note that as swimmers have little reference regarding their many women as men took part in the 100m Freestyle, position. which was not the case for any of the classes in the Several other factors must be considered in events for physically disabled. reviewing the performances of these Paralympic Backstroke had only half as many male swimmers. From a purely theoretical viewpoint, lack participants as Freestyle; while for the women about of vision alone should not affect the mechanics of the the same number competed in each event. Actually, basic swim stroke. Stroking parameters and clean in both men and women, only two Backstroke swimming technique should be similar between competitors did not swim the 100m Freestyle. In Olympic and Paralympic swimmers, with the largest men’s Backstroke the distinction between classes is differences expected in performance of the turns. As much more vague than in Freestyle. Again, when all the results of this investigation did not clearly support swimmers were ranked regardless of class, B3, B2, this hypothesis, and degree of vision did always

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affect these performances in a predictable manner, help in narrowing the field and strengthening the the question becomes, what other factors might be competition of Paralympic swimming. involved? A few possibilities include skill level, access to proper training programs and coaches, and References: physiological characteristics. • Arellano R., Brown P., Cappaert J. & Nelson R.C. (1994). Analysis of 50, 100, and 200m Freestyle swimmers at the First the question must be asked as to whether 1992 Olympic Games. Journal of Applied Biomechanics, 19, access to effective training programs and top-level 189-200. coaches are equally available to Paralympic and • Daly D. & Vanlandewijck Y. (1999). Some criteria for Olympic swimmers? If not, are some of the evaluating swimming classification. Adapted Physical differences in performance a lack of proper training Activity Quarterly, 16(3), 271-289. • Haljand (1997). Methods of kinematic evaluation for regimes and skill development, rather than an affect competition techniques in swimming and conclusions for of visual impairment alone? As noted by Makris et al training. In K. Daniel, U. Hoffman & J. Klauck (Eds.), 1993, in a study of visual function and athletic Kölner Schwimmsporttage 1996: Symposiumsbericht, performance, hours training and years of participation (pp.54-61), Bockenem: Sport Fahnemann. were significantly associated with swimming • International Olympic Committee, Subcommission on Biomechanics and Physiology of Sport (1996). Competition performance. Unfortunately, many swim clubs are Analysis of Men’s Events (Women’s Events), Olympic Games. still unwilling to incorporate individuals with a visual Available from Dr. D.J. Smith, Faculty of Kinesiology, impairment into their programs. Swimmers with University of Calgary, Canada. visual impairment are often subject to less • International Paralympic Committee (1998). IPC: SAEC-SW competitive clubs and inexperienced coaches, and Swimming Classification Manual. International Paralympic Committee. therefore may not be achieving their highest • Makris V.I., Yee R.D., Langefeld C.D., Chappell A.S. & potential. Of course, the total number from which to Slemenda C.W. (1993). Visual loss and performance in blind select visually impaired swimmers for elite athletes. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, 25(2), competition is also smaller. These factors may be 265-269. contributing to the discrepancy between Olympic and • Malone, L. A., Steadward, R. D., & Smith, D. J. (1997). 1996 Atlanta Paralympic Swimming Research - Swimming Paralympic performances and reduced Performance Analysis (7 volumes): Volume I: 50m Freestyle, competitiveness within the visual impaired classes. Volume II: 100m Freestyle, Volume III: 200 & 400m Perhaps if more swimmers with visual impairment Freestyle, Volume IV: 50, 100 & 200m Breaststroke, Volume are given equal opportunity as those without visual V: 50 & 100m Butterfly, Volume VI: 50 & 100m Backstroke, Volume VII: 150 & 200m Individual Medley. Edmonton, AB: impairment the differences in performance will Rick Hansen Centre, University of Alberta. decrease or at least competitiveness within the groups • Mason, B. (1999). Where are races won (and lost)? In R. will increase. Sanders and J. Linsten (Eds.), Applied proceedings of the Finally, another factor to consider is looking at the XVII International Symposium on Biomechanics in Sports- performances of Paralympic swimmers is whether Swimming, pp.1-10. visual impairment of an individual is congenital or • Pelayo, (1999). Stroking parameters in top level swimmers with a disability. Medicine and Science in Sports and acquired. The question must be asked as to whether Exercise, 31(12), 1839-1843. swimming performance is affected by when and/or • Steadward R. & Peterson C. (1997). Paralympics: Where how vision was lost or impaired? Although this Heroes Come. Alberta, Canada: Northern Lights Wheelchair information was not available for this investigation, Basketball Society. future studies will look at performances within and • Van Tilborgh L., Daly D., Vervaecke H. & Persyn U. (1984). The evolution of some crawl performance determinant between classes taking into account the conditions factors in women competitive swimmers. In J. Borms, R. surrounding loss of sight. Hauspie, A. Sand, C. Suzzanne & M. Hebbelinck (Eds.), Human Growth and Development (pp.666-676). New York: CONCLUSION Plenum Press. • Wu S. K. & Williams T. (1999). Swimming, impairment and classification. Adapted Physical Activity Quarterly, 16(3), This investigation has provided a preliminary look 251-270. at the performances of Paralympic swimmers with visual impairment in the 100m Freestyle and Acknowledgements: International Paralympic Committee Backstroke events. Further study on all the strokes SAEC-Swimming; Dr. David J. Smith, University of and a larger number of swimmers is needed to fully Calgary, Canada; Alberta Paraplegic Foundation, Canada; understand the affect of visual impairment on Rick Hansen Centre, University of Alberta, Canada. swimming performance. Continued competition analysis and delivery of results to the coaches will

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Table 1: Correlation of Performance Variables with ERR Men 100m Freestyle Women 100m Freestyle B1 B2 B3 Olympic B1 B2 B3 Olympic Start Speed -.74 * -.69 * -.72 * -.75 * -.38 -.75 * -.83 * -.51 * Turn Speed -.81 * -.85 * -.92 * -.67 * -.87 * -.87 * -1.0 * -.57 * Finish Speed -.47 -.86 * -.37 -.60 * -.78 * -.49 -.94 * -.06 Stroke Length Lap 1 -.15 -.23 -.51 -.51 * -.58 -.31 -.43 -.22 Stroke Length Lap 2 -.10 -.37 -.50 -.29 -.43 -.37 -.77 -.15 Stroke Rate Lap 1 -.32 -.12 -.40 -.30 -.17 -.40 -.14 -.36 Stroke Rate Lap 2 -.30 -.48 -.42 -.20 -.31 .09 .29 .02 Men 100m Backstroke Women 100m Backstroke Start Speed -.89 * -.82 -.94 * -.25 -.46 -.80 * -.80 -.61 * Turn Speed -.90 * -.90 * -.83 * -.87 * -.68 * -.97 * -1.0 * -.73 * Finish Speed -.88 * -.87 * -1.0 * -.48 -.78 * -.91 * .80 -.56 * Stroke Length Lap 1 -.37 -.70 -.20 .35 .02 -.82 * -1.0 * .57 * Stroke Length Lap 2 -.71 -.60 -.43 .46 .12 -.64 -.40 .33 Stroke Rate Lap 1 -.32 .20 -.77 -.44 -.27 .02 1.0 * -.65 * Stroke Rate Lap 2 -.03 -.20 -.32 -.62 * -.27 .28 .80 -.45 * p<.05

Table 2: Means and SD for Race Segment Speeds and Stroking Variables in the Olympic and Visually Impaired Paralympic 100m Backstroke B1 B2 B3 Olympic MEN (n) 6 5 6 16 End Race Result (s) 77.93 (5.8) 72.72 (4.1) 72.48 (5.5) 55.79 (.77) abc World Record (s) 69.23 67.27 64.80 53.60 Point Score* 721 (162) 804 (137) 737 (175) 888 (37) a Start Speed (m/s) 1.69 (.18) 1.71 (.08) 1.77 (.15) 2.18 (.08) abc CCS (m/s) – Lap 1 1.30 (.09) 1.38 (.07) 1.41 (.10) 1.77 (.05) abc Turn Speed (m/s) 1.31 (.13) 1.45 (.07) 1.45 (.16) 1.86 (.04) abc CSS (m/s) – Lap 2 1.22 (.09) 1.30 (.09) 1.30 (.10) 1.66 (.04) abc Finish Speed (m/s) 1.21 (.08) 1.33 (.09) 1.29 (.11) 1.69 (.04) abc Stroke Rate (str/min) Lap 1 39.23 (4.1) 38.68 (3.2) 40.88 (3.9) 48.30 (3.3) abc Lap 2 37.83 (1.7) 38.26 (3.0) 38.37 (4.0) 47.18 (3.3) abc Stroke Length Lap 1 1.94 (.26) 2.11 (.27) 2.02 (.11) 2.18 (.13) a Lap 2 1.91 (.15) 2.04 (.22) 2.00 (.15) 2.08 (.15) WOMEN (n) 9 8 4 16 End Race Result (s) 90.22 (3.3) 87.56 (7.2) 73.7 (3.3) ab 62.82 (.86) abc World Record (s) 82.39 69.76 69.28 60.16 Point Score* 767 (82) 525 (138) a 838 (117) b 880 (36) ab Start Speed (m/s) 1.41 (.06) 1.44 (.04) 1.84 (.19) ab 1.87 (.07) ab CCS (m/s) – Lap 1 1.15 (.04) 1.18 (.12) 1.24 (.16) 1.58 (.03) abc Turn Speed (m/s) 1.07 (.08) 1.21 (.10) a 1.30 (.19) a 1.65 (.04) abc CSS (m/s) – Lap 2 1.05 (.04) 1.08 (.09) 1.32 (.06) ab 1.50 (.02) abc Finish Speed (m/s) 1.06 (.06) 1.05 (.07) 1.52 (.24) ab 1.49 (.04) ab Stroke Rate (str/min) Lap 1 46.71 (8.2) 52.45 (3.4) 45.25 (4.0) 46.54 (2.8) Lap 2 44.08 (7.8) 39.79 (2.6) 43.40 (6.1) 44.63 (2.4) Stroke Length Lap 1 1.40 (.33) 1.60 (.15) 1.64 (.36) 2.01 (.11) abc Lap 2 1.44 (.23) 1.67 (.21) 2.21 (.16) ab 2.00 (.10) ab * A score of 1000 points = World Record Time a Significantly different from Class B1 (p<.05) b Significantly different from Class B2 (p<.05) c Significantly different from Class B3 (p<.05)ss

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Table 3: Means and SD for Race Segment Speeds and Stroking Variables in the Olympic and Visually Impaired Paralympic 100m Freestyle B1 B2 B3 Olympic MEN (n) 12 9 11 16 End Race Result (s) 68.44 (5.6) 61.20 (2.0) a 61.08 (1.8) a 49.73 (.56) abc World Record (s) 56.67 56.22 55.69 48.21 Point Score* 586 (118) 779 (75) a 762 (65) a 912 (31) abc Start Speed (m/s) 2.12 (.13) 2.22 (.08) 2.27 (.14) a 2.81 (.10) abc CCS (m/s) – Lap 1 1.50 (.11) 1.65 (.04) a 1.67 (.05) a 2.02 (.03) abc Turn Speed (m/s) 1.48 (.12) 1.70 (.07) a 1.68 (.08) a 2.09 (.03) abc CSS (m/s) – Lap 2 1.36 (.11) 1.51 (.06) a 1.50 (.05) a 1.87 (.02) abc Finish Speed (m/s) 1.36 (.15) 1.54 (.11) a 1.54 (.07) a 1.82 (.01) abc Stroke Rate (str/min) Lap 1 47.26 (7.2) 51.84 (3.2) 53.88 (5.8) a 50.23 (4.7) Lap 2 44.33 (5.3) 50.57 (3.2) a 49.96 (4.7) a 50.16 (4.3) a Stroke Length Lap 1 1.88 (.30) 1.87 (.13) 1.83 (.23) 2.39 (.24) abc Lap 2 1.83 (.27) 1.77 (.11) 1.80 (.20) 2.21 (.19) abc WOMEN (n) 11 10 6 16 End Race Result (s) 82.73 (4.4) 72.78 (3.1) a 64.56 (4.6) ab 55.76 (.60) abc World Record (s) 71.52 60.01 59.88 54.01 Point Score* 656 (95) 566 (69) 817 (161) ab 910 (30) ab Start Speed (m/s) 1.71 (.12) 1.80 (.09) 2.09 (.17) ab 2.19 (.06) ab CCS (m/s) – Lap 1 1.27 (.05) 1.41 (.08) a 1.59 (.10) ab 1.80 (.04) abc Turn Speed (m/s) 1.23 (.06) 1.40 (.09) a 1.60 (.12) ab 1.86 (.03) abc CSS (m/s) – Lap 2 1.10 (.06) 1.28 (.04) a 1.43 (.09) ab 1.67 (.02) abc Finish Speed (m/s) 1.12 (.08) 1.30 (.06) a 1.44 (.12) ab 1.66 (.06) abc Stroke Rate (str/min) Lap 1 45.82 (5.4) 51.19 (4.4) 52.70 (6.1) 52.33 (4.9) a Lap 2 43.71 (4.1) 48.37 (6.1) 48.28 (4.7) 50.31 (4.0) a Stroke Length Lap 1 1.61 (.23) 1.61 (.13) 1.80 (.26) 2.03 (.17) ab Lap 2 1.49 (.15) 1.59 (.18) 1.76 (.24) a 1.98 (.17) ab * A score of 1000 points = World Record Time a Significantly different from Class B1 (p<.05) b Significantly different from Class B2 (p<.05) c Significantly different from Class B3 (p<.05)ss

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“Swim Teaching” on the other hand is not considered to require the same level of “high tech” knowledge. Isn’t it only about teaching the basic movement patterns for swimming and competitive strokes?

In fact, to effectively teach basic movement patterns it is helpful to understand the basics of the SWIM TEACHERS bodies most complex system ... the nervous system. TRAINING THE BRAIN! This system involves the higher centres of the brain By Julie Zancanaro (the cortex); the lower centres of the brain (the mid brain and brain stem), and the nerves that carry THE RATIONALE impulses from the brain to and from the body (the It takes many things to be a good coach – one spinal cord and peripheral nervous system). common denominator is that good coaches are all A NEW PARADIGM FOR TEACHING good “muscle trainers” – whether they know it or SWIMMING not! Good swimming teachers are also many things – Not all swim coaches have a science degree or an and they are all good “brain trainers” (whether they in depth knowledge of biomechanics and physiology know it or not!) – but they should all have a basic grasp of the “Swim coaching” is primarily concerned with principles on which these systems operate. So it is improving technique, strength, endurance, fitness and with the good swimming teacher. An in depth speed. To achieve this it is necessary to train the understanding of neurology is not necessary – but a muscle groups involved to store and use energy general knowledge of how the system works to create efficiently … to lengthen well for range of movement new movement patterns is very important and will … to contract strongly to achieve power/force … and assist swim teachers to teach more effectively. to respond quickly to neural impulses. Much of this Most of us would classify swim teaching as more happens within the muscles themselves and so even of an art than a science and yet we cannot deny the entry-level coaches are educated in the principles of importance of the science and the value of using its biomechanics and muscle physiology. No matter how principles to assist us in our everyday teaching. The mundane it may be to learn about the basics of the diagram below proposes a follow on relationship energy systems (remember learning the difference between essential bodies of knowledge used in the between ATP and CTP or a fast twitch and slow teaching of swimming. twitch muscle fibre) – it is a great help to those who aspire to be a great coach!

PSYCHOLOGY Confidence/relaxation Motivation

PHYSIOLOGY NEUROLOGY Strength THE SCIENCE OF Tone/Equilibrium Endurance TEACHING SWIMMING Movement Patterns Speed Coordination & laterality

BIOMECHANICS Body Position Efficiency

pathways for swimming movement patterns are From a basis of confidence and relaxation developed and refined. Biomechanical principles (psychological state), a learner will adopt a come into play as forces acting on the body provide neurological state (monitored through body tone) feedback leading to the development of a more that allows for the development of stability, efficient stroke. A basic understanding of buoyancy and balance. From this stable base the physiological principles allows for the development

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of strength and endurance. Increased strength and THE ACQUISITION OF SWIMMING SKILL endurance will enhance confidence, relaxation and Unless a young child has a significant disability, it motivation, allowing for improvement in is born with all the necessary muscle function performance and the continuation of the cycle. required to learn to swim. The child’s muscles are Coaching trains the body to more efficiently ready and able to use and store energy … lengthen perform the skills and movement patterns that the and contract … and respond quickly enough to swim teacher has established. Unfortunately, coaches perform basic swim strokes. The muscles are ready often have to do some brain training as well – and able to carry out the instructions they are given – resetting pathways that have been incorrectly laid. what is missing is the brain’s ability to give the Coaches are constantly refining pathways, but laying muscles the correct instructions! It is not vital for the down a reasonable motor pathway is primarily the swim teacher to learn about training muscles – what job of the swimming teacher. the swim teacher needs to know is how to train the THE CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM (CNS) brain! The Central Nervous System (CNS) is made up of Some may argue that a newborn’s brain already the brain, spinal column and peripheral nerves. It is knows how to swim. If you place them face down in easier to understand if you think of it as the central water they move in a swimming action. This “reflex” control for the body – the administration office of swimming action is coming from information stored your swim school. The storage areas of the brain are in the “old brain” and cannot be used voluntarily by like filing cabinets. If the secretary has to keep going the infant. In fact, it will stop being used by the time to the same files all the time to retrieve information the infant is a few months old. At that stage the infant he will soon get faster at retrieving it because he will no longer relies heavily on reflexes in the old brain know where to look. He will also tend to file more but is attempting to establish voluntary movement efficiently each time he has to put it away, so the patterns. These movement patterns (or “maps”) are system becomes faster and more efficient with stored in the “new brain”. If the infant is placed frequent use. In swimming teaching this would be our unsupported in the water at this stage it will flounder “perfect practice”. as the new brain attempts to give the instructions it OLD BRAIN/NEW BRAIN cannot find. The brain itself is made up of two sides In a child of any age who is unable to swim there (hemispheres), and three distinct segments from is no recorded movement pattern (maps) for bottom to top. These segments are: brainstem swimming stored in the ‘motor’ (movement) areas in (bottom); midbrain and cerebellum (middle); cortex the new brain. A system is needed to transport (large area sitting on top). information from the outside world and other areas of The brainstem is the oldest area in evolutionary the body, so that a network or “map” of pathways can terms followed by the midbrain and cerebellum. They be laid down in the new brain detailing the are also the first to develop in the uterus and are instructions for voluntary swimming. functioning before birth. Often referred to as the “old PROCESSING OF INFORMATION brain” these areas still store movement patterns going A good network of pathways to, from, and within right back to our reptilian days. These very old the brain will be needed to transport and process this movement patterns are called “reflexes” and they are information. This transport and processing function not under our voluntary control. of the Central Nervous System is outlined below. The old brain also contains the control centres for Information from the outside world and from tone, equilibrium, coordination, postural and righting inside the body (e.g. sensations in the muscles and reactions. It sorts and integrates all information joints) are… entering and leaving the brain and so its level of • Collected via receptors in the sensory organs (e.g. function or dysfunction will have a huge impact on eyes, ears, skin) the child’s overall ability. Much of the infant’s first • Transported to the new brain via the peripheral year is spent refining the functions of the old brain so nerves, spinal column, and old brain that they can be carried out at an automatic In the old brain this information must be… (subconscious) level. • Interpreted The cortex (new brain) is very large and well • Integrated with other information developed in humans. All higher-level functions of • Modulated our thinking, moving and feeling are processed and In the new brain this information must be… stored in the new brain. The human brain is thought • Translated (understood) to have far more capacity than any of us will ever use or develop in our lifetimes.

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• Linked to other information via new pathways, • Brain and the skin … “tactile” information maps • Brain and the joints and soft tissue … • Stored “proprioception” – deep pressure, and When needed, this set of instructions for “kinaesthesia” – movement, information swimming movements is… • Brain and the canals of the middle ear … • Located “vestibular” – position information • Retrieved With so much going on, is it any surprise that the • Translated brain can take so long to get the instructions just • Modulated (regulated) in the old brain right? • Sent via the spinal cord and peripheral nerves to In order to understand how these systems relate the muscles and work together, it is valuable to have an The muscles will use these “instructions” to move understanding of some of the basics of CNS function. and will send information as to the success (or The CNS is made up of a number of sub-systems that otherwise) of the set of instructions back through the work closely together to gather information, process nerves and spinal cord to the brain. This information it, plan and execute a response. It is also governed by is called “feedback” and the brain will use it to make a number of general principles. Some of the systems any necessary adjustments to the stored information and principles closely involved in the acquisition of so that the next set of instructions sent to the muscle swimming skills are outlined below. will be even better. THE POSTURAL CONTROL SYSTEM Postural control happens at the brainstem level LEARNING IS A FUNCTION OF (old brain). It is essential that it happen at the STIMULUS AND RESPONSE subconscious level so that we can consciously be busy in the new brain planning our movements or solving problems. To perform complex tasks the INFORMATION AND FEEDBACK LOOPS For the whole system to work efficiently a number focus must be on the cognitive and perceptual of areas in the nervous system need to function well. components, both of which are located in the new 1. The storage areas in the brain need to store the brain. Human beings would be unable to engage in information well. purposeful activity if our attention was directed away 2. The brain needs to retrieve the information in from the task every time our postural or righting tact and interpret it properly. reactions were challenged. 3. The brain needs to regulate (control) the level This system is very relevant to teaching infants. of its response; Before the infant can gain good voluntary control of 4. The motor (movement) nerves need to carry movement it must learn good automatic the information in tact to the muscles. (subconscious) postural control in the old brain. If the 5. The muscles need to follow instructions and child is experiencing poor equilibrium and postural move. control (e.g. floundering in deep water) its brain will 6. Sensory organs and receptors need to receive be very busy working at the brainstem level. The information intact. cortex (new brain) will be unable to function on 7. Sensory nerves need to carry the “feedback” cognitive tasks (i.e. calling for help!). In order for the back to the brain. child to be able to use higher level thinking to work 8. The brain needs to “translate” or understand out a plan of action (e.g. calling for help; swimming that information coming in. to the wall), it must first have developed good 9. The brain needs to make any necessary automatic postural control and equilibrium in water adjustments to the movement patterns (buoyancy and floatation). (instructions) for swimming. The regulation of muscle tone is closely linked to 10. The brain must store these instructions emotional state, postural and righting reactions and effectively back in the movement (motor) area equilibrium. Observation of the tonal state of the of the brain. infant is an invaluable measure of these. If the infant This “looping” of information happens constantly is fearful, unbalanced, eliciting protective reactions it between the brain and the muscles carrying out the will display muscle tension and tend toward an swimming actions. At the same time similar loops are extended posture. In this state it will be consciously happening between the… active in the old brain and not in a state of readiness for learning. It will be unable to effectively function • Brain and the eyes … “visual” information in the new brain for higher-level thinking, acting and • Brain and the ears … “auditory” information learning.

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If the infant is relaxed, and in control, it will 3. Divergence – the process of sending information from display a normal level of muscle tone – relaxed, yet one source to many parts of the brain simultaneously. ready for action ... the posture will be slightly flexed. For example, fight or flight response or activating the Equilibrium, postural and righting reactions will all whole muscle to work rather than part. be happening automatically at a subconscious level in 4. Convergence – neurones converge so that for some specific neurons to fire they need input from a number the old brain. The consciousness will be free to sit in of stimuli. This prevents them from responding to the new brain where it can think, act and learn. every stimulus. THE LIMBIC SYSTEM Principles of Sensory Integration Memory Sensory Integration is the process by which the Olfactory (smell) CNS “filters, organises, and integrates masses of Visceral (gut) Emotional tone or drive sensory information” and is “critical to learning” The Limbic System is a very old, primitive part of (Ayres 1968). Sensory Integration is based on the the old brain. It evolved from the “smell” brain in following principles… other species. It is very involved in the storage and • There is interdependence between the systems of the CNS – the brain works as a whole. retrieval of memory. Rich memories often have a • Older portions develop and function earlier than more smell component (e.g. Grandma’s kitchen while recently evolved components. bread is baking. The smell of chlorine or salt air.) • “Newer” (in evolutionary terms) segments of the brain The Limbic System also regulates emotional tone rely on information from lower (older) structures to and drive and gut sensations (including hunger). function well. Teachers shouldn’t expect a good emotional state and • Function (dysfunction) in the old systems (including good memories if learners are hungry. We have all tactile and proprioceptive systems) will effect the experienced a hungry baby who is not in a good functioning of higher brain centres. emotional state! • The brainstem and thalamus process every piece of Even more importantly we must keep in mind the information entering or leaving the brain – they have a strong link between memory, emotional tone, and major impact on performance. drive (motivation). We have all experienced how • Good sensory integration is important to the important it is to associate the pool with fun, development of postural control, body scheme, bonding, nourishment, coordination, emotional laughter, relaxation, achievement and positive stability, language and perception. reinforcement. We have also experienced how a • Each child has an innate drive to mature. Children memory of a bad emotional experience at the pool usually self-select activities to support that maturation will be triggered in the infant when they are placed and express pleasure in experiencing the activity. back in that environment. They will re-experience the • The “art” of facilitating development is to find an emotion. This is the Limbic System hard at work and approach which is pleasurable and that “invites” the it is a powerful influence – be careful! child to engage in an activity. ADAPTATION versus HOMEOSTASIS • Eliciting responses rather then imposing activities or The brain likes to keep homeostasis (system tasks is considered to be more integrating. balance). It does not like big swings away from the No longer acceptable to separate norm. The smaller the change, the more likely that it MIND, BODY, & ENVIRONMENT will be integrated and become permanent … small for every mind state, there is a body reaction steps – big rewards. PLASTICITY REGULATION & CONTROL Plasticity refers to the brain’s ability to lay down The brain regulates sensory input through the new networks and pathways. The human nervous processes of… system has the capacity to learn incredible volumes 1. Suppression – screening some stimulus (filtering) so of new information by laying new pathways. It can that others receive more attention. Poor suppression even reorganise itself after injury (this capacity stays will result in difficulty concentrating because the brain for long period). If one area of the brain is not is constantly attending to unimportant stimuli. For functioning well another area can adapt to take on the example, the swimming teacher who was initially necessary functions. The brain is more “plastic” in annoyed by the parent and child class singing, but now early childhood, but the ability remains throughout doesn’t notice it! the life span. 2. Balance of Power – some parts of the brain increase activity … others inhibit. Some initiate movement … HEMISPHERE DOMINANCE others stop it. In a healthy brain both excitatory and In the late 60’s it became common to “split” the inhibitory areas function well. hemispheres (halves) of the brain in cases of severe epilepsy (some of the connections were cut – but not

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the whole connection). This was the beginning of the develop until after birth. It continues to develop study of hemisphere dominance and specialisation. throughout early childhood and the more complex In very general terms, left hemisphere functions function of peripheral vision is often still poor in late tend to be more developed in women (language, childhood. related subjects). The right hemisphere functions tend Young infants see best in shades of black and to be more developed in men (math, visual spatial white and are very attracted to the contours and subjects … e.g. engineering). The girls are talking shadows of the human face. In fact they are pre- about where the water goes … the boys have taken programmed to prefer their mother’s face! They like the top off the scum gutter to check out the pipe big eyes and wide smiles. Make sure you have black work. and white toys, bright reds and yellows (they see COMMUNICATION BETWEEN these next) and distinct simple shapes against plain HEMISPHERES backgrounds. Younger infants will be attracted to The corpus collossum is generally highly these and they will assist in the development of visual developed in women and less so in men. It is the perception. connection between the two halves of the brain and THE AUDITORY SYSTEM all information between the hemispheres must pass One of the newer (evolutionary) sensory systems. through it. It may explain why men are able to “sit” A separate pathway (feedback system) allows in one side of the brain focussing on one type of unwanted noise to be filtered out so that the rustling activity. Women tend to be able to engage in a paper, shuffling feet, etc., are not heard and only the number of different activities at the one time as they teacher’s voice is heard. This is called “auditory are better equipped to commute between the two figure ground perception”, and it may be faulty even sides of the brain. (The girls want to chat and kick. if hearing is otherwise perfect. The boys want to kick then chat!) NEURONAL ACTIVATION SYSTEM MAPPING Neurons are found at the end of nerves and form The CNS need maps laid out to quickly and the junctions between links in the pathways of the efficiently process information. CNS. Electrical impulses travelling along these • Sensory maps – of internal and external world. pathways cause the neuron to spark or “fire”, passing • Motor maps – for movement from one place to another. on the impulse (information) to the next link in the The “Vestibular System” gives information about chain. The amount of electrical energy it takes to the individual’s “location” in the overall spatial maps make a neuron “fire” is referred to as the “activation (where the body is in space). threshold”. Some learners may have higher or lower THE MOTOR SYSTEM activation thresholds than others. Motor pathways travel from the brain to the Under normal conditions the CNS tends to muscles with instructions as to when and how to investigate stimuli that are not familiar. If learning move. Different pathways carry information for something new and difficult you have less capacity to different movements. tolerate (screen out) distractions. All energies are 1. Finely tuned movements of the hands focused on the task at hand. The brain is in a 2. Finely tuned movements of the face heightened “pay attention” mode, with activation 3. Finely tuned movements of the head thresholds set low. This makes it harder to “screen 4. Movements of the limbs out” unwanted stimulus. 5. Holding and shifting posture with and without gravity Young children are, by nature, easily distracted.

Most activities they engage in are new and exciting to THE SENSORY SYSTEM them and so their CNS spends much of its time These pathways travel from the sensory organs operating on low activation thresholds. On a noisy, (ears, eyes, nose, tongue, middle ear, skin, and disrupted day at the pool what are you going to focus receptors deep in joints and muscles). Again there are your lesson plan on? New challenges or old different pathways for different sensations… 1. Pain and temperature favourites? 2. Touch pressure, vibration, proprioception Neuronal Activation thresholds have been linked 3. Unconscious proprioception (e.g. automatic self to motivational levels and have also been linked to correction to allow you to pick up a glass without ADHD. knocking it over) • High activation thresholds are usually a result of THE VISUAL SYSTEM habituation (a well known stimulus). If a learner has One of the most advanced sensory systems – unusually high thresholds they will usually appear vision is our most prominent sensation. Designed to inattentive, unmotivated, “day-dreamy”. The brain will recognise contrasts, the visual system doesn’t fully try to achieve balance (homeostasis) by seeking out

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high levels of stimulation. The learner will then have the storage areas. The connections at the ends of bursts of highly distractible behaviour (linked to nerves and neurones (tiny nerves) are called nerve ADHD without hyperactivity). synapses. At synapses pieces of information in the • A learner with low activation thresholds will be very form of electrical impulses are passed on to the next sensitive to stimuli. They will tend to be highly section of nerve, to carry further along the path to its distractible and overactive. The CNS will attempt to destination. The neurons at these synapses get more achieve balance by avoiding stimulus (linked to ADHD). efficient with practice – they “fire faster” and so are Young children will tend to have difficulty able to carry more information in less time. The paths regulating activation thresholds. They can change to and from the brain are a bit like highways. They very quickly from high to low thresholds. The CNS is need to be used a lot to stay open and be well still learning effective control. Following are some maintained. If a particular highway gets a lot of use, handy tips to calm an overactive learner or “wake up” more lanes are opened and the traffic flows more an under active one! freely. THE EXCITABLE/OVERACTIVE LEARNER COUNTRY ROADS OR FREEWAYS? (Low Activation Thresholds) Which will the government spend its resources • Need predictable tasks and stimulus on? The freeway of course! You have a good map • Head in midline laid out, know the road well, travelled it a million • Up and down movements or rocking side to side times! Is it as important to look out for every little • Slow, predictable movements sign offered along the way? No! • Firm contact, lots of skin contact (hugging, patting, In brain terms the activation thresholds are set grasping) high for extra (unnecessary) information. The brain is • Less noise and decreased auditory discrimination filtering out the information it doesn’t need so that • Less colour to decrease visual discrimination the information it does need can get through and be • Busy background to decrease figure ground processed more quickly and efficiently. perception Travelling the unknown “Country Road”? This • Repetition … familiar rhythms, rhymes, humming, happens when a new or unfamiliar skill is performed. singing You’re still working out which map/route to follow. • Steady, constant pressure or activity, with routine Travelling on these you need to be alert for off-roads, sensory patterns (e.g. nappy change) speed signs, potholes. THE PASSIVE/HARD TO MOTIVATE The brain will set thresholds low for pressure- LEARNER touch-vestibular-kinaesthetic sensations so that it (High Activation Thresholds) knows where you are and how you should react. • Spinning (be careful not to over stimulate) We want our young learners to explore all the • Gentle tapping or tickling (small surface touch) country roads, to lay down as many maps as possible. • Sharp contrasts of colour against background However ultimately our aim is to also develop • Brightness freeways so that important skills (e.g. propulsion; • Changes in voice tone independent breath control; grabbing a wall and • Hot-cold changes • Splashing recovering) can be performed at an automatic level. • Head position change When it really counts do you want your learners • Speed change or direction change taking the freeway or the country road? ATTENTION ALL SWIM COACHES! • Unexpected, unpredictable activities Next time you’re frustrated because your swimmers won’t Infant programs should be structured to allow for kick fast enough or pull hard enough, remember that your activation thresholds. Parents of overactive children main task will be to can be given suggestions to engage in calming and TRAIN THE MUSCLES! focussing activities. Those with sleepy or inactive Most of the really hard work has been done for you by the great swimming teacher who had to children encouraged to use activities that stimulate TRAIN THE BRAIN! and excite. A good program will have a balance of Bibliography both, and will vary the level of stimulation • Hopkins H.L. & Smith H.D.: Willard and Spackman’s Occupational Therapy, Ed 8, Philadelphia, 1993, J.B. Lippincott Co. throughout the lesson. In general, it is good to start • Pratt P.N. & Allen A.S.: Occupational Therapy for Children, Ed 2, with more stimulating activities and end on a calmer Missouri, 1989, C.V. Mosby Co. note. • Dunn W.: Implementary Neuroscience Principles Support Habilitation & Recovery. In Christiansen C, and Baum C: PERFECT PRACTICE Occupational Therapy Enabling Functioning and Well Being, Ed 2, Practice will improve the speed and efficiency of New Jersey, 1997, SLACK Inc. storing and retrieving information. It will also speed up the process of information travelling to and from

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• Predictable tasks and sensations UNDERSTANDING ADHD • Head in midline, up and down or side to side By Julie Zancanaro movements, slow and steady • Firm hugging, patting, grasping – lots of skin ADD, ADHD, LD – what does it all mean? Why contact are so many of our children being labelled today? • Less noise, less variations in noise (decrease What can we do to help them? “auditory figure ground”) Children experiencing problems with schoolwork • Less colour, less variation in visual background and having poor attention and distractibility have (decrease “visual figure ground) been given many labels over the years. Attention • Repetition, familiar activities, routine sensory Deficit Hyperactive Disorder is the current term used patterns for children (and some adults) who often have… Passive/Hard to Motivate Learners need… • Difficulty paying attention • Difficulty controlling emotions • New activities, frequent change • Overactivity/restlessness • Spinning • Impulsivity (act then think!) • Changes in direction and speed • Disorganisation and clumsiness • Gentle tapping, tickling, small surface area for • Difficulty working toward rewards touch • Poor social skills • Sharp visual contrasts against a background, • Often associated learning difficulties bright colours • Frequent changes in voice tone and other sounds Five percent of children in the US and more than • Hot/cold changes 2% in Australia currently have ADHD. More • Splashing prevalent in boys, there are estimated to be six boys to each girl, many of whom will take the condition Many children with ADHD also have difficulty into adulthood. Don’t be surprised if your active 2- with coordination and postural control. Swimming is year-old fits the description – many of these great “therapy”. Before the child can gain good behaviours are quite normal in children under three! voluntary control of movement he must learn good There is still not complete agreement about the automatic (subconscious) postural control. Learning cause of ADHD, however one thing is for sure – it is to master independent buoyancy and movement in NOT the result of poor parenting! It is a biological the water helps the child to refine balance and condition, and new PET scans often show changes in coordination. As these skills improve they begin to brain activity in these children. There is a strong happen automatically at a subconscious level. The hereditary link and, unfortunately, there is a 50% child’s conscious attention can then focus on learning chance that the sibling of an ADHD child will also new skills. As children become stronger and better have ADHD. coordinated, they achieve more success. With success Often asked, “When does my child need comes a willingness to try even harder, and that treatment?” … Dr Christopher Green in his wisdom magic element we want in all our children – replies … “A problem is only a problem when it increased self-esteem! causes a problem!” When asked how to treat … “You These children need routine, clear must REACH them before you can TEACH them!” is communication, firmness and flexibility. It is always his practical response. best to “step back” rather than “wind up” difficult In order to “reach” some children they need behaviour. Remember to praise each small step along medication to assist in regulating chemical activity in the way. The smaller the change the more likely that the brain. Common medications (e.g. Ritalin, it will be become permanent. Small steps – big Catapres) allow a “window” through which they can rewards. learn. Deal with what is in front of you – take all There are also some practical tips we can use to children on face value. Remember that not all help children obtain an optimal learning state. children labelled with ADHD will be difficult to manage all the time, and that some of the most Excitable/Overactive Learners (easily distracted) difficult children may not be labelled at all! need…

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INFANT AQUATICS 0 to 4 months (Focus: Bonding) At birth the brain is like a computer with a A DEVELOPMENTAL APPROACH program loaded but no data entered. For the first By Julie Zancanaro months of life the baby is driven to getting as much information as possible into the still developing As swimming teachers we are in a privileged brain. Senses are on full alert to gather this position. We have the opportunity to take infants information. We aim to stimulate the senses and back to an environment they know and love. An ideal provide the necessary sensory input. The input is environment in which to enhance all aspects of their achieved through the kinaesthetic (movement), development. The younger the student, the greater auditory (sound), visual (sight), proprioceptive our responsibility. From our youngest little water (pressure), tactile (touch) and vestibular (position babies, through to elite competitors, our aim is to change) systems. help our students to reach their full potential. The nervous system is still being formed at a rapid To be truly effective as teachers of infant aquatics, rate with countless new connections being made. it is essential that we understand the processes of Most movements in the early weeks, and many in the early development, and empower ourselves with the following months, are influenced by involuntary, knowledge and skills to enhance it. primitive reflexes, originating in the “old brain”. Young children develop and change at an Gradually the “new brain” will develop control and incredible rate – in all areas … physically, socially these reflexes will be integrated into voluntary and intellectually. Change is faster, and more movement patterns. comprehensive than at any other stage of life. Whilst reflexive movement patterns will be Children are, of course, very individual, and will activated by the infant and by the actions of the carer develop new skills at slightly different ages. For this - it is essential that these be understood. Stimulation reason we look for skills to be acquired at a particular of these reflexes should be a consequence and not a “stage” in their development, and within a common goal. We need to heed a mother’s natural instinct to age range, rather than at a very specific age. Even support and handle her child gently (in a way in though some children will develop skills a little which many of the reflexes are less likely to be earlier or later than others, they all follow the same activated). general pattern, developing in a particular sequence This is a time for nurturing and bonding between of skills. Whilst all facets of the child are developing the child and its primary caregivers. Although babies simultaneously, at certain stages particular areas will at this stage will happily go to strangers it is play a more dominant role. important that we recognise the intimacy of the time In very young children, looking at these areas of spent in the water (the closeness, the skin on skin developmental focus has provided me with a contact). It is vital that we don’t interfere with this programming focus in my particular teaching process. This is a time when our goals can be environment. I use the following stages (and general achieved in the warmth and privacy of the family age guides) as a guide for grouping, goal setting and bath. The swimming teacher is a resource – offering activity design. information, encouragement and guidance. Parents should begin with a warm, quiet, soothing DEVELOPMENTAL PROGRAMMING KEY aquatic environment from birth. Talk to them; sing to STAGES them; maintain close eye and skin contact; feed them; GENERAL AGE GUIDE FOCUS caress and massage them; sway them gently allowing 0 to 4 months Bonding them to feel the movement of the water. Very young 4 to 8 months Stability babies need stimulation but beware not to overload 8 to 15 months Mobility the senses. Focus on one or two sensory systems at a 15 to 30 months Interaction time ... change position regularly, and the type of 30 to 42 months Independence stimulation (e.g. swaying; singing; caressing). 4 to 8 months (Focus: Stability and Control) The following is an overview of these As the baby reaches four months, I encourage programming stages. Not all developmentally based carers to introduce them to the pool. Good conditions programs will use the same groupings as I do – (appropriate temperature, clarity, chemical balance) however they all ensure their teachers have a will be essential. It is also important that the infant is thorough understanding of early development and in good health. they program according to the child’s needs. When The baby will gradually gain postural stability, writing a developmentally based program in your developing control of the head and neck first, particular teaching environment it is essential to first followed by the trunk, the arms, the hands and legs. have a full understanding of the infants’ The old brain is busily refining postural and righting developmental processes. reactions while the new brain is mastering voluntary

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control. Carers must master the appropriate holds and entity from familiar adults, and will often become supports in the pool. Infants will need time to gain upset if familiar adults are out of sight. stability and equilibrium in a variety of positions. Our greatest challenge here is to provide the This is often the first educational program for opportunity and the motivation for the baby to carers and infants. It is essential that the quality of practice and extend his growing repertoire of motor information and level of practical and emotional skills, whilst respecting his growing emotional support provided it is of the highest standard. attachment to his primary carers, and his reluctance Often it is the also the first opportunity for carers to be separated from them even for a brief period. to network in their new role. It is important to This is a time for activity, for movement and maintain a casual, relaxed atmosphere. Don’t have a variety. The teacher’s role is one of a facilitator and rigid routine of activities planned at this stage. Allow educator. Babies should only be held by the teacher the session to flow in tune with the needs of the for brief practice or games after a real sense of trust carers and babies. Allow time to network and to has developed between the two, and even then the share. Carers can chat as they cradle or gently swish primary carer should be an active part of the process. their baby. The teacher must ensure that carers are in This is the time when mum will start to report tune with their baby while also allowing them the baby’s excited response on pulling up in the pool car freedom to socialise. park. Some babies will even recognise the Teach carers how to hold, handle and facilitate preparations going on at home! Conversely, a baby playful interactions. Eye contact; touch; using the who has had a negative experience may show distress properties of the water to best advantage; engaging in at the same signs of an impending session. two way “conversations”; and in general continuing Babies are now showing definite likes and dislikes to stimulate and bond with their baby. of certain people, objects and places. They Babies of this age are very responsive to an understand that objects exist when out of sight and adult’s tone of voice and expression. Soon they are enjoy “peek-a-boo”. They love to imitate and are vocalising quite a lot, laughing, squealing, and mastering simple actions like waving and clapping. making simple vowel sounds. Toward the end of this In the early stages they find it difficult to voluntarily stage they may start to show reservation with release an object and will do so by pressing it against strangers. a firm surface (or the other hand), which stimulates Most babies of this age still enjoy lying on their the hand to open and release. back and will love back-floating games, especially Newly acquired movement skills should be those involving swaying, swishing and walking incorporated into the pool session, and ideally backwards. It is essential to always maintain eye instructors may help along the process of contact and adequate support. development by practicing the skills the baby is Careful preparation for submersion needs to be trying to master. For example a baby who is developed consistently over a period of time. Babies mastering sitting will enjoy activities that involve of this age will learn to hold their breath in response supported sitting: such as sitting on a mat or the edge to a physical and verbal cue. If prepared well they for entries; or sitting with carers help on a partially will submerge comfortably and will enjoy the magic submerged mat to play. Crawling activities are ideal of short underwater expeditions. Carers must be well on a mat, and if the mat is narrow enough the trained before they attempt to submerge their baby. instructor may facilitate cross crawling in a baby who They must be adept at feeling the baby’s breathing is learning the skill. Similarly for standing; activities pattern and tonal state, and interpreting its body may be performed on the side; on mats; on large posture and facial expressions. Often the baby will be pieces of submerged play equipment or platforms; or ready well before the carer – time and patience will simply with the carer supporting the thighs while the be essential. baby extends its trunk upright. All of these activities As the baby grows and develops in the early involving weight bearing, stability and balance are months, it will enjoy the introduction of more colour, potentially easier for the child if the supportive shape, variations in voice tone, music and rhythm, properties of the water are used to advantage. and more vigorous swaying, swishing and splashing, Kicking activities will be invaluable in assisting the however a soothing and nurturing atmosphere should child to develop the muscular strength and co- still be maintained. ordination required for crawling and walking. Pulling 8 to 15 months (Focus: Mobility) will also assist in crawling, and in coordination of the Babies in this stage are generally very physically upper limbs. Carers need to be encouraged to active, spending the greater part of their waking motivate children to move through their play. hours striving to overcome the challenges of Most babies will experience righting reactions and mastering balance, pulling up on furniture, crawling, so dislike lying on their back. They should not be climbing, and walking. It is during this phase that the forced to do so. Gentle persuasion with songs, games, child develops a sense of his/herself as a separate gentle or more active swishing, and “special” little

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toys only used for floating will help entice them. If Infants of this age really enjoy the “parallel” play they are allowed to sit upright when they wish to, and situation created in a small group. They love the then gently eased back when happy most babies will attention of having one special carer “all to at least partially participate. If approached in this way themselves”, and will enjoy new skills and games as babies will gradually resume tolerating, and they are introduced. They will particularly enjoy the eventually enjoying, the back lay out position. routine of lessons, and the inclusion of action songs, Programming should be made up of a variety of make-believe and nursery rhymes. short activities … no more than a few minutes each. It is best to have a familiar routine of group The session should contain active exciting activities, games, songs and activities interspersed with a few interspersed with restful, quiet periods. Don’t forget new activities. Also allow times for unstructured, that carers often appreciate the sessions as a social exploratory, make-believe or large equipment play outing as well, and these quiet times allow carers and with their carer (and in parallel to other children). babies to become acquainted with others in the group. Now very active, and easily bored and frustrated, Babies will gain great benefit from sensory it is essential that activities are short, active and kept stimulation. Colour, shapes, rhythm, music, and flowing. Minimise the time spent talking, giving touch sensations (such as splashing; the water instructions, or setting up activities. In the earlier swishing past bare skin; and skin on skin contact with stages they were often happy to be swished, rocked carers) are essential parts of a good program. or caressed while waiting. Now they need to be on Babies in this stage need variety. They will focus the move and their interest maintained. This is the on a toy or lying still for short periods, but will stage where teachers must be the most animated. quickly want to “go” again. Simple action songs and If attendance has been consistent over a rhymes will enthral them, the more familiar the better reasonable period of time, these infants are usually – but remember it is the rhythm and the action that able to move (swim) through the water effectively for interests them more than the words and the tune (or a short distance. Some stronger infants will even be lack of it!). Large play equipment that allows for able to obtain a breathing position well enough to variations in position and types of movement will move a short distance around the pool. As with all also be popular. Swimming underwater will generally children it is essential not to expect them to perform be learnt quickly if a gentle, fun “child centred” (Rob skills before they are ready. Skills such as breath McKay) approach is used. These babies often seem to control for submersion, and independent swimming really enjoy the sensation of a free moving face in must be introduced gradually, and in a way that is glide, or kicking freely underwater. Never force enjoyable for the child. Even a little stress is too children to any age of submerge – listen to them, and much - particularly at this age when many fears are watch their faces and body language. If you prepare starting to develop. The child’s rights must be them well and use the right approach and motivation respected above all else. some of their earliest words will be “more” and Many children will still be quite intolerant to “again”! back-floating, partly due to some residual righting 15 to 30 months (Focus: Interaction) reactions, but largely due to a desire to keep moving. Now the infant has achieved relatively good It is often a challenge to entice infants of this age to mobility and has the motor skills to effectively put their ears in the water. Tolerance to ears in and interact with his environment. He is now driven to longer “still” periods can be built up gradually over a explore his wider world and to experiment further period of time using rewards, motivators and above with cause and effect. all, patience. Struggling to master verbal communication, this Ensure carers understand that participation in any stage can often be an emotional time for the infant. group activity is not compulsory. Let them know it’s Frustration is common as the infant’s ability to OK to take the child aside for some unstructured play understand speech develops well in advance of his or exploration time with as little fuss as possible. ability to use it. “No” may be the most frequently Going head to head with children of this age to force heard word. them to participate simply doesn’t work. New parents It is the stage where sudden fears often develop in particular may need guidance. If allowed a degree (particularly toward the dark, animals, and water), of control the child will be less frustrated, and will with the infant becoming aware that he is a separate avoid the negative attention that results from forcing individual and so is prone to harm, and susceptible to them to participate. Attention that may lead to a being left alone. repeat performance! A skilled instructor will make Infants may become torn between the drive the organised activity so much fun that after being toward independence and the desire to remain aside for a brief period the infant will choose to attached and dependant on their carers. They are most rejoin the group. settled when able to explore and interact with their As aquatic skills are developed activities may be surroundings in close proximity to a familiar adult. made more challenging, and in particular more use

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may be made of large equipment and/or shallow question “what?” … “why?” … “where?’ … and it is water. Large equipment will entice these infants to important that they are answered with short, simple, experiment with new aquatic skills; to further truthful responses. develop balance; to explore; to move through the Infants early in this stage are very agile and can water of their own volition; and to play in parallel imitate bilateral movements of the head, trunk and with other children. Activities on large equipment limbs. Soon they are climbing ladders and gym type may be highly structured, or unstructured “free” play. equipment; and making sharp changes in direction Shallow water will allow infants to experiment with when swimming or running. swimming and recovering; to have complete control Typically these infants can be fiercely over where and how they move; and to participate independent. Extremes of emotion are also common independently in a variety of games and activities. and they may tend to be dictatorial and demanding. In order to effectively program for the “whole Thankfully they are beginning to obey and respect child”, instructors should encourage use of simple rules. Generally they are proud of their own developing language, and facilitate the acquisition of achievements and will often resist efforts to help. new words and concepts. Activities that involve They care less about the “quality” of what they have identifying size, shape and colour are valuable. These done than the fact that they’ve done it themselves. skills should be integrated into activities that promote A stage when infants can be very ritualistic, aquatic skills rather than separate activities. It is routine becomes important as a stable backdrop to important to keep in mind that infants of this age are step out into the world. This dependence on routine taking in and learning much more language than they may make them resistant to change, and often are able to speak. Listening to their attempts to “transition” (changing from one activity to another) communicate, and facilitating and praising success can become difficult. This is also due to having a will reduce much of the frustration experienced by better concept of “beginnings” and “endings”, infants and carers during this stage. making it harder to stop doing something that they Meeting the infant’s need for the security of a are enjoying. familiar adult, and a degree of self-direction and Sticking to a routine, and preparing in advance for choice, will allow their focus to be on learning new new activities or changes will help these children skills rather than exerting control. Remember that adjust to the “transition” of moving between they are no longer happy just to “be” in the water activities. It is better to positively suggest than to with their carer, they want to “do”. Classes should be “ask”. Asking “Do you want to?” will often get a active, fun, and based on a routine, with scope for “No” even if the infant would really enjoy the exploratory play and regular introduction of new activity. The temptation to take control by refusing is equipment, games and skills. Developing a range of just too great for them to resist! It is also best to aquatic skills will allow more independent avoid options and the use of “or”. These children movement. This will go a long way toward helping to may still have difficulty understanding what you satisfy the overall drive toward independence, which mean and become upset at not being able to do dominates the next stage. everything! Set limits of acceptable behaviour, be 30 to 42 months (Focus: Independence) firm and consistent – but only restrict behaviours that By now most infants are becoming fiercely are dangerous or infringing on the rights of others. independent, and will begin displaying extremes of Keep demands and rules to a minimum. If only emotion. This is a time for developing a sense of self- necessary rules are imposed the child is more likely control and autonomy. Infants will be keen to “go it to comply. alone”, but would prefer to do so in a familiar Infants in this stage may still have tantrums – stay environment, within a familiar routine, and with a calm and relaxed and ignore the difficult behaviour significant adult close at hand. At some time during as far as possible. It is important to ensure parents this stage most infants are ready to make the feel comfortable and accepted. Empathise with their transition from a group with carers in the water to a frustration and embarrassment. Reassure them that smaller group with the parent out of the water but the behaviour is common, and help them to maintain close by. a relaxed approach and sense of humour. In children This is a critical period in the development of an who are loud and demanding the best approach is to individual’s self-concept (or ego). Allowing the child lower your voice as they raise theirs. Give lots of to experience success and praise will help develop positive attention to acceptable behaviours so that confidence. Encouraging independence and self- they are more likely to be repeated. directed behaviour (within the limits of safety and Rapidly developing in social skills, children will respecting the rights of others), will help to develop now usually separate easily from parents if in a autonomy and self-control. familiar situation. They enjoy more independent The infant will now expect to be understood and participation in group games, and enjoy games, may be frustrated if not. This is a time for them to which involve interaction. Much of their play is still

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solitary or parallel, although the ability to engage in situation. For example: “bubbles in the bath” to co-operative play is developing rapidly. Infants of “bubbles in the pool”; “turning to grab the wall in this age love to make-believe, and can carry through your pool” to “turning to grab the wall in THEIR a simple theme or story line in their play. pool”! Therefore NO child is water safe – parental They should be self-motivated to engage in education and supervision is essential. activities because they are fun, challenging and suited The transition from a parent and child program to to their skill and developmental level. Adults must “going it alone” can be an exciting or worrying time take care not to correct or criticise but to praise and for the infant (and carer!). It’s very important to encourage their attempts. Ensure parents reduce prepare both for the change. Be in tune with their support as the infant becomes more skilled. This will feelings and take the time to reassure, encourage and challenge them and allow for increased support. If the carer is comfortable with the move the independence. child will pick up on the “good vibes” and be Circuits are very successful for children of this happier. Introduce them to the new situation and age. They enjoy “following” the leader around a teacher a couple of weeks earlier. Talk about all the variety of large and small equipment “play stops”. positives – “Isn’t the new teacher nice?” “They play The circuit may be simply a number of activities very special games in ‘big’ classes!” “Aren’t you big placed strategically around the pool. Alternatively it and clever now to be able to have mummy sit on the may be a “theme” circuit where the infants role-play side and watch you?” If the child is anxious, allow or follow a story line as they move around the circuit the carer to join in for a first lesson or two. If they – you are only limited by your imagination! just aren’t ready encourage them to stay in the parent Independent movement facilitated with buoyancy and child program a bit longer. aids is fun to experiment with. It’s recommended that children are confident, and able to submerge and If prepared well, most children will move into a recover first to avoid becoming frightened by little class without their carer easily and happily. This “accidents” such as unexpected submersion. transition marks a very important milestone for the Experimenting with aids will help develop a variety child – you have played an essential role in helping of buoyancy, mobility and recovery skills. They will them to go it alone, and take one of their first also facilitate increased autonomy and a sense of independent steps into the “big wide world”! control. It is essential that any aid – particularly “attached” aids – are not overused. It is very easy for References: infants to become psychologically dependant on • AUSTSWIM, Pre-school Extension Course 1990-1997: them. Lecturer’s Notes, Melbourne. Most children are happy to stay in a back-float • Furono S., O’Reilly K., Inatsuka T., Hosaka C., position now, and this skill can be practised very Zeisloft B., 1993: The Hawaii Developmental Charts successfully with songs, games, or just counting, in a Arizona: Communication Skill Builders. circle formation. • Furono S., O’Reilly K., Inatsuka T., Hosaka C., This is the stage where grading of children into Zeisloft B., 1993: Helping Babies Learn, Arizona: “advanced” and “beginner” groups can be very Communication Skill Builders. successful. Infants will range widely in their ability • Kochen C., McCabe J., 1986: The Baby Swim Book, by now. Some (particularly if late starters) will be Illinois: Leisure Press. very fearful; others will be swimming quite strongly. • Lamon D., Crowley S., 1988: Little Waves Teaching It is difficult to cater adequately for such varied needs Guide, Canada: H2O Enterprises Inc. in the one group. Whilst some children gain in • Milani-Comparetti A: Pattern analysis of normal and confidence from being with more advanced children, abnormal development: the foetus, the newborn, and others will be overwhelmed and become more the child. In Seaton DS, editor: Development of anxious as they anticipate having to do what they see movement in infancy, Chapel Hill, NC, 1981, Division more advanced children do. On the other hand, more of Physical Therapy, The University of North Carolina. advanced children may start to copy some of the • Sheridan M., 1980: Children’s developmental progress fearful behaviours they observe – they are very from birth to 5 years: the Stycar Sequence Berks: sensitive to another’s feelings at this stage. The pace NFER Publishing Company. of the class is often too slow and activities not • Shortridge S., in Pratt P. & Allen A., 1989: challenging enough when beginners are included in Occupational Therapy for Children, Missouri: CV Mosby Company. the group. Grading groups allows activities and flow • VanDyk D. 1987: Aquatics for the very young: of the class to be tailored well to the needs of the Melbourne: Nelson Publishers. individual.

Children of this age still have difficulty with the “conservation” of skills. If they have learnt a skill in one situation they may not transfer it easily to a new

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GOAL SETTING – GOAL SETTING This was the direction or Mission Statement for By Julie Zancanaro our pre-school program. It set the scene and constantly reminded us of the direction we were CHOOSING ACTIVITIES TO TAKE YOUR travelling in. “We are creating and environment in PROGRAM WHERE YOU WANT IT TO GO which children acquire aquatic skills whilst being How do we get what we want in life? The first stimulated to develop physically, socially and step is being able to decide just where you want to intellectually.” go. If you are not sure where you are going, how will STEP 3: ESTABLISH PROGRAM GOALS you know when you have arrived? I would like to (AND MAKE THEM KNOWN!) take you down the path to meeting realistic goals for In keeping with this direction we then set Program young children in aquatic programs. On the way we Goals for the parent and child program (0-3 years)… will explore the importance of… • Water familiarisation • Understanding child development and the rights and • Enjoyment needs of young children. • Pre-swimming and survival skills • Having a sound philosophy – a “direction” for your • Developmental stimulation program. • Socialisation • Establishing appropriate and responsible goals. These goals were realistic for the majority of our • Being creative in choosing and designing activities to students. There were a small number who had more achieve your goals. frequent exposure to the water and so more advanced • Breaking down these activities into achievable steps. skills. With those children we adjusted our goals and • Being prepared to modify your goals and activities to achieved a higher level of aquatic skills. These meet individual needs. children would often swimming with good breath • Evaluation and re-evaluation. control at a very early age. STEP 1: EDUCATE YOURSELF Overall, program goals must be directed toward The first step on the path to establishing a sound, your mainstream participants. If the majority only goal based aquatic program is to educate yourself. If attend once each week for six months of the year, you’re not sure of the why before you start, the what, then the goals must be set accordingly. It would be how, and when, can be very difficult to establish. irresponsible to suggest to the majority of parents that Educate yourself in the process of child development, we could achieve what we achieve with the the importance of goal directed play, and the very “exceptional” children. special needs of young children and their parents. It Don’t be afraid to admit you can’t achieve what is essential that a primary goal of your program is to others do. You may be limited by your facility, your meet those basic needs. A good swim program for 0- season, our your ethics! When other parents see 3 year olds should have the following… advanced children swimming I always explain that it Water temperature around 32 degrees is may be achievable for their child with frequent Atmospheric heating exposure to the water, but that I understand the limits Trained staff on their time. I then discuss with them the realistic Equipment and activities suited to age and ability goals for their own child. Rigorous hygiene of water and surrounds Ensure that the name of your program reflects

Parent/carer involvement your goals – or a least doesn’t reflect goals you Lifeguards or supervisors watching the pool cannot or do not intend to achieve! We found that A balance of swimming and water safety skills “Learn-to-Swim” was too limiting. We changed it to Your child’s needs as the focus of the program “Basic Skills Program” and found parents had a It is not necessary to have a million dollar pool or better understanding of the goals we were trying to a big population to have a good program. We were achieve. able to meet the children’s needs in an old facility Be very careful with terms such as “Water without spending a fortune. (Of course great facilities Safety”. Are you inadvertently educating your often make it easier and we will in fact be building a parents to think that children can be made safe near new one in Sydney soon.) the water? We found “Water Awareness” was a STEP 2: HAVE A CLEAR DIRECTION better term for young children. Don’t forget to Once you have established that your venue can be educate your parents as to the importance of adapted to meet the children’s needs, it is important resuscitation skills and constant supervision. to document a clear direction or “path” to take. Set an Unfortunately there are still programs that violate overall objective that is achievable within the the rights of the young child in order to achieve a guidelines of humane, child centred philosophies. desired goal ... particularly in regard to perceived They should be based on the physical, psychological, “water safe” or “drown proofing” techniques. Often social and emotional needs of the young child. the child is conditioned to endure submersion and

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floating for longer periods than it is ready to In early childhood, according to Reilly, comfortably and happily endure. “exploratory play” predominates. It requires the Some teachers still think that allowing the baby to needs of the child to be met, including the need for a go under a few times, swallow a little water, protest, secure and trusted environment. This is followed by or float unaided, is acceptable as long as the end “competency behaviour”, characterised by the self- result is a baby who can roll and float for an extended initiated, repetitive play that you see children period after falling in. Yes, drowning is the number performing when they have almost mastered a skill. one cause of death in 0-5 year olds. Yes, we must This is eventually followed by the “achievement take all reasonable steps to avert this. No, we do not motivated” play where the child will strive to excel have the right to traumatise children to achieve this. and do it “myself”. They will want to show off skills No, there is not enough evidence to suggest children and a sense of competition may develop. who endure this conditioning are any more likely to This model allows for the phenomenon in survive than those who have participated in a play swimming whereby once a skill has achieved a based water awareness program, or in fact, those who degree of competency, the skill itself can become the have had no exposure at all! play. So you can see that a playful environment, My belief is that a child who learns to love and where the child is motivated to explore and respect the water may have an edge over one who has experience, is a vital early requirement in facilitating had no contact, or one who has been traumatised learning. As a certain skill level is achieved, the child during the learning process. will need an environment that challenges him to As our parent education evolved over the years, I practice and refine the skill. If the environment noticed a general awakening to the diversity of goals accommodates it, the child will intrinsically strive to attainable in responsible aquatic programs. Parent make the skill more challenging in order to achieve a perception had changed from simply a program to higher level of mastery. teach swimming and survival with the teacher as the It is crucial at this point not to abandon the playful focus, toward a broader goal base of… atmosphere. The intrinsic motivation to perform • Developmental enrichment in sensory/motor, social skills will soon fade if the “learning environment” and language areas stops meeting the child’s needs. To facilitate this goal • Aquatic readiness for development of swimming and directed play it is necessary to create the learning water safety environment… • Enjoyment and goal centred play Confidence By educating yourself, your staff and your Relaxation parents, and monitoring their needs and expectations, Enjoyment Active participation you can form a base of realistic goals for your Trust program. Once established you must strive to achieve Exploration them through a process that is also in keeping with By creating an optimum learning environment the the child’s needs and development. child will be intrinsically motivated to learn and STEP 4: PROGRAM TO ACHIEVE THESE achieve through goal directed play. Organised or GOALS facilitated play can be called activity. “Activity Play is a child’s work. Children learn through analysis and activity adaptation are the core processes their play. Play is a very powerful, goal directed used by the occupational therapist throughout activity for the child. Children are blissfully unaware assessment and programming” (Pratt & Allen 1989). of the goals they are achieving through their play. As an Occupational Therapist, I am constantly Whether orchestrated by nature’s innate forces that using activity analysis to… drive the child on to explore, challenge and develop; • Evaluate the effectiveness of my current program and or orchestrated by the human influence of teachers its potential to achieve my goals. and parents; a child’s play will inevitable serve to • Evaluate other people’s programs and their specific push the child toward their latest developmental goal. goals and activities. How effective are they in Terms such as “easy as child’s play”, and “they’re achieving them? just playing”, tend to downgrade the importance of • Designing new activities to meet my program goals. the primary avenue for learning in life’s most critical Activity analysis is about breaking down tasks and intense learning phase. Play is actually a very into achievable steps and measurable goals. Activity serious business for the child! adaptation is about modifying tasks and activities to Many theorists have looked at the development meet specific needs and achieve specific goals. I and importance of play. Mary Reilly wrote in 1974 challenge you to look critically at the activities you that play… are using with young children. • Has an organising effect on human behaviour • Are they meeting the child’s basic rights and needs? • Is a critical base for adult competence • Are they appropriate to the child’s development? • Are they allowing for play based learning?

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• Do they incorporate appropriate skills? AUSTRALIAN SWIM CAMP 2000 REPORT • Are they motivating, stimulating, challenging? NUDGEE COLLEGE, BRISBANE • Are they helping to achieve your goals? 24th to 29th September STEP 5: EVALUATING THE BOTTOM LINE By Robyn Gross, Level 2 Skills Coach If you think I’ve finally got to the dollars and Head Coach Albury-North Lavington Swimming cents – sorry to disappoint you! Club, NSW Goal setting is essential in infant aquatics, but it is Morning Coach, Rutherglen Swimming Club, VIC just as essential to ensure your goals are consistent with the needs and rights of the child. Don’t be afraid DAY 1 – SUNDAY … As a coach, the early morning to admit that your program can’t make children rise to catch a 6am plane from Albury was not a “water safe”. Promote the other benefits and educate problem. However, the prospect of 12 hours’ delay in your parents. Although you hope that the safety rules and skills you teach will help in an emergency, you an Olympics-crowded Sydney was too much, so the can never be sure. offer of a seat on a connecting flight out of Sydney Take the children at their own pace – one step at a found me arriving at Nudgee in time for the morning time. Don’t spend their valuable time in the pool briefing session. (Thanks to the time difference with “pre-programming” them to perform skills they may Daylight Saving.) not be ready for. If you have to repeatedly drill them, Coaches had arrived from Western Australia, traumatise, or even “upset them a little” to achieve Gove Peninsular in the Northern Territory (with nine your goal – change it! Goal setting is essential in swimmers in tow), South Australia, Tasmania, infant aquatic programs, but it is just as essential to Victoria (me), New South Wales and several places ensure the goals you set are consistent with the needs in Queensland. Swimmers arrived from most and rights of the child. mainland states as well as New Zealand and Papua The Rights of the Child in an Aquatic Program New Guinea – 88 swimmers in total. There was a I have the right to… mixture of boarding coaches and swimmers and day Be protected from danger, fear and intimidation … Be coaches and swimmers. encouraged … Be rewarded … Enjoy … Learn … Be All coaches attending the Camp were given nurtured … Be comfortable … Be respected … Be safe allotted tasks for the next six days. As well as my Please don’t tolerate anyone who compromises these rights specific coaching tasks, it was appropriate that a – regardless of how desirable their goals may appear to be. whiter-than-white Victorian be given the task of Disney’s Cheshire Cat was able to teach young sunscreen patrol. I can report that nobody – from viewers very effectively, whilst they thought they swimmers through to coaches – got sunburned … were just having a good time! I hope you all take despite the 28-plus temperatures every day! away a little of the Cheshire Cat’s skill. The Cat also Swimmers arrived from the mid-afternoon showed Alice a shortcut, but I’m afraid in good through to 5pm. The age range was 6 through to 16. aquatic programs there is none. It takes very careful It was apparent that many were nervous, not knowing planning to… what to expect – whilst others were full of • Educate yourself and your parents expectation – having attended camp previously. The • Meet children’s needs and always keep them as the registration procedure saw all swimmers receive a focus of your program Logbook on the Camp Activity, a Camp T-shirt and a • Set a direction, a philosophy, in keeping with the child- most unique Swim Cap emblazoned with their camp centred approach nicknames. The latter intrigued some swimmers and • Set realistic and achievable program and goals • Create a learning environment that is developmentally others disliked the idea of being given an allocated stimulating and motivating nickname and not choosing one for themselves ... but • Select specific activities appropriate to the age and coaches prevailed. stage of the child and tailored to meet your goals The swimmers’ next task was to find their • Adapt activities and goals to meet the needs of sleeping quarters, somewhere in the two wings of the individuals college, in which we were based. Girls on the ground • Never stop reassessing, reaffirming and re-evaluating floor – boys on the top floor! Well, how many your program and your goals swimmers came back and asked to change rooms to As soon as you arrive at one destination you need be with their friend!!! You will have heard that to be ready to look out for the next journey. The day before and, of course, no changes were made. A you decide you have gone as far as you can go is the Camp Meeting was held where all rules were day you will stop looking at where others have been explained, along with the consequences if broken, and where they are heading. That is the day the rest and all were taken on a tour of the college facilities, of the world just might pass you by.

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which concluded in the Dining Room for the evening were sharing experiences and tips. Some swimmers meal. still sought out familiar faces – be it coach or friend. Prior to the first Pool Session of the Camp, all In the rest period before the next scheduled assembled on the basketball courts and every person swimming activity, an inspection of the First Aid Kit present introduced themselves to the others, each revealed it was devoid of anything useful. Most outlining what they expected to get from the Camp. supplies had passed their Use By dates by several Naturally, all the swimmers wanted to improve, years. A list was compiled to remedy the situation although some just wanted to have a good time – and Coach June loaned us her First Aid Kit in the whilst the coaches all wanted to learn how to coach interim. better. I wanted to learn how to work better with a Seniors headed off for more pool work, half an group of complete strangers – both swimmers and hour before the Juniors. The afternoon session built adults – as well as learning new strategies to help my on the morning’s progressions, emphasising the swimmers improve. correct body position and breathing position in Swimmers were then graded into Senior and Progression Drills. Kick Drills formed the last part of Junior Squads – the criteria being their 100-metre the session, which went for 1 hour and 20 minutes. Freestyle time. Once again, some swimmers wanted The Juniors assembled to have their Butterfly to change groups or lanes to be with their friends ... videoed instead of dryland training (done in the again, not agreed to. The first Pool Session focussed morning. The Seniors followed their Pool Session on getting the swimmers to perfect their ready with a dryland training session, which was taken by a position with particular emphasis on “answering the yoga instructor. This is an interesting change for the phone” with their push-off arm. older swimmers. Day 1 ended with chaos in the dorms as some All swimmers had the opportunity to individually older girls (13-year-olds!!) not wanting to abide by have their Butterfly critiqued before dinner. Seniors curfew time. Obviously, we will have to work them were given constructive comments, whilst the more tomorrow. Juniors’ focus was on what they did well. DAY 2 – MONDAY … The swimmers awoke well The evening concluded with an “Aussie Night” … ahead of schedule (obviously not enough swimming) Australian songs, games and Olympic Trivia Quiz. and after breakfast each group headed to its allotted One of the biggest surprises came when Coach Kevin venue. For the Junior Squad it was the 25-metre pool said he would give a prize to the first person to put a – for the Senior Squad the video room to watch a tooth in his hand. One enterprising swimmer pulled video on Drills for the “Stroke of the Day” – today’s out a loose tooth and put it in his hand! He was being Butterfly. expecting a comb!! We were fortunate enough to see Coach Vince Raleigh took the session with the Cathy Freeman win her gold medal in the break. Assistant Coaches helping to ensure that all It was now apparent that the swimmers knew most swimmers were achieving the “base position” of the coaches by name – we knew them by their correctly. The next 1 hour 10 minutes was devoted to nicknames. building simple arm progressions onto the base End of Day 2 with similar scenes to the night position. All swimmers mastered these drills. before – but, finally, all of us sleep. Swimmers in the Junior Squad were then meant to The format of the day remains basically have their Butterfly video individually for later unchanged for the next three days. critique but the video camera had not arrived, so DAY 3 – TUESDAY … This morning it was Coach Terry and I were asked (on-the-spot) to take a obvious at breakfast that swimmers were looking out dryland training session with the Juniors on the for their new friends. Nicknames were now in basketball court. common use, with coaches knowing the majority of With five minutes change time (Army Major), the swimmers in the groups they worked with. Terry and I drafted a short strength program On the pool deck, swimmers knew exactly where appropriate to the majority of the swimmers in the they were in their lane and lane etiquette “ducks in a squad. Seniors were taken through their Pool Session line” was fantastic. The stroke for the day was at this time. This session concluded in time for the Backstroke under the guidance of Michael Bohl. swimmers to view the video on Butterfly Drills & Basic drills were perfected in the morning session, Technique. After this, they made their way to Ryan with one pool deck drill to teach feel for the water – Hall to hear the daily “Tips from the Top” – today’s tried by all swimmers. tips being from Coach Vince Raleigh. The Juniors switched to the 50-metre pool for the Lunch followed and it was apparent that videotaping of their Backstrokes and then went to swimmers were making new friendships and coaches

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view the video on Backstroke Drills & Technique, as The Juniors’ dryland session was a hotly the Seniors applied themselves to the same drills. contested game of “Garbage Bin Cricket” on the “Tips from the Top” was taken by Michael Bohl, basketball courts. Teamwork and sportsmanship was who talked about what it takes to be a national highly visible – even the tiniest players were assisted champion, compared to being an age group swimmer. by other swimmers. Spike made all the difference to This was well received by the swimmers who related 007 on the plate. Cheering for their teammates to what he was explaining. became an art form, with different chants for every Cooperation was the byword at lunch, with nickname. discussions centred on the evening video. One was The high spirits and noisy behaviour grew worse chosen for the older swimmers and two suitable for throughout dinner, as the effects of junk food loading the younger swimmers. Such was the secrecy became effective. Just as well that it was Games surrounding the selection that all swimmers thought Night. However, even Basketball and another match they would be watching a cartoon video. of Garbage Bin Cricket did not take the edge off Coaches, however, were not cooperating with the them and sleep was late arriving. swimmers as nobody had changed. Change was DAY 5 – THURSDAY … Stroke of the day: wanted by all swimmers so that they could attack the Breaststroke. Guest Coach: Dick Orbell. Once again, vending machines. Junk food deprivation was the focus of the morning session was Drills, becoming evident!!! specifically Continuous Pull Action and Kick Action. The afternoon session for both squads again built Unfortunately, I was ill and missed the remainder of on the skills developed in the morning session, this day’s session (including the skits and the pizzas particularly emphasising Arm Speed and Drills. The that followed). Junior Squad concluded their Pool Session with a DAY 6 – FRIDAY … Starts & Turns with Vince girls-versus-boys relay. Girls Rule!!!!!! Raleigh leading specific Turn Drills, all at fast pace, The afternoon dryland session for the Seniors was if not race pace. Swimmers all worked on three types yoga again and I was able to take part in this session of starts from the blocks in the 50-metre pool. as a participant and not just an observer. Many girls TALK FROM THE TOP guest was Bill had little trouble – focussing on the tasks of balance Sweetenham who set the swimmers the task of goal and stretching – whilst some of the more easily setting. All were asked to draw a self-portrait of distracted (generally male) had the grace to apologise themselves today, including things that are important for disrupting part of the session. to them. They were then asked to draw a portrait of Film Night was a success with both groups themselves in 10 years’ time. They were asked to enjoying what was shown. Settling everyone down decide what they were going to do today and in the was much easier tonight. next week to start to achieve this outcome. (I took DAY 4 – WEDNESDAY … Stroke for the day: three pages of notes on his inspirational sayings that Freestyle. Guest Coach: Shannon Rollinson. Rotation were very appropriate to the swimmers.) Drills, Progressions, Fast Kicking & Breathing Awards were given after lunch to Best Senior and Timing formed the basis of the morning session. Junior Girl and Boy in each stroke and to Overall Lunchtime was “Last in for Pizza Orders for Best Senior Girl and Boy. This was followed by a tomorrow night”. Money changed hands more Time Trial, 50 metres of each stroke. Many quickly than you could follow. From Coach Chris swimmers recorded significant PBs. Camp ended they all got their change and it went straight into the with many swimmers crying as they farewelled their vending machines. These were empty by 6.30pm!!! new friends and many had permanent reminders of Junk food withdrawal was too hard to take. their friends and coaches in the autographs on their REST TIME WASN’T REST TIME TODAY. Camp Shirts. Spike fell against the fire alarm!! The dorms were I was also sad to see it end. I know I learned much evacuated calmly and quickly and a roll call found on the effective teaching of basic skills that apply to everyone present. The Brisbane Fire Brigade checked swimmers of all ages and abilities. I am sure being the building and reset the alarm. able to introduce these into my programs will Swimming went on later than scheduled in the improve the swimming in both Clubs at which I afternoon. Coach Norm took the afternoon session work. and Arm Drills and Kicking were concentrated on. I thank ASCTA for the chance to be part of the Coach Norm’s revolutionary new Hyper Kick Boards Australian Swim Camp 2000 and wish it every were a great hit with all swimmers. Most coaches success for the same program in 2001. can’t wait to introduce these radical new aids to their program.

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Pallikoodam: Coaching in India encouraging, to say the least, to implement at the school Swimming & Athletics programs that took By Russell Parsons, ASCTA and ATFCA years to develop in the Australian environment, 2/72 Hopwood Street, Echuca Vic 3564 where so much that is different is automatically Phone/Fax: 03 5480 1705 opposed by people who have done well under the Email: [email protected] “old” conditions.

Two Swimming Carnivals (Galas) on … records “Sprint to the first pile of cow dung, have been smashed in almost all events, and a wider But ease up before you hit the cow” range of skills are being exhibited. Our Swim-a-

Kilometre Certificate was achieved by 54, while 40 Hardly coaching by the manual, but at Nehru younger swimmers completed 500 metres. Diving, Stadium, Kottayam, South-West India, working with tumble turns, and even “bombs” attracted 50 enthusiastic youngsters on the dirt track, in stifling spontaneous effort and success through perseverance. conditions … despite the 6.30am avoid-the-heat All embraced the challenges, each student proud of schedule … you do your best, where you are, with their achievements and those of their friends. No what you have. negative peer pressure here. My four-week, November-December second visit At the Swimming Gala, youngsters demonstrated to the small magic school of Pallikoodam, has been drills and skills to proud parents, culminating in 100- even more eventful than my initial contact in early metre IM demonstrations, an event that will be 2000. included in the Age-Group Gala Programs in 2001. My link was established through a former The whole concept of Age-Group and Open teaching colleague who outlined to the Principal, Mrs Champions was refined, photographs, awards and Roy, that “I think I know someone who will help Participation Certificates, timing of all swimmers, the your youngsters with their swimming and athletics”. installation of Backstroke Flags, Kick & Stroke Accepting their invitation was the best thing I Tests, lots of positives, and generous servings of have done in my life, and I am confident the four corrective feedback to appreciative youngsters and female swimmers and a Mum who accompanied me staff have yielded great results. We even had a go at on my first visit, and 16-year-old Adam Little from teaching staff to swim … an interesting experiment Rochester High Sshool who was a focal point in … but one that enhanced their appreciation of the November, have similar feelings. skills the youngsters were acquiring. The school, Pallikoodam, has 450 students, At Pallikoodam, being selected in the House including 100 boarders, Prep to Year 12, an excellent Team for the Swimming or Athletics Gala is very 25-metre outdoor pool, one of only two in Kottayam, important. Students seek the opportunity, try hard, a “country town” of 80,000, and a precise and and are delighted when chosen. All six lanes are full professional curriculum and student work ethic that in every race, with a Junior Gala (Years 2-6) and would match the pursuit of excellence expounded by Senior Gala (Years 7-12) held on consecutive days. so many Australian schools. First event is at 7.30am. Many Australians are still in Basically, we were asked to enhance the bed! swimming skills of the children, and around 150 The children are proud of their school and proud youngsters from standards (year levels) 3-12 were of one another. They are happy and not resentful of involved daily in our eight 45-minute Stroke the apparent advantages others enjoy. We have as Technique Sessions, with basic Rescue & much to learn from them, as they from us. Resuscitation strategies being an additional focus. In athletics, a similar spirit exists. An enthusiastic We took kickboards, fins, caps, goggles and ideas, and knowledgeable PE Coordinator, Vimal has mostly based on the programs of Bill Sweetenham, introduced crouch starts up to 400, partly a legacy of and athletics strategies I have found successful. It our first visit, enthusiastic involvement and interest in was unreal to see 50 youngsters enjoying the all events, despite oppressive humidity, a March Past challenge of a basic drills series, swimming with a of teams, a genuine pride in the efforts of each other, smile, and at the track, dust flying, cows scattering, and an eagerness to learn even the most basic locals interested and amused. We met and worked postural drills in an effort to be the best they can be. with some of the most appreciative and happy I was privileged to be the Guest of Honour at the children I have encountered. Athletics Gala, and charged with the responsibility of Eager to learn, the students and staff are open to the Official Opening. I looked on as the Sports new ideas, and willing to experiment with the Captain took the Athletes’ Oath, and, was in awe of unknown. They seek a better way, and I found it the appreciation extended to every endeavour

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throughout the day. Satyam, the winning House, were The Sydney Olympics were fantastic ... but where completely thrilled and warmly congratulated by to now? their rivals. It has been a long time since I have seen What has been set in place? (Not talked about ... such genuine enthusiasm at any school meet. talk is easy.) What has or is being done? A skills approach is fundamental to the If you want to encourage greater involvement you development of interest and involvement in sports, must start at the end product you desire, and work and while many talk about what can be done … few backward to achieve that outcome. Doing the same take action. These kids embrace new challenges – things better is not the answer. skill acquisition has a far higher priority than In India, the massive numbers presents problems competitive outcome. The winners are cheered, but and the stark contrast between affluence and abject the endeavour of every participant is appreciated. I poverty creates a feeling of helplessness as so many felt honoured to be on hand to see attitudes in young lack resources we so easily take for granted. But people that have all but disappeared in our schools. there is eagerness to progress, and a genuine desire to Only the smallest minority will achieve elite explore options that may help establish a better levels, but all youngsters can enjoy sports and derive framework for all. Did I mention swimming sessions the enhancement to their self-esteem that skill started at 5.45am six days a week, athletics at 6am, acquisition offers. less often, with a further four pool sessions from Mastery of a drill, be it a lateral Freestyle 4pm? Those students who elected to take part variation or a marching hurdle stepover is immensely sometimes arrived sleepy … but they arrived. satisfying to youngsters who want coaches, teachers The boarders at the school became special friends and parents to challenge them and recognise their and I enjoyed meeting and eating with them each endeavour. day, watched their daily ritual of 2-3 hours Prep each Education at Pallikoodam does not step away evening, marvelled at their interest in the smallest from its responsibility to challenge the youngsters … detail of my life, and envied their mutual respect and you don’t need four years of tertiary education to let love for one another I will never forget. kids do what they want to. Parents, teachers and So, what happens now? coaches are leaders ... leaders should lead, consult Well, I’ll be going back for four weeks in 2001. I where appropriate, but lead. am eager to extend the progress that has been made, The curriculum is directive, examination-centred, and I am seeking the most fundamental of resources but always aimed at empowering the students with to assist these wonderful, appreciative young people. skills they can later apply to their advantage. All the Perhaps more coaching at other locations or schools boarders do karate at least once a week, girls and is possible. boys pursue a traditional dance program that Want to help? Well, I need pull buoys (20), fins culminates in an annual Year 10 Dance Presentation (small and large sizes). that Adam and I found colourful and intricate ... in I will provide the school with eight good fact, it was truly amazing. Houses have monthly stopwatches, medallions and a range of reward cards cultural contests, debates, musical items, dramas (I and certificates. Currently, I prepare all details of even had a part in one ... the “do you speak English?” their Swimming Gala Program on my computer, tourist image). sending copies to Das, their coach, and we have Few schools in Australia offer as much, but many suggested a Hall of Fame photograph display to help would claim more, but at Pallikoodam student recognise leadership and achievement in sporting, numbers are such that every staff member knows educational and cultural programs. every student and there is a feeling of real caring that There are a multitude of things we can all do to large schools with their treatment of students as help. Standard 9 are studying Hemingway’s “The Old clients overlook. Small schools care about students Man and the Sea”, so the video can be provided to … large schools care about how many students they assist their studies; Mowbray College has an have. exchange program with Pallikoodam, and two Year But what of Swimming and Track & Field in 10 students were in residence throughout our visit, Australia? Has a framework been established that helped us with swimming classes, and swam for offers optimism for the future? Sure, there are Australia in a 100-metre IM Relay contest that was positives, but in my view far too many “leaders” enjoyed by all. Since our return the Email exchanges apply only performance-based models, too easily have been constant. Communication leads to shout “the broader the base the higher the peak”, but understanding. fail to offer a program that has an emphasis that will encourage the outcomes we say we desire.

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It is not possible (in my opinion) to directly experience so positive a group of youngsters in what, by any Australian standard, we would consider “lacking in opportunities and resources”, without wanting, perhaps needing, to offer some form of assistance. It is easier to feel powerless and respond with inactivity, but it is vital that small steps are John Young taken in the hope that a multiplier effect may evolve. Head Coach, Griffith Swimming Club My Web Site offers a brief report on Pallikoodam Australian Open Water Handler and photographs, and I am hoping to sponsor several students to Australia as part of the on-going WORLD OPEN WATER CHAMPIONSHIPS HAWAII enhancement of their skills and self-esteem. th th I have spent many years working with young 29 October – 4 November 2000 people. My weeks in India have been among my th most rewarding. On Saturday, 28 October, the Australian Open Youngsters lining up after sessions to express Water World Champion Team assembled at Sydney their thanks every day; 150 hand-prepared cards on Airport for departure to Hawaii. The team had a my birthday; 20 Year 3-4 students chanting “How’re mixture of swimmers and staff who had been on you going mate?”; dancers in traditional costumes; Australian teams in the past, but for a team going to rice, congestion, rice, mosquitoes, rice, smiles, and the World Championships this was a very genuine friendship and support between all age inexperienced group. Compared to the Europeans groups are enduring memories. I was deeply touched who race each other all the time and try to keep their by the manner in which our efforts were received. teams the same for about five years, the Australians Australia is not better than India … it is different. had only two surviving members from the last World We have more tangible evidence of our Championships in 1998. “progress” as a nation, but I doubt we could claim to be as caring. As per usual, we were very well looked after, with My Web Site, www.nwaswimaths.com features a the plane abuzz that Hayley Lewis and Ky Hurst report and photographs (Newsletter Section) on were on board … but privacy was well kept. We Pallikoodam. arrived in Honolulu at 11.45pm and, after a quick If you would like to help these wonderful young rush through Customs and all the team getting lei’d people, I know they would appreciate your interest. (and that’s the flower type!!), it was off to the team hotel and bed.

All week we were greeted with great sunshine, and training consisted of a beach swim in the morning and a pool session at the University of Hawaii in the afternoon. Our coaches felt out of place at the pool sessions with the European coaches as, unlike them, we would not parade around the pool deck in just Speedos and thongs – with very-well-formed beer bellies showing!!!

The inexperience of the swimmers showed early. Despite the staff’s efforts, a few got sunburnt and it seemed a few members were really getting into the Hawaiian/holiday spirit – and not the racing spirit. The whole week was a rush though, with most of the other countries being there at least four days earlier, thus enabling them to get out of this “mood” and focus on what they were there for.

L-R: Riyanka George; Russell Parsons; Maria Alani Monday night saw the Opening Ceremony. This was the first time an Australian made an impact on the Championships. After all the official duties were

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over, the Hawaiian people put on a show for all, Leigh, in his first international race, finished 21st and which was hosted by a man we thought they’d flown will gain valuable experience about working in a over from Rooty Hill R.S.L. It was all very pack situation from this race. entertaining until…………….our very own Leigh “Hula” Bull stole the show in a grass skirt and giving In the women’s we had Brooke Townsend backing his best Ricky Martin impression. It also earned him up from the 5km race and Trudy Hutchinson. Both two other things ... kisses from all the hula girls and girls had brilliant races, with Brooke being touched his picture on the front page of the U.S. Swimming out for the bronze medal by World Cup Champion, Web page!! Peggy Guechse from Germany. Trudy, after being in the lead pack that missed the buoy, flashed home to Tuesday was the first day of competition, and (we finish 9th. thought) our best chances of medals. Hayley and Brooke were up first in the 5km women’s event. The men’s 25km race was probably the fastest race I Hayley – using her pool speed – led the pack out. have ever been involved in. A pack of 14 men were This was her intention from the start … to avoid moving so quickly around the course that if you fed getting dragged off. Unfortunately, it didn’t work. at the wrong time, you could be in danger of With one kilometre to go, the European girls muscled dropping off the pack. For the handlers (with boats up to her and, with a bit of punching, kicking and big and small being used) it was mayhem – especially dunking, Hayley was quickly at the back of the pack when you can’t understand the language of the and finished 11th. Brooke, on the other hand, swam person in front of your swimmer!! The resultant pace brilliantly and followed instructions to the letter and made the first eight places go under the 5-hour stayed to the side of the pack and finished a very barrier, which is 1:12 pace per 100m for you creditable 10th. This should have been a warning to ‘poolies’. all of our swimmers of what open water racing is really like. Australia was represented by “veteran” Mark Saliba and newcomer Josh Santacaterina, who (like The boys were up next, with Ky Hurst and latest women’s team member Melissa Irwin) was 1500m sensation, Stephen Penfold. Ky was using his competing in only his second 25km event. Mark silver medallist’s experience from 1998, staying at stayed in the pack the whole way and finished 9th the front of the pack and out of trouble, as did behind Iouri Koudinov of Russia. Josh managed to Stephen – until the 2.5km buoy. At this buoy Penfold stay with the pack until the 18km mark but found the felt a hand … then a foot … push off his right going just too fast for his second race and finished shoulder and he was suddenly in great pain. His race 15th – though his time of 5 hours 12 minutes was 26 typified this team’s spirit and guts ... with Penfold minutes off his personal best. finishing the race, swimming with basically one arm for 2.5km, to gain 15th spot. Ky was swamped with In the women’s race, Australia was represented by 500m to go in a great finish to finish 6th. World Cup competitor Shelley Clark and, as previously mentioned, newcomer Melissa Irwin. As The 10km event was and had to be the showpiece with the men’s race, the pace was very fast and with event for FINA, as it presses for its inclusion in the Melissa having muscle problems early in the race, the 2004 Olympics. Both races were bathed in girls (unlike the other countries) could not work as a controversy with one male and three female team and finished in 11th and 12th positions. swimmers, who were in medal positions, disqualified for missing a buoy. In the women’s race, apparently On the same night the 25km event had finished, we half the field missed a buoy and had to turn back to went to the Closing Ceremony and, after much go around them. clothes swapping, the team believes Josh and Tamara should become used car sales reps … after their In the men’s event, Mark Saliba and Leigh Bull prowess at this. We boarded a plane for home and the represented Australia. Mark led the lead pack, which rainy skies of Sydney!! included Leigh, by 55 seconds at the 5km turn point, but in the space of 1.5km was swallowed up by the Recommendations from the trip… pack, with countries like Italy working as teams. Mark finished a creditable 14th behind race winner • If travelling overseas again, we must arrive at David Meca from Spain. The lead group hit the line the country earlier – to allow for adjustment. in a giant pack and I was glad I was not a judge.

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• More emphasis on team work in the races, which will come from more competitions. SELECTION CRITERIA • The need for a Head Coach. Although swimmers had their own programs and three Level 2 coaches were on the team, appointing 2001 EAST ASIAN GAMES a head coach would have made the manager AUSTRALIAN SWIM TEAM SELECTION CRITERIA Joe Mitchell’s job a lot easier. The Australian Swim Team to compete at the 2001 East Asian Games in Osaka, Japan from 19-27 May 2001, will • Also, appointing someone who has a lot of be selected from performances at the 2001 Australian Open Water coaching experience would have Championships in those events named in the 2001 East benefited the other coaching staff on board and Asian Games swim program. expanded the experience amongst coaches in A. Dates and Location Australia. The 2001 Telstra Australian Championships will be • The need for a trip to Europe to analyse their conducted on 24-31 March 2001 in Hobart, Tasmania at racing, training techniques and competing in the Tattersall’s Aquatic Centre. B. Eligibility their competitions for experience. Many of A team of approximately 30 swimmers will be selected European swimmers don’t compete on the subject to budget. Swimmers selected in the 2001 World Cup circuit, but their edge was their Australian World Championship Team will not be eligible teamwork in the races. for selection in this team. To be eligible for selection, a swimmer must be an Australian citizen who is eligible to represent Australia in the 2001 East Asian Games according to FINA General Rule GR2, and is a registered NORTH SHORE SWIMMING CLUB member of Australian Swimming Inc. in good standing. C. Performance Criteria The top 30 individual performances based on international The Top Swim Club in New Zealand is looking 2 per nation rankings and determined by comparing times for… swum at the meet to the 2000 ISSA World rankings with a A Head Coach and maximum of 2 per country and the swimmer assigned the A Junior Development Coach appropriate ranking. The team of 30 will then be selected from those athletes with the highest rankings with… THE HEAD COACH 1. A maximum of two swimmers per event. • Position is approximately 40 hours per week. 2. In the case of a tie for a possible position on the • Salary will be commensurate with team in a given event, a swim off will be conducted experience/applicant. in that event at a time to be determined by the Meet • Requires Level 2 and above qualifications. Director. • Will report in the first year to the Board via the 3. If two swimmers of the same sex qualify in North Shore Swimming Coaching Director, Jan different events with the same ranking the Cameron. swimmers performance at the meet will be This position is one of leadership for a staff of seven, allocated a pointscore using the 2001 International coaching excellence in a club of approximately 250 Pointscore published in the 2000 FINA Annual members of which 180 are competitive swimmers. with the swimmer with the highest pointscore being selected onto the team. THE JUNIOR DEVELOPMENT COACH 4. If two swimmers of different sexes are tied on • Position is approximately 20 hours per week. rankings for the final position on the team the • (Although part-time, a full commitment to the selectors will determine which swimmer will be program is required.) included taking into account the overall balance and • Salary will be discussed on application. needs of the team. • Requires Level 2 and above qualification. Additional Requirements for Selection The coach will be expected to play a leadership role All swimmers will be required to… with parents, swimmers and coaches in this division 1. Sign and comply with the ASI Team By-Laws and of the Top Club in New Zealand. directions and conform to ASI policy regarding Further information and a Job Description for the team preparation. above positions may be obtained from… 2. Sign and comply with the 2001 Australian Olympic Jan Cameron, Coaching Director Team Membership Agreement. North Shore Swimming Club 3. Make themselves available for all pre-departure PO Box 33 1276, Takapuna, Auckland camps and competitions designated by the ASI Or Email: [email protected] National Head Coach. Relay Nomination Policy All swimmers who are named on the 2001 East Asian Games team are eligible for the relays. The ASI Head

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Coach will consider all available information to nominate complete the Australian Universities Sports Federation the four swimmers for each relay at the time of the 2001 (AUSF) availability form (available through their East Asian Games. University Sports Union) by Friday 6th April 2001. NOTE: Swimmers selected are eligible for entry into Completed forms must be forwarded to the following individual events that are not already covered by athletes address… qualifying under the published criteria. Entry into these AUSF, P0 Box 939, Spring Hill QLD 4004 events is at the discretion of the ASI National Head Coach. ASI Selection Criteria This criteria may be amended by Board of ASI at its B. Eligibility discretion. Amended criteria will be forwarded to State A team of up to 10 swimmers will be selected subject to Associations and ASCTA for distribution to its members budget. Swimmers selected in the 2001 Australian and mailed to all members of the Dolphins squad. Goodwill Games Team will not be eligible for selection in 2001 GOODWILL GAMES this team. AUSTRALIAN SWIM TEAM SELECTION CRITERIA To be eligible for selection, a swimmer must meet the The Australian Swim Team to compete at the 2001 eligibility requirements set out in the AUSF Selection Goodwill Games in Brisbane from 29 August to 5 Policy (summary attached) and be an Australian citizen September 2001 will be selected from performances at the who is eligible to represent Australia in the 2001 World 2001 World Swimming Championships and East Asian University Games according to FINA General Rule GR2, Games. and is a registered member of Australian Swimming Inc. in A. Dates and Location good standing. The 2001 East Asian Games and 2001 World Swimming C. Performance Criteria Championships will be conducted from 19-27 May 2001 in The top 10 individual performances that equal or better the Osaka and 17-29 July in Fukuoka respectively. Selection Time Standards will be ranked based on B. Eligibility international 2 per nation rankings (excluding Australians). Two teams, one male and one female, of 22 swimmers will Rankings will be determined by comparing times swum at be selected subject to budget. To be eligible for selection, a the meet to the 2000 ISSA World ranking’s with a swimmer must be an Australian citizen who is eligible to maximum of 2 per country and the swimmer assigned the represent Australia in the 2001 Goodwill Games according appropriate ranking. The team of 10 will then be selected to FINA General Rule GR2, and is a registered member of from those athletes with the highest rankings with: Australian Swimming Inc. in good standing. 1. A maximum of two swimmers per event. C. Performance Criteria 2. In the case of a tie for a possible position on the The National Head Coach in consultation with the ASI team in a given event, a swim off will be conducted Selectors will select 22 male and 22 female swimmers in that event at a time to be determined by the Meet from performances at the 2001 East Asian Games and Director. 2001 World Swimming Championships to compete in the 3. If two swimmers of the same sex qualify in 2001 Goodwill Games. Selections will be made taking into different events with the same ranking the account the needs of the team for this dual meet round swimmers performance at the meet will be robin competition. allocated a pointscore using the 2001 International Additional Requirements for Selection Pointscore published in the 2000 FINA Annual All swimmers will be required to… with the swimmer with the highest pointscore being 1. Sign and comply with the ASI Team By-Laws and selected onto the team. directions and conform to ASI policy regarding 4. If two swimmers of different sexes are tied on team preparation. rankings for the final position on the team the 2. Make themselves available for all pre-departure selectors will determine which swimmer will be camps and competitions designated by the ASI included taking into account the overall balance and National Head Coach. needs of the team. Entry Nomination Policy 5. If less than 10 swimmers qualify using the above Entry into all events swum in this dual meet competition is criteria relay teams may be selected provided at the discretion of the ASI Head Coach taking into selected team members meet the “Relay Time account the overall needs of the team. Standard”. This criteria may be amended by Board of ASI at its 6. All selected team members may be required to discretion. Amended criteria will be forwarded to State undertake and pass a fitness test prior to departure Associations and ASCTA for distribution to its members of the team to Beijing. and mailed to all members of the Dolphins squad. D. Financial Arrangements 2001 UNIVERSITY SUMMER GAMES 1. ASI will pay the levy determined by the AUSE for The 2001 Australian University Swimming Team to attending the World University Games for the compete at the World University Summer Games in swimmers selected using the above process. Beijing from 22 August to 1 September 2001 shall be E. Notes selected form performances achieved at the 2001 Telstra 1. The AUSF may select additional swimmers to Australian Swimming Championships to be held at the attend this competition. Swimmers added by the Tattersall’s Aquatic Centre from 24-31 March 2001. AUSF outside the above ASI recommended team Intending swimmers entering the foregoing trials must will be responsible for payment of the AUSE levy.

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2. ASCTA to set criteria for Coaching staff of Championships Trials will be conducted from 24-31 foregoing team. March 2001 in Hobart, Australia. 2001 Australian World University Swimming Team Eligibility Selection Standard Times To be eligible for selection, a swimmer must be an MEN EVENT WOMEN Australian citizen who is eligible to represent Australia in 0:23.35 50M FREESTYLE 0:26.55 the 2001 World Championships, and is a registered 0:51.30 100M FREESTYLE 0:57.50 1:52.00 200M FREESTYLE 2:04.00 member of Australian Swimming Inc. in good standing. 3:57.50 400M FREESTYLE 4:19.50 Performance Criteria 8:17.00 800M FREESTYLE 8:51.00 Subject to available finance a team of up to 52 swimmers 15:40.00 1500M FREESTYLE 17:05.00 may be selected. Performance will be prioritised for 0:57.30 100M BACKSTROKE 1:04.00 selection as follows: 2:04.00 200M BACKSTROKE 2:16.60 Priority 1: First, second, third and fourth place finishers 1:04.50 100M BREASTSTROKE 1:11.50 2:18.50 200M BREASTSTROKE 2:34.00 in the men’s and women’s 100 metre 0:55.40 100M BUTTERFLY 1:02.30 Freestyle and 200 metre Freestyle. First 2:04.00 200M BUTTERFLY 2:14.00 place finisher in all other individual events. 2:05.00 200M INDIVIDUAL MEDLEY 2:19.00 Priority 2: Second place finisher in all individual events 4:27.00 400M INDIVIDUAL MEDLEY 4:53.00 other than the men’s and women’s 100- 3:46.00 4x100M MEDLEY RELAY 4:16.00 3:26.00 4x100M FREESTYLE RELAY 3:54.00 metre Freestyle and 200-metre Freestyle. 7:40.00 4x200M FREESTYLE RELAY 8:24.00 Priority 3: Fifth place finisher in the men’s and 2001 WORLD UNIVERSITY SUMMER GAMES women’s 100-metre Freestyle and 200-metre The World University Summer Games (WUSG) will be Freestyle. held in Beijing, China from 22 August until 1 September Priority 4: Sixth place finisher in the men’s and 2001. The sports to be contested at the 2001 WUSG are … women’s 100-metre Freestyle and 200-metre Athletics, Basketball, Diving, Fencing, Gymnastics, Freestyle. Soccer (m & w), Swimming, Tennis, Volleyball, Water NOTE: In the event that this selection procedure involves Polo (m), Judo and Table Tennis. more than 52 swimmers the team will be reduced back to Any athletes who meet the eligibility requirements (see 52 by firstly selecting those athletes with the highest below) and are interested in nominating for selection priority for selection. If swimmers have to be ranked should contact their National Sports Organisation or their within a priority to reduce the number to 52 this will be University Sports Association. done on rankings, using two per nation rankings Summary of Eligibility Requirements (excluding Australians) based on the December 2000 ISSA • Be an Australian citizen World rankings, with swimmers with the higher rankings AND having priority for selection over athletes with lower • Be at least 17 years of age and less than 28 years rankings. The 2001 International Pointscore published in st of age on 1 January of the year of the competition the 2000 FINA Annual will be used to break a tie for the (2001). final position on the team. In the case of a tie for a possible AND BE EITHER position on the team in a given event, a swim off will be • Enrolled and currently studying a diploma or higher conducted in that event at a time to be determined by the course at a university, TAFE* or other tertiary institution (Please note deferred students are not Meet Director. eligible for selection) Additional Requirements for Selection OR All swimmers will be required to… • Have graduated from a university in the year 1. Sign and comply with the ASI Team Agreement immediately prior to the event (i.e. graduated after and conform to ASI policy regarding team September 2000) preparation. These requirements must continue to be met to the 2. Make themselves available for all pre-departure satisfaction of AUS until the end of the event. camps and competitions designated by the ASI * Conditions apply National Head Coach. For more information regarding the AUS selection policy Relay Nomination Policy see the AUS Web Site: www.unisport.com.au. All swimmers who are named on the World Sport specific selection criteria are currently being Championships Team are eligible for the relays. The ASI developed and will be available on the AUS Web Site by National Head Coach will consider all available January 2001. information to nominate the fastest four swimmers for 2001 WORLD SWIMMING CHAMPIONSHIP each relay at the time of the World Championships. AUSTRALIAN ATHLETE SELECTION CRITERIA NOTE: Swimmers selected only for relay events are Selections for the 2001 Australian World Swimming eligible for entry into individual events that are not already Championships team will be based on performances in the covered by athletes qualifying under the published criteria. finals of the 2001 Australian Swimming Championships Entry into these events is at the discretion of the ASI and World Championships Trials in those events contested National Head Coach. at the 2001 World Championships. This criteria may be amended by the Board of ASI at its Dates and Location discretion. Amended criteria will be forwarded to State The 2001 Australian Open Championships and World Associations and ASCTA for distribution to its members

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and mailed to all members of the Dolphins squad. NOTE: A. All Australian Team Members must sign a Team 2001 WORLD OWS CHAMPIONSHIPS Agreement. AUSTRALIAN TEAM SELECTION CRITERIA B. A coach may be appointed to the team at the 1. Only entrants in the 5km, 10km and 25km event at discretion of the ASI Board. If a coach is added the 2001 Telstra Australian OWS Championships, ASCTA will recommend to the ASI Board the which will be conducted on 10-11 March 2001, will coach that should be added in line with their normal be considered for selection onto the Australian coach selection policy. Team. C. If the Open Water Championship team is housed at 2. All entrants in those events who wish to be the same venue as the Pool Team the following considered for the 2001 Australian Open Water modifications will be made to points 2 & 3 of the Swimming World Championship Team must sign above selection criteria: and return an availability form prior to the (a) Management of the team will fall under the commencement of the race. responsibility of the Head Manager of the 3. The first two men and the first two women to poo1 team with an additional assistant finish, who have signed availability forms and meet manager appointed to the pool team staff to the time limit restrictions, will be selected, subject cater for the specific needs of the OWS to budget constraints, in the 2001 Australian Open team. Water Swimming World Championship Team. DAS CRITERIA FOR THE PERIOD 31 MARCH TO 31 4. To be eligible for selection the second place getter DECEMBER 2001 must finish within the following time limits of the 1. Grants will be awarded of results from the 2001 winner of the race: Australian Championships. 4.1. 5km race no more than 5 minutes after the 2. Athletes who will receive MIS or MRS finding winner of the race; from the AOC in 2001 exceeding $8,000 per year 4.2. 10km race no more than 5 minutes after the are not be eligible for support through this scheme. winner of the race; 3. Athletes who have a gross income exceeding 4.3. 25km race no more than 15 minutes after the $50,000 per year are not eligible for support under winner of the race. this scheme. 5. The third place getter in each of the above events 4. Swimmers residing and training outside Australia will be named as a reserve if they finish within the will not be eligible for support under this scheme. relevant time limits above. 5. Payments will be determined from results achieved NOTE: All Australian Team members will be covered by at the 2001 Australian Championships. Athletes the ASI Team By-Laws and Directions to Team members finishing in the Top 4 in all World Championship and must sign must sign and return the By-laws individual events and the Top 8 in the 100m and Acceptance Form. 200m Freestyle for men and women will receive a 2001 WORLD OWS CHAMPIONSHIPS base payment plus a performance bonus based on AUSTRALIAN TEAM STAFF SELECTION CRITERIA the highest ranking achieved at the above 1. The specific needs of all swimmers and the overall Championships in an individual event swum in the needs of the team will be the prime considerations World Championship program. Payments are as when selecting staff. follows: 2. A Team Manager an Assistant Manager and four 5.1.1. Base amount … $3,000 handlers will, subject to budget constraints, be 5.1.2. Ranking Bonus on 2 per nation basis selected in the Australian Team. 5.1.2.1. 1 to3 … $6,000 3. The Team Manager and Assistant Manager of the 5.1.2.2. 4 to8 … $4,500 team will not be considered for any other position 5.1.2.3. 9 to16 … $3,000 on the team. 6. Open Water Swimmers achieving a Top 3 placing 4. For consideration for the position of “Handler” all at the World Open Water Championships will applicants must have handled at one international or receive an amount of $9,000. national 25km event. Preference will be given to: 7. To receive this payment, athletes need to maintain a 4.1. Applicants who have proven experience as a training program of at least 10 poo1 sessions per handler at international events or extensive week plus an appropriate dryland training program experience as a handler at national level. for 46 weeks per year. 4.2. The request of the individual swimmers 8. Attend the 2001 Australian Short Course selected for their preferred handler. Championships. 4.3. In addition, applicants must be able to show 9. Attend the Grand Prix Meets conducted by ASI experience/skills in the area of open water unless prior approval is received to miss a meet. team management and/or coaching of an 10. Be available for selection in any Australian Teams open water team as distinct from an being selected in 2001. individual open water swimmer. 11. Attend any training camps as directed by the 5. Selected handlers will be allocated to individual National Head Coach. swimmers within the team.

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In Section 2 there are two lists… DRUGS IN SPORT EDUCATION • Brand names of permitted and restricted By Pam Vincent, Level 2 Candidate medication – in alphabetical order. 32 Tamarind Court, Westfield WA 6111 • Brand names of permitted and restricted Phone: (BH) 9493 4399 – (AH) 9390 4582 medication – under illness or conditions.

A Attitude Symbols are used in the Handbook whether they are S Sportsmanship permitted or restricted medication … i.e. medication P Pride permitted for use by females only … indicates a I Individual responsibility substance available by prescription only. R Respect E Express Underlining indicates a substance is restricted This message … “aspire” … was taken from a lecture (classed of substances prohibited in certain by Nicole Stephenson who spoke at the ASCTA circumstances). Conference on 28th May 2000.

The medications in this Handbook are Australian Clear and simple – there is no room for brand names. Medications with similar names bought performance-enhancing drugs in swimming. overseas may contain different ingredients that may

be banned. When competing overseas, you should Each athlete is responsible for the decision they make always check with your Team Doctor or International in taking drugs … or not taking drugs. This also Federation before taking any medication, or call the includes times when they are not physically well. International Drug Information Service (phone

numbers are on pages 42-44 of the 5th Edition The “Drugs in Sport” Handbook was first published Handbook). in 1993 and is currently in its 5th Edition. There are currently 26 Governments committed to establishing Points to remember when using permitted and year-round, out-of-competition testing, promoting restricted drugs… stronger international cooperation in the fight against performance-enhancing drugs and who support the establishment of the world anti-doping agency. • Written notification for use of some medications is required to be provided to your national Athletes, coaches and parents will find the handout sporting organisation. clear and easy to read. It contains… • If you suffer from an illness or condition, take a supply of your required medication and also • Notes on the information listed. remember to check with your Sport Administrator first as they may require written permission and • A legend of explanation on page 52 (of the 5th notification to use some medications. Edition Handbook). • New medications come on the market all the time. • A reminder to check each International Sports No written publication can keep up with them all Federation Doping Policy for the doping rules of the time so, if in doubt, check with your sporting their sport. organisation, or call the Drugs in Sport Hotline – • And last but not least – the “Drugs in Sport” 1800 020 506. Hotline – if you are still unsure about any • Always check before any event, the list of banned medication after reading the Handbook. substances for your national sporting organisation,

especially if you are on any medication. In Section 1 of the Handbook you will find information on the following… • Make sure you know the “Drugs in Sport” Policy of your national sporting organisation. • Banned and restricted substances and methods. • Check the exact name of the medication you are using. Some products sound the same, but ones • Drug Testing process. not listed in the Handbook may contain banned • Athletes’ rights and responsibilities. substances – i.e. Duro-Tuss is permitted … Duro • Sanctions. Tuss decongestant is banned. • Questions asked by athletes about Drug Testing. • Overseas Drug Information Services.

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• If you call the Drugs in Sport Hotline, make sure HOW I FOUND MY LAST WORK to tell them the exact name of the medication and The Real Story for Swimming Coaches whether or not the substances came from seeking Jobs overseas. By Len Sterlin (Now Head Coach of a European Swimming Club) The following is taken from the preface of the “Drugs in Sport” Handbook. Many coaches, from time to time, face the situation “For over 10 years now, the Australian Sports Drug when they need a new job. So did I. Agency has been one of the leading anti-doping organisations in the world. This is because ASDA Some time ago, my working situation changed in a provides the sporting community with a way that I had to look for another swimming club and comprehensive anti-doping program, including drug another place. This time, especially in the era of high testing, education and international advocacy.” technologies, I decided to use the Internet as much as I could. Of course I used conventional ways, too. I would like to take this opportunity to thank ASCTA Soon after I placed my ads on several swimming and ASDA for their tireless efforts in producing sites, a job offer came to me. I did not want to repeat resources for all sporting bodies, coaches, athletes my previous negative employment environment and their parents, with Drugs in Sport Education. experience and was very thorough in choosing a new job.

IT IS CONCLUSIVE THAT THERE IS NO Below, I cite my talks with my prospective employer EXCUSE FOR THE LACK OF THOUGHT OR preceding my final decision to accept the offer. I PLANNING IN THIS AREA. have changed the names and some figures for the purpose of confidentiality. However, the whole story is absolutely real. GUNNEDAH A.S.C. We are seeking expressions of interest from I also asked for, and was given, contact details of the experienced coaches for the positions of Coach (here I call him Club’s Former Coach) who HEAD COACH worked for that club before their Last Coach. (Level 2 minimum) & Len Sterlin ASSISTANT COACHES I’d like to ask a few questions before I decide to (Level 1 minimum) undertake further steps regarding the position. What is the structure of your club? What is the performance • Head Coach to be responsible for overseeing both developmental and competitive swimming programs for level, best results and achievements? District, Country, State and National swimmers. Club Manager Our swimmers are divided into teams, by age and • Coaches need to be highly motivated with good people skill. We also have some injured swimmers who do skills and the ability to work well in a team environment. alternative activities until they are better. For results, you can check our Web Site. • Indoor heated pool available for all year training. Club’s Former Coach It is a small country and the level is not that high. • Qualifications in the use of gym equipment desirable. National records – Men’s 1500 Freestyle 16:30; 400 • Salary and contract conditions will be dependent upon Freestyle 4:10; 200 Freestyle 1:58; 100 Freestyle qualifications and experience. 53.73; 50 Freestyle 24.31. Written applications, together with a brief resume and the names of three referees, should be addressed to: Len Sterlin The Secretary What is the potential for improving the international Gunnedah A.S.C. standards of this club? PO Box 210 Club’s Former Coach Gunnedah NSW 2380 They are normal in terms of Short Course swimming th Closing Date: Friday, 9 March 2001 unless you go abroad and do some training.

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Len Sterlin Are your Assistant Coaches permanent staff or casual Is it really possible for the Club’s swimmers to helpers, adults or older students, former swimmers? achieve good swimming standards? Are they volunteer or paid? What are their duties? Club’s Former Coach Club Manager It depends on what you mean by good standards. We have Assistant Coaches to help you with your They might have one or two going to the Europeans, job. They are in charge of the lower skilled teams – but I do not think it is possible to bring the main even so, you are in charge of the assistants. The group up to European standards assistants are some of the swimmers on the first and second teams, so you will be coaching them as well Len Sterlin as teaching them how to coach others. They are fully What competition system do you have? Do your competent and have multiple courses in First Aid, swimmers participate in European swimming Life Saving and Coaching. They are paid so they meets/competitions? understand their duties as coaches. Their duties are to Club Manager coach the youngest swimmers, while you can assist We have our own meets and championships, plus we or help. also compete at international meets. One of these is the “Island games” where the national team, mostly Len Sterlin made up of our swimmers, go to. The National Team Are swimmers’ parents at the poolside during the Head Coach has, for the past five years, been our training sessions? Team Head Coach, as he is usually the most Club Manager qualified. No, they are not. We like to encourage parents not to stay around during the training sessions – this would Len Sterlin make it a little strained for both the coach and When do you expect your new Head Coach to swimmers. It is possible to see the swimmers during commence his duties? training because of the glass windows into the pool Club Manager area, but mostly the parents whose children are just If you were to take the job, you would be our new learning how to swim use this. Head Coach and we would like you to start as soon as possible as we are at the beginning of the new season. Len Sterlin Is there any probationary period in the contract? Len Sterlin Club Manager How many times has your club changed head The last few years we have had a period of two years, coaches in the last five years? How many assistant but we would prefer a contract period of four. coaches in the last two years? Club Manager Len Sterlin We have had two coach changes in the last five years. What is the percentage of real competitive swimmers The Head Coach has the responsibility of the entire in your club? club. Some of our older swimmers are coaches for Club Manager the younger swimmers as well, but you still have to All of our swimmers are competitive swimmers but guide the other coaches. For instance, you and the don’t swim internationally until they are about 13 other coaches would come to an agreement before years old. any of the younger swimmers are transferred to a Club’s Former Coach better team. 30% - that is about 150 swimmers. If you have any ideas on how to build up the club, like trips for the swimmers or the younger coaches, Len Sterlin you will have to explain them to the Board so that we Does your club have a clear philosophy? Mission can help you make them possible. This job will offer Statement? you the chance to build up a club the way you think Club Manager is best. We are willing to let you build up the club Our mission is to make the international standard of and coach the way you want to. the club higher. We are a serious club that would like to establish a higher standard of swimming. We hope Len Sterlin that you will help get the standard of our team up to You said that the club had 500 swimmers. I presume that of other European clubs, as we can see that you that the Head Coach cannot physically coach all 500 are capable and we know that you and your family people and you probably have Assistant Coaches.

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will not have any problems adapting to life in our important in terms of swimming technique country. It is a very friendly country. development at the bottom level for future success at Club’s Former Coach the advanced age group and senior levels. It is also To describe the mission will be your job, but they important in terms of building club membership and want to stay the best in the country. financial stability. Club Manager Len Sterlin The last few years our club has grown by more than Who does the Head Coach report to? An Executive 100%. We are now the largest clubs of active Director? A Club Manager? members. About our Feeder Program – yes, we have Club Manager the Learn-To-Swim program within our club. We The Head Coach only reports to the Club Manager. provide classes from “Newborns and parents” to the beginning and top of competitive swimming. As we Len Sterlin have said before, we have some of our older What is the status of your Club’s Manager? swimmers coaching the younger teams. Here, they Permanent professional paid? Volunteer? Owner of learn everything from learning to put their faces in the Club? the water and floating, to the basics of swimming Club Manager techniques. This is their responsibility and they are Our club is not owned by anyone. We are a Board of capable of doing their jobs as we have sent them on seven, who make all the decisions and I am the head various courses, like classes on Coaching, First Aid of the Board – I am a volunteer. There is a new vote and how to handle children. They coach all the for who is on the Board every other year. So far, I younger teams up to the level where you are – the have been on the Board for four years, as head of the Head Coach. Board. Club’s Former Coach Len Sterlin The Club Manager is a man and a very good Head of Why is your Head Coach leaving? Board who wants to build the club. The Board is very Club Manager supportive. Our last coach was “someone” – a well-known coach in France. We had a lot of problems communicating Len Sterlin – he wasn’t very good at speaking English and we How is the Head Coach’s performance assessed and couldn’t speak French. Also, he didn’t get along with measured? the swimmers socially. Club Manager Club’s Former Coach Your performance is measured on how well you do I left this club because my girlfriend wanted me to with our swimmers. come home and I grew tired of the people behind the National Team. Len Sterlin You said, “Your performance is measured on how Len Sterlin well you do with our swimmers”. What did you What sort of swimmers’ recruitment program do you mean? Results? Medals? Points? have? Club Manager Club Manager We, the Board, would like to see results, mostly Advertising through TV, radio and schools. The city regarding times and points. is not very large so everybody who is interested pretty much finds out. Len Sterlin What sort of change does your Club expect from the Len Sterlin new Head Coach? How much change is required? What sort of community/government support does Club Manager the club have? All we expect is for the coach to keep building up our Club Manager swimmers’ performance level. We have just signed a contract with our new head sponsor who supports us a lot. Plus the Board gets Len Sterlin the swimmers to sell raffle tickets, and have Bingo What feeder program do you have? What is the and such. potential for increasing the club members? As to “Feeder” program, I mean whether you have your Learn-To-Swim program within the club. It is very

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Len Sterlin training camps. The pool may be used for other Is your government interested in representing sports that aren’t related to us, like scuba diving and National Swimming internationally? Does it promote such. international sport? Support financially? Club Manager Len Sterlin In our country the government already represents Do you have video equipment to assist technique international swimming and they also promote improvement (underwater camera)? international sport. They support financially as well, Club Manager but this is not very much. There is a Board for the We don’t have a camera at the moment but we National Team. By the way, our Team Head Coach wouldn’t mind getting one in the near future. has also been the National Team Head Coach for the last five years, so you would probably have a pretty Len Sterlin good change of making National Head Coach. Training Schedule – how many sessions per week – both water and dry-land? What time do you start Len Sterlin morning swimming and afternoon? How long do Training facility – 25 or 50m pool? If it’s a 25m pool, these sessions last? Would you accept changes in the do you have access to a Long Course pool? Do you training system – e.g. dry-land training if you don’t have training equipment – gym, tethered swimming do it? Training Camps? More swimming practice if gear, swim bench machines, etc.? required? Club Manager Club Manager Our pool is 25 metres and, unfortunately, we don’t We have no problems with your coaching have access to a 50m pool. Our facilities are good. philosophy. We feel that letting our coaches work We have a balcony where we are allowed to go for freely gets the best results from our swimmers. dry-land. We don’t have much equipment for dry- Again, the amount of sessions, both dry-land and land, but lots for training in the water, like stretch water, is pretty much up to you as we have access to cords, flippers, etc. the pool pretty much every day. We could get access to the pool every morning. Usually, we train 5 to 7 Len Sterlin because many of our swimmers go to school. As to access to a 50m pool – it is an important part of Sometimes, in the afternoon, we get only one lane, elite swimmers’ training as most of the major which we are trying to change, but this lane is free competitions are held in Long Course pools. from 3 to 10 or 11. Your swimmers really need to spend certain time in Club’s Former Coach the 50m pool, so they would have to go for a training They would accept. camp for two or three weeks for Long Course practice. Len Sterlin Are you able to hold a Long Course Training Camp (Asking Club’s Former Coach) Are they prepared to anywhere (probably continental Europe)? put more effort in their training to achieve Club Manager international success? As for the training camps, they have been to a couple Club’s Former Coach of places before, but only for a couple of days at a Yes time (8-10). I would think it would be possible, if we combined the training camp with one of their breaks Len Sterlin during school. Students here can only be absent from Do you have educational resources and facilities – school for 15% of the classes, regardless to the cause. swimming videotapes, books and magazines, room to But if we could figure something out, it probably hold meetings with swimmers and their parents? wouldn’t be a big problem. Club Manager We have our own Club Room where you would have Len Sterlin access to a computer, Internet, Fax, etc. This is also Are there any other clubs that train in your swimming the room we use for meetings. We have some pool? movies, books and magazines, but more could easily Club Manager be purchased. No, there isn’t. The only time other swimmers from other teams use the pool would be a couple of days Len Sterlin before our National Championships. Also, for the How often do your swimmers compete? Once a past few years we have had other teams visit us for month? Twice a month (approximately of course)?

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Club Manager Club’s Former Coach Our swimmers compete approximately 1-2 times a I think they are. month. Len Sterlin Len Sterlin I’d like to clear up the endless coaching problem of If we are talking about international standards, that “what is fun and what is not fun”. If you mean by fun means average European level. … goofing around during the practice … it is strictly Am I right? Are you prepared to accept this? not acceptable. I think fun should be incorporated You said, “Again the amount of sessions on both dry- into training but my view of that is being part of the land and water is pretty much up to you”. Your team, feeling satisfied with an accomplished training swimmers would have to commit themselves to a task, experiencing success, being encouraged by the more intensive swimming program and your senior coach. swimmers would have to train twice a day on a Sources of fun can be fun sets, relays, swimming regular basis. This involves more direct coaching with equipment, swimming with clothes on, hours and more work and consequently increase in resistance swimming, underwater competitions, the coach’s salary. positive talking to swimmers (including goal setting), Please realise that I want to make sure that you are videotaping swimmers and then discussing with them looking for a certain coaching approach and that we what was filmed, mini competitions during a training can reach a mutual agreement. session, towing a swimmer, coach’s praise for Club Manager personal best time, for mastering a new skill, small We agree with your coaching philosophy. Some of rewards (special T-Shirt, sweets, movie tickets, etc.), our past coaches have used some Russian training regular team meetings, swimmer’s education by the techniques with our swimmers and we find this coach, individual recognition, etc., etc. Swimming training style usually gives good results, especially training is not always fun. It is rough and includes with our younger swimmers. personal sacrifices. Of course if one has high clear I think our swimmers would be ready to devote a lot goals and will to strive. of their time to swimming, as long as they keep on Club Manager improving. They are also a very “social” team and I When we wrote that our swimmers liked to have fun, think that out of our past coaches they liked the one we didn’t mean goofing around during practice. Your who was most social with them. They like their suggestions to what you could do for fun are just training sessions to be fun in between but are also what we had in mind. ready to put in some hard work to improve. In the past we have found that the swimmers give us their Len Sterlin best results if training is fun once in a while. What do I am very concerned about your swimmers’ you think of this? Do you also like to make some of personalities. your sessions a little fun? Do you have any Do they respect adults? Do they respect their philosophy on socialising with the swimmers? Also, schoolteachers? Do they listen to their Coach or are you might like to know that a very small part of our they laughing at him/her when required to swim a swimmers only train for the sake of being in the club training set, no matter how hard or long it is? Do you and socialising with their friends. I don’t think this have anybody who likes to “challenge” the Coach? would be a big problem, as you would not have to Can they take coaching? Do they have the will to concentrate that much on these swimmers and focus succeed or do they make excuses? Do they clearly more on our competitive swimmers. realise that their Coach is given the responsibility of We also looked at your attachment with swimming coaching THEIR TEAM? Does your club have a standard times. Some of our swimmers are above Code of Conduct? those standards, some around them and some are Club Manager under, so we would accept this. We would like you to They don’t have any problems with authority and try to raise the level of the whole team to these listening to their coach. Of course, there might be one standards but also keep on raising the standard of swimmer in-between who has a little less respect than those who have already reached the ones you are the others but this is almost impossible to avoid. We referring to. tell our swimmers to listen to the coach because he has the final say. The only time they are less Len Sterlin cooperative is when the coach doesn’t listen to them (Asking Club’s Former Coach) Are they serious or doesn’t respect them. About challenging the coach about European standards of swimming? – there was a little trouble last year with our last

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coach because it was pretty hard to communicate with him, as his English was not very good. The Len Sterlin swimmers made some complaints to the Board I didn’t completely understand your question about because they didn’t feel that he respected them – he my philosophy on socialising with the swimmers. could be pretty stubborn at times. I don’t think our If you mean social functions and events (fun swimmers make a lot of excuses but a fair amount of competitions, going out, movie nights, bowling, pics them have injuries and stop the training session if and the like) organised by the club outside of training their injury starts bothering them – by order of their practice, I would be happy to participate with the Physiotherapist. swimmers. If you mean by socialising with the Club’s Former Coach swimmers’ familiarity, I don’t think this builds up They respect you but your job is to make them look swimmer-coach relations. further their own country’s standards. If we are talking here about competitive swimming club and increasing international standards of the Len Sterlin club, I strongly believe that the most important aspect Why do your swimmers have so many injuries? It is a in socialising is competitions, swim meets, big unusual. What causes them? Is it using improper championships, cups, etc. techniques while training? Do they not stretch Club Manager enough? Is it something else? About socialising – we meant social functions – not Club Manager familiarising. Like you said, various competitions, As for the injuries, we have had a lot of trouble in the going out to a movie – once in a while. past with this but it is getting better. I would think their injuries come mostly from a lack of stretching Len Sterlin and dry-land exercises for their backs. I’m not sure if I believe that the club should have a clear team they have incorrect technique but most of the injuries concept, team spirit, and team pride. Are your are caused by their backs being too weak. We have swimmers aware of that? I would be happy to spoken to a couple of Physiotherapists and they have promote the team concept to help swimmers to some exercises to do. identify team goals for training and competition. Club Manager Len Sterlin We would like you to keep on promoting the team Does your club have a problem with discipline? Do concept as we feel this helps them strive for their your swimmers arrive at the pool on time? Do they goals. We are a serious club that would like to get in a lane on time? Do they behave? Are they establish a higher standard of swimming. We hope organised people? that you will help get the standard of our team up to Club Manager that of other European clubs, as we can see that you Our swimmers don’t have any problems with arriving are capable. to practice on time and being in the lane on time – except maybe the swimmers who don’t live in town – Len Sterlin but they will tell you if they can’t make it on time. What did you mean saying that your swimmers were Club’s Former Coach also ready to put in some hard work to improve? They have a “small country” discipline but we Once again, if we are talking about competitive changed it a bit at work. In old times they had to live swimming and international standards of by the weather and, to some point, that is still the performance, “some hard work” doesn’t make sense. reality. Therefore, 5 or 10 minutes later is not a big We have seen too many swimmers spend their time issue but it is changing and they want to change. doing what they already do well. They never They take things a bit more relaxed than we do in improve. “100% right is 100% right. 99% right is Denmark or Germany, for example. 100% wrong.” This is part of my philosophy. I presume you agree with this, don’t you? Len Sterlin Club Manager Do you consider competitive swimming as the best of Again, when I wrote “some hard work”, I didn’t all other sports to teach young people lifetime skills? mean “some” – I meant 100%. This is one thing we Club Manager try to teach them … either you put in 100% or We think that competitive swimming is an excellent nothing at all. way of teaching young people many skills – like team spirit, confidence in one’s self, devotion to the task at hand.

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Len Sterlin After such a long discussion, my family and I Is it real to have several lanes in the afternoon? Is it decided to accept this job offer. possible to start morning training later? Too-early training isn’t synchronised with human biorhythm The next stage was contract writing. The Club agreed and doesn’t encourage appropriate physiological for me to make my own version, which was later stimulus. What time does school start? Is Saturday negotiated and accepted by both sides. school day off? Club Manager Here is the Contract, with some names and figures One thing we would like to know is, how long are changed. your morning sessions? We usually had two hours in the morning. This is why we started the morning INDIVIDUAL EMPLOYMENT CONTRACT session so early. School here usually starts at 8 CONDITIONS o’clock so that shouldn’t be a problem to start later. Again, except maybe for those who don’t live in Agreed between the management of “European town. Yes, there is no school on Saturdays. We are Swimming Club” and Mr Len Sterlin (thereinafter constantly trying to get more lanes during the referred to as “Head Coach”). afternoon but we have had a little trouble with this. We are still trying to convince the city council to get 1. Introduction us more time in the pool. Do you agree with us that it is better to have the whole pool for a couple of hours Mr Len Sterlin is appointed to the permanent a day than it is to have one lane almost all day? position of “Head Coach” as defined in Clauses 3 and 4. Len Sterlin Does the club offer any sort of benefits package – life 2. Terms of Employment insurance, medical, dental, educational fund, travel and expenses, moving expenses, complimentary The Contract will run for a four-year (4) family membership and the like? period, commencing 15th October 2000 and Club Manager expiring on 15th October 2004. We offer you a place to live where you pay X,XXX a month but your pay will be increased the same 3. Duties of The Head Coach (Job Description) amount – just to avoid some problems with taxes. Your taxes go to educational funds so you don’t pay Assuming that the Mission Statement of for your children to go to school. “European Swimming Club” includes the aim We offer complimentary family membership, plus we of raising the international performance could help find a job for your wife if she would like standards of the Club, the Head Coach will us to. Jobs are fairly easy to find in our country. fulfil the following duties:

Len Sterlin • Direct coaching for the Club’s 1st Team and Do you reimburse travel and expenses – going to 2nd Team, including water and land-based swim meets, coach’s personal development and training time. membership with national and international coaching • Design and oversee a Season Training Plan associations? as well as Daily Training Plans for the Would the club pay my trip to international coaching above teams. clinics, if any, as part of the coach’s professional • Direct management of the above teams development? including – helping to set goals for each Club Manager swimmer for both training and competition I think we can help you with your relocation – encouraging each swimmer to achieve expenses and all your travelling with the swim team their goals – monitoring each swimmer’s around the country and internationally. progress – and maintaining adequate We also pay for the coach’s personal development – training and attendance records. this is part of your contract. • Set a Training Schedule and the appropriate If you have to go somewhere else, we can always use of resources in accordance with the figure something out. Club Development Program and Seasonal Plans.

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• Coordinate and supervise other teams in the • Has the authority to implement and run a Club Club. Learn-to-Swim Program. • Coordinate and supervise the Assistant • Has the authority to implement and run Clinics. Coaches and other coaches of the Club, • Has the ability to write cheques within the budget including a program for Time Trials, Club – in consultation with the Club Treasurer. Races and Swim Meets. • Provides monthly written reports to the Club • Educate and train the Assistant Coaches Manager. and other coaches of the Club by • Attends promotions run by the Club and/or Club conducting Coaches’ Clinics and assisting sponsors – in consultation with the Club Manager. with their programs and coaching • Maintains scheduled office hours. techniques. • Will keep up-to-date with current improvements • Direct Staff Meetings once a week. in the industry to continue development of • The Head Coach sets up the team’s coaching skills by participation in coaching composition and workout groups in clinics. accordance with individual physical • When possible, attends all National Swimming abilities and personal attitude towards Association meetings. training and coaching. • Participates in the Club’s Newsletter. • Make arrangements for competitions and determining the team’s Competition 5. Employer’s (“European Swimming Club” Schedule. Also, select individual Obligations & Responsibilities swimmer’s competition events and the composition of the Club’s teams for The Club recognises the Head Coach’s professional different competitions. expertise, qualification and education. The Club will • Oversee team travel, best times and team provide resources, feedback and support for the Head records. Coach. The Club will provide appropriate working • Structure individual and team warm-ups. conditions for the Head Coach, including the • Direct a Parent Education Program. following… • Attend all specified competitions including international, national and local swim • Necessary amount of pool training time with a meets. minimum allocation of swimming lanes of two • Attend all pertinent meetings at lanes at a time (this is in accordance with the competitions. Training Plans). • Deal with special projects. This may take • Where and when possible, the Club Management the form of Long Course and/or Altitude will facilitate team coaching at a Long Course Training Camps with Club Management swimming pool. approval. Other additional activities will be • Use of necessary equipment including in liaison with the Club Manager. stopwatches, tethered swimming gear, land-based training gear. Note: The Job Description may be amended at any • Assistance with timekeeping during Team’s Time time, with the agreement of the Head Coach and the Trials and testing practices. Club Management. • A personal computer (with its software upgrade and repair if necessary), stationery, access to the 4. Authorities & Other Duties of the Head Internet, E-mail, fax and photocopying. Coach • Video equipment for the purpose of teaching of the Club Members and tuition of the coaching The Head Coach: staff. • Office space and space for tuition of the coaching • In conjunction with the Club Management, help staff. plan the Club’s Budget. • Is a permanent member of the Club Management, The Club will provide an appropriate coaching and with a right to vote. teaching environment in accordance with the Club • Has the authority to dismiss any swimmer Constitution and the Club’s Code of Conduct. temporarily.

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The Club will provide conditions for the Head overall teams’ performance in competitions as well as Coach’s training and professional development. This sports results achieved by individual swimmers. will include… 8. Hours of Work • X,XXX per year educational fund for books, videotapes and magazines (which will remain the Normal hours will include direct coaching time (pool property of the Club). coaching time will be dependent upon a stage of the • Contribution to the cost of attending Coaching training season with a minimum of forty (40) weeks Clinics and Courses by helping the Head Coach to per year), time for programming, office hours, arrange financial support from the Faroese attendance at competitions, attendance at Training Government. Camps, attendance at the Club Management • Professional dues including membership of the Meetings, time for reports preparation and any other national and international swimming coaches duties to fulfil the requirements of the Job associations, certification and safety training. Description. • Five (5) hours per week of personal swimming practice. 9. Leave

6. Compensation and Benefits Statutory Holidays:

• The initial salary payable to the Head Coach is • The Head Coach may take paid leave on a XX,XXX gross a month. Payment will be made statutory holiday in accordance with “Employees monthly by direct credit to the Head Coach’s bank Legislation”. account on the first working day of each month. • The Head Coach may elect to work on a Statutory • In the case of serious accident or illness, payment Holiday if required to do so, by competition of salary for thirty (30) working days. calendar and/or season plan. • Reimbursement in full for competition expenses • If the Head Coach works on a Statutory Holiday including travel, accommodation and meal. and the Statutory Holiday falls on a day that • Relocation expenses. would otherwise have been a working day for the • The Club will provide a fully furnished and Head Coach, the Head Coach will be entitled to equipped apartment for the Head Coach and one (1) day’s paid leave in lieu of that Statutory family at no cost to the Head Coach (which will Holiday. remain the property of the Club). • If the Head Coach works on a Statutory Holiday, • The Club will provide two (2) return tickets a year the Head Coach will be paid for that day at to major European cities for the Head Coach’s ordinary time. vacation. Annual Leave • Life Insurance.

• Medical Insurance. • The Head Coach will be entitled to seven (7) • Liability Insurance. calendar weeks paid Annual Leave. • Five (5) personal days per year. • The Head Coach may choose to split up the • Sundays off at the Head Coach’s discretion, Annual Leave at his/her discretion. except for scheduled competitions. • Annual Leave will be taken with prior agreement • Complimentary Membership of the Club’s of the Club Management and within the calendar facilities for spouse and children. year. Leave outstanding at the end of the calendar • Full rights to all printed materials related to year should be taken in consultation with the Club workouts, skill development and training. Full Management. rights to all monies earned for publication of such • Annual Leave will coincide with the shutdown printed materials or speaking engagements related periods in the swimming season. Any leave to such materials. outside of these times may be taken with approval

of the Club Management. 7. Performance Criteria

The Head Coach’s performance will be assessed by the Club Management in close relationship with the

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Special Leave Coach, the compensation rates will be renegotiated. • The Head Coach will be entitled to five (5) days • Legal matters … the conditions of this Contract paid Special Leave per calendar year. are regulated by the “Employees Legislation”. • Special Leave may be taken by the Head Coach • Personal Grievance and Disputes Procedure … in when… the event of personal grievance or dispute, the • The Head Coach is sick … or… Club Management and the Head Coach will take • The spouse or dependant child or dependant the following course of action: parent of the Head Coach or of the Head 1. The Club Manager and the Head Coach will Coach’s spouse is sick and requires care by the meet to discuss the grievance or dispute. Head Coach … or… 2. If the problem is not revolved, written • The Head Coach suffers bereavement in statements of each party’s view will be relation to an immediate family member. exchanged. • Special Leave does not accumulate from year to 3. If the problem is still not resolved, the Head year but the Club Management, at its discretion, Coach or Club Management can apply to the may grant additional Special Leave with or Employment Tribunal for help. without pay. • In the event of a swimmer complaint to the Club Management regarding coaching, the Club 10. General Conditions Management will leave the final decision on this matter at the Head Coach’s discretion. • The Club and Head Coach will work together to build a fully integrated Teaching, Training and 11. Health and Safety Education Program. • The Club will accept that it is not possible, nor is While it is the Club Management’s responsibility to it expected and practical, that the Head Coach can take all practicable steps to provide a safe working coach each swimmer in the entire Club. It is environment, it is up to the Head Coach to ensure assumed that the Club has the Head Coach’s their own safety while at work and to adhere to any Program, not the Head Coach coaching every safety regulations that might be issued from time to swimmer in the program and the Head Coach will time by the Club Management. teach, train and coach the Club’s most advanced and senior, dedicated and committed athletes. 12. Other Provisions • Allowance will be made for periods when the Head Coach is absent at competitions or Training • The Head Coach will be entitled to redundancy Camps with the senior or higher-achieving compensation under any circumstances with athletes. During periods of absence of the Head payment of salary for sixty (60) working days. Coach due to leave, competition attendance, • The Head Coach will loyally cooperate with the participation in Courses/Clinics towards his/her Club Management. further education, the National Team Training • The Head Coach will not disclose to any person Camps and competitions, etc., the Head Coach any Club information of a confidential nature. will provide a competent substitute coach with • All Club equipment remains the property of the prior approval of the Club Management. Club. • Resignation/Termination … after two (2) years of • This Contract may be renewed, without employment, the Head Coach may terminate the interruption, by mutual agreement between the employment on two (2) months’ notice in writing Head Coach and the Club Management in writing to the Club Management. two (2) months prior to the expiration date. • Variation of this Contract … the compensation • All other Terms and Conditions not set out in this rates and conditions of employment set out in this Contract but still forming part of this Individual Contract may be varied by mutual agreement Employment Contract, will be in accordance with between the Club Management and the Head statutory employment regulations. Coach at any time in writing. The salary will be reviewed at six (6) month intervals in conjunction This was my story, which I hope will be helpful for with performance criteria set out in Clause 7. In coaches seeking new employment. Good luck! the case of the Head Coach employment by the National Swimming Association as a National

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Dear Friends,

November 2000 Letters to the Editor This year, alas, the Christmas letter is hardly a travel talk. It was a different year, most of our journeys were to Concord Hospital and to Homebush, both within 20 minutes of home, but we did get to the 4th December 2000 US Olympic Trials in Indianapolis and after that an interesting short trip to Florida. From: In January, during the State Championships, Forbes was suddenly afflicted with an “acute Miss Naomi Robinson abdomen”. It turned out to be pancreatitis, severe 46 Young Street inflammation of the – all important in digestion – Holbrook pancreas. Concord Hospital Emergency Department established this was caused by small gallstones (15 – Fax: 60362295 each the size of a peppercorn or Osmocote granule) blocking the pancreatic duct. The only “cure” is total starvation, even water is through a drip, for days, weeks or months. Forbes was “lucky” – he was only on this drastic procedure for eight days. He lost 14lbs and was to report back for gallstone surgery when the pancreatitis “calmed down”. A few minor irregularities prompted the doctor to prescribe a super-duper pacemaker (he is 80 next June) – a big thing like a flat stopwatch. Your every movement, every thought about moving, is recorded to be replayed and monitored by the doctor each month. It’s worth $10,000! Fortunately, on Medicare. It’s our most expensive possession! They say if you drop dead thieves go for the pacemakers and sell them to vets for overweight, over-pampered dogs! Shades of the Chinese selling body parts. On 31st January I left Forbes at Concord Hospital for the gallstone operation. No sooner was I home than the hospital rang. I was to return immediately. Forbes had had his one and only “heart attack”. Fortunately, before he was on the operating table. The cardiologist, in view of Forbes’ good cholesterol and other levels and his history of always being very careful not to eat saturated fats, was “very surprised”. He decided the occluded heart vessels were hereditary. The gallstone operation was changed to 8- hour open-heart surgery with five bypasses at R.P.A. – Sydney’s major heart operation hospital. What a business … tubes in and out everywhere – breathing machines – feeding machines – eliminating machines – electrocardiograms – monitoring machines – alarms and beepers – doctors and nurses! The hospital people were marvellous … professional, efficient, helpful … even understanding. Well, almost! We struck a few rat bag patients who wouldn’t shut up. They upset the whole ward by continually yelling for the nurse for no (apparently) valid reason. One kept pulling his tubes out, which

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set off emergency alarms all over the ward. Many, to The atmosphere at the Trials was electric. The add to the general confusion, didn’t speak English! whole place decked out in red, white and blue. US It was pretty traumatic. Forbes was very weak. flags everywhere. There were pictures of previous Fortunately, there was no infection of the huge cut Olympians and, painted on the wall, the names of the down the front of the chest, made for the surgeon to last five or six US Olympic Swimming Teams. As sew in the new vessels taken from veins in the thighs! swimmers made this team, the artist was there, on the Finally, it was going home time. All Forbes spot, painting up their names! wanted to eat was soup, jelly and – of all things – As with our Trials, the stands were packed for beer, which usually he never drinks. Now I know all every session, even for the 10 heats of the 1500! about the different, exotic beer brands! For weeks I Despite their professionalism, the officials worked was climbing up and down stairs. Of course our under surprisingly bad conditions. The deck was very bedroom is upstairs and the kitchen downstairs. We’d narrow – coaches and swimmers (1300 of them) were just be set and … “this needs more salt” … “the seated there. Most actually had to stand – space was soup’s not hot enough” … the beer’s not cold so cramped – with the TV camera tracks, there was enough” … “the jelly’s not set”. How could such about ½m left for officials to walk. Like everyone on simple meals require so many trips up and down the the deck, they had to jump out of the way of the TV stairs? As Forbes got better, he wanted more and camera. In the first session, the camera bumped into a more bits and pieces brought up to the bedroom. I swimmer and broke her leg (!), fortunately not a top drew the line at the computer (which is NOT a swimmer – nothing must get in the way of laptop) but we must have had three TV’s and four commercial interests! This is the year 2000! We’re radios, lots and lots of tapes, videos and CDs – not to all in the same boat there! mention heaps and heaps of newspapers and We were amazed to see three fully equipped magazines from the Financial Times to Playboy! He lifeguards in their togs with buoyancy floats and was recovering. A few weeks after the operation he breathing equipment, continually at the ready, eyes staggered out into our front “garden” to do a couple fixed on the water the whole time during the warm- of TV interviews. Some issue had come up – drugs or up of a pool full of the world’s best swimmers, all long swim suits. already accompanied by their own, presumably, Six months after the original illness, during which highly qualified personal coaches. Such is the state of time there were a number of minor complications, the insurance industry and litigation in the US! which had him in and out of hospital, Forbes was It seemed strange; the American’s need for direct considered fit enough to have the gallstone operation, and deliberate building of nationalism, as on display so another week in Concord Hospital and a few more at this meet. That aggressive Americanism, which weeks recuperation. Part of the healing process was many people around the world find objectionable, structured cardiac rehabilitation classes at the does not occur by chance. Of course, when you think hospital with stationary bicycles, weights, walks, etc. about it, it makes sense – their swimmers have come These took most of the morning. I would drive him from all over a very widespread land and their Trials over and come back later to pick him up. Not quite are the first step in moulding them into a cohesive the same as travelling overseas, but I had to wonder national team, rather than different University and what would have happened had we been in some very Club teams competing against each other. There was remote and/or very expensive country when the heart singing of the “Stars and Stripes” by choirs, by attack came! One of Forbes’ specialists, a Sydney groups, by individuals – continual waving of the flag University Professor, who did the “3-hole” gallstone and wearing of national colours – as you would operation, remarked that you have to be very careful expect at the Olympics, rather than on the way to it. where you get seriously ill! Successful Olympians, and their coaches, were With daily walking and riding the exercise presented with Olympic towels and gear by previous bicycle, Forbes improved greatly and we decided he Olympians who spoke of their swimming would be fit enough to go to the US Olympic Trials experiences. Whole teams from past Olympics were in Indianapolis in August. We were able to stay at the introduced with their coaches and officials. Many main hotel for the meet with a lot of coaches, spoke with almost religious fervour of the honour of officials and swimmers. We even had the use of a car being on a US Olympic Team! (although we could have walked) to get to the We had been given wonderful seats – right over historic, small, but very suitable 50m indoor pool at the finish – and with a heap of “old” (in all senses) Purdue University, paid for partly by the town and friends from our long association with American partly by the University. swimming. The meet was a great experience!

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Indianapolis has survived the change from a mid Key West is a special spot, which keeps its 1920s western farming centre to a prosperous commercial atmosphere of charming narrow streets, old-style city about a quarter the size of Sydney. Very wooden 2-storey shops, houses and hotels, the gracious, with a Courthouse, State buildings, lots of flavour of the speakeasy, of illegal liquor, of drugs new malls and galleries of shops and some great and brothels. It rained, it poured, we got drenched. restaurants. There was an Italian one, which Our umbrellas were safely back at the hotel! We got specialises in giving servings so big NO ONE, not caught under a tiny awning around a square. even swimmers, can finish them. They must have Adjoining us was another tiny awning with a “high- their own pig farm out the back! Each dish took up on-drugs” hippie who proceeded to take out a bar of half the table and food was piled half a metre high! soap and undress for a bath! Food was not expensive, except that our Exchange We went, as day-trippers, on a launch about 10 Rate made everything expensive. miles into the Gulf of Mexico to a super luxury resort John Leonard, the Executive Director of the island where we had a magnificent buffet brunch. A American Coaches Association, a long time friend of 5-star hotel, total luxury on a remote island. I think ours, invited us to “visit with him” at his home in that’s the way I’d like to do a “Treasure Island” Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Fort Lauderdale is the (from TV) stint, at a place like that. As we prepared prototype for the canal homes of our Gold Coast. The to leave, announcements came of bad weather and Leonards, and dogs and cats, have a great home on a hundreds of boats from further out and all around us canal in a “gated” community a few blocks from the started to make their way back to land, racing the sea – their own pool and jetty for their boats. We dark storm clouds. heard how one of their boys managed to lose the We arrived back in Sydney to find the pool outboard off the boat in the canal. He put his life situation still unresolved. We had to leave Ryde pool saving skills to the test and retrieved it from the in October 1998 for its rebuilding for the Olympics. muddy bottom! We spent some time at Homebush then had to leave This part of Florida is, like our Gold Coast (but there. Ruth Everuss at Auburn has been magnificent not so many Japanese), the retirement capital of US. in helping us with pool space. As I write, we are still Heaps of multi, multi-storey high-rise apartment using lanes at Auburn in the mornings. Many, many blocks all along the foreshore, plenty of restaurants thanks to Ruth for her generosity. We had stints at and clubs and millions of very expensive boats. Loretto, Normanhurst and Navington College at The World Swimming Hall of Fame is there, too. Stanmore. Now we are settled in at the “Healthy Now refurbished and associated with the beautiful Business” pool at Delhi Road, North Ryde – still outdoor swimming and diving pools of the Hall of waiting for the final OK to return to Ryde in mid- Fame complex. We saw the display on Forbes, which December 2000. We were ready to finalise was pretty good ... he was inducted into the Hall of arrangements on 21st December 1999. A year later Fame in 1976. There is a plaque outside the garden as we’re not sure “they” (Next Generation, the well. The whole place is built on reclaimed land out Australian arm of David Lloyd Leisure) have got into the water, surrounded by these incredibly around to reading our submission! Our sincere thanks expensive deep-sea fishing boats from all over the to those pupils who have followed us around all this world. Some even had their own helicopters for fish time. spotting! Over the Olympics we had to close our Cross The only disadvantage with Florida life seems to Street Learn-To-Swim pool, as we are too close to be the inevitable afternoon tropical thunderstorm and the Ryde Aquatic Centre, which was the water polo the occasional tornado, which can both severely venue. We were in the NO PARKING area, so disrupt your outdoor teaching and training programs. business-wise not a great time. We were delighted to The Leonards drove us down past Miami to Key be able to offer a home to some US coaches during West – the most southern point of the US. A the Games. What an exciting time it was. Top marks fascinating drive – we did it years ago – over wooden to the Organising Committee on about all counts. As bridges. Now, much upgraded, huge steel bridges up ex-Olympians we had been able to buy tickets to all to seven miles long link the chain of islands – Keys – the swimming (at the normal price). We had which make up the tip of North America. We stopped different, good seats, not great, for every session. We at a café-cum-boat hiring-fishing place along the were able to get home between heats and finals every way. You “feed the fish” – huge tarpon, up to 1½m – day. Like everyone else, we toned up a lot with all they jumped right up to take the food out of your the unavoidable walking. We had some little tricks hand! with a bicycle and a “secret” parking place, which would have been ideal had we not come out of the

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stadium and walked the wrong way after the Opening The cats did not like the Olympics as they were Ceremony. We walked for about 45 minutes with the relegated to staying up stairs “out of the way” of an flow – but the wrong way – we were misdirected by asthmatic and of people who might leave doors open. officials. Finally, we decided we needed the opposite Now they are back to their usual, unhurried, totally direction so then we had about 10km to walk against spoilt way of life. They rather liked it when Forbes the flow!! From then on we were much more careful! was bed ridden – thought he’d finally realised their As Australia’s first ever competitor in Modern 95%-of-the-day-asleep pattern was the way to live! Pentathlon in 1952, Forbes was invited (with me) to In planning for next year, with the Australian the two days (men and women) of it in Sydney. Now dollar the way it is, Broome, the Kimberleys, all five events are held on the one day instead of the Cooktown and Cairns look quite enticing. Perhaps original five days. The format is changed – Pistol New Zealand – their dollar is even worse than ours – Shooting is first, then Fencing (held in one of the 39¢ I believe! First, however, we need to be settled in RAS halls), then we walked down to the pool and, at Ryde Pool again. Hopefully, this is being settled, after the swimming, back to the Showground ring for finally, even as I write. the Riding and Running. We found it quite exciting Happy Christmas to you all. and we caught up with a lot of friends, all, also, Ursula previous competitors. The Closing Ceremony followed on after the final day of Modern Pentathlon so that was a long day as the Pentathlon kicked off each day at 6.30am. TO THE SUPPORTERS, FRIENDS, STAFF It’s been an unusual year. Forbes’ medical AND PATRONS OF ALAN THOMPSON’S problems, the pancreatitis, the pacemaker, the open- SWIM SCHOOL heart surgery, the gallstone operation and his less than 100% vision following eye surgery, have made I would like to thank everyone who supported OUR us both take a good look at “life”. My brother John Swim School in the recent contract negotiations with has bone cancer of the roof of his mouth and my Campbelltown Council. brother Mark had heart surgery the previous year in fact. We’re all getting older – Forbes is now spending I am sure WE would not have been successful time, between long walks and riding the exercise without YOUR support. The letters YOU wrote, the bicycle, organising the vast mountains of files, films phone calls YOU made and the discussions YOU had and videos which represent the story of his life – on OUR behalf ensured that YOU were listened to largely the history of swimming in Australia. This is and the Swim School was able to remain at a mammoth task. The house next door, which we are Campbelltown Swimming Centre. buying, is full of this stuff. It was with great effort that we boxed it all up to fit in our Olympic visitors – The support of the Local Newspapers, The Advertiser now the boxes have burst open with a flood of files, (Wayne Cousins, Eric Kontos), The Chronicle papers, letters, books, brochures, magazines, letters, (Amanda Tesler, Emma Bladen) gave this important cuttings, albums, programs, letters and more letters. issue great coverage and invaluable support. As well as wading through all this, Forbes is editing all the old swimming film we’ve taken to make two Thanks to my Staff and the many Patrons of the or three really worthwhile “History of Swimming” Swim School who continually gave us moral support films. The Canberra Film & Archive Museum is through this difficult time. interested, as are the Australian and overseas Swimming Coaches Associations. I would like to take this opportunity to pass on my Forbes’ rather nice Ford station wagon was stolen Best Wishes for the New Year. from Top Ryde shopping centre the other day – not a good year! I know how the Queen felt! We hope the Once again, Thank You Very Much. tide will turn when we get back into Ryde Swimming Centre and can resume normal training there. Alan Thompson We’ve been to most of our usual operas, ballets 30th December 2000 and plays. Of course hospital and post-hospital treatment has taken up a lot of time. Filling in all the claim forms has taken even longer and been more frustrating – along with the GST and BAS.

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Refer Page 93 in November-December 2000 Issue

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FINA SPORTS MEDICINE COMMITTEE (MED) Chairman Dr David Garrard NZL Honorary Secretary Dr Margo Mountjoy CAN Members Dr Khwaja Aziz BAN Dr Peter Snape GBR Dr Mohammed Kouidri ALG Dr van den Hoogenband NED Reproduced from Volume XXVII, No.10 Bureau Liaison Manuel de Jesus PUR NEW COMMITTEES & COMMISSIONS FINA DOPING CONTROL REVIEW BOARD (DCRB) Chairman Dr Andrew Pipe CAN

nd th Members Willem L Mosterd At its meeting on 22 September, the 18 FINA M.D., Ph.D. NED Bureau appointed the members of the new Prof. Winton Arthur Hawksworth RSA Committees and Commissions, namely the new Prof. Wu Moutian CHN Coaches Commission, for the period 2000-2005. Dr Brian Corrigan AUS FINA Executive 2000-2005 Prof. Jordi Segura ESP President Mustapha Larfaoui ALG Dr Malcolm Cameron GBR Honorary Secretary Bartolo Consolo ITA Dr Larry D Bowers Honorary Treasurer Julio Maglione URU DABCC USA FINA Bureau 2000-2005 FINA PRESS COMMISSION President Mustapha Larfaoui ALG Chairman Camillo Carnetti ITA Honorary Secretary Bartolo Consolo ITA Honorary Secretary Jean-Louis Meuret FRA Honorary Treasurer Julio Maglione URU Members Chaker Belhadj TUN Vice Presidents Chief Olatokunbo Thomas NGR Nick Thierry CAN Hironoshin Furuhashi JPN Elena Vaitsekhovskaia RUS Gennady Aleshin RUS Gregory Eggert USA Dale Neuburger USA Javier Lopez COL Roger Smith AUS Russell McKinnon AUS Members Abd El Rahman Amin EGY Bureau Liaison & Hussain Al Musallam KUW Spokesperson at Rafael Blanco ESP FINA Events Sam Ramsamy RSA Manuel De Jesus PUR FINA ATHLETES COMMISSION Sven Egil Folvik NOR Chairman Janet Evans USA Eldon C. Godfrey CAN Honorary Secretary Aleksandre Popov RUS Nory Kruchten LUX Members Miyako Tanaka JPN Francis Luyce FRA Xiong Ni CHN Guillermo Martinez CUB Manuel Estiarte ESP William Matson NZL Penny Heyns RSA Coaracy Nunes Filho BRA Fernando Platas MEX Pipat Paniangvait THA Gustavo Borges BRA Sam Ramsamy RSA Lilli Alucci ITA Qiuping Zhang CHN Muriel Lhermine FRA Honorary Melissa Cunningham AUS Life President Lic. Javier Ostos MEX Irina Viguzova KAZ Immediate Past FINA COACHES COMMISSION Honorary Secretary Gunnar Werner SWE Chairman Peter Daland USA FINA TECHNICAL SWIMMING COMMITTEE (TSC) * Honorary Secretary Alan Thomson AUS Chairman Carol Zaleski USA Members Leif Carlson SWE Vice Chairman Michel Salles FRA Juan Jane ESP Honorary Secretary Soren Korbo DEN Osvaldo Arsenio ARG Members Ben Ekumbo KEN Imura Masayo JPN William MacFarlane CAN Shaozhen Zhong CHN Orban Mendoza PUR FINA DOPING PANEL Woon Sui Kut SIN Chairman Ross Wales USA Shinji Higashijima JPN Members Jean Lob SUI Don Blew AUS Ben Belkacen Farid ALG Andriy Vlaskov UKR Toshiro Ueganagi JPN Ruediger Tretow GER Harm Beyer GER Bureau Liaison Roger Smith AUS Peter Kerr AUS * One Member from Americas to be appointed FINA DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION FINA TECHNICAL OPEN WATER SWIMMING President Mustapha Larfaoui COMMITTEE (TOWSC) Honorary Secretary Bartolo Consolo Chairman Alan Clarksson GBR Honorary Treasurer Julio Maglione Vice Chairman Hans Beijer NED Vice Presidents Gennadi Aleshin Honorary Secretary Shelley Taylor-Smith AUS Chief O. Thomas Members Mohid Farid EGY Hironoshin Furuhashi Sid Cassidy USA Dale Neuburger Ronnie Wong HKG Roger Smith Vladimir Srb CZE Executive Director Cornel Marculescu Flavio Bomio SUI Valerijus Belovas LAT Dennis Miller FIJ Thomas Haces CUB Jaime Cardenas COL Bureau Liaison Nory Kruchten LUX

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IOC ATHLETES COMMISSION The following classes of substances shall be prohibited AT ALL TIMES… Three of the most prominent FINA athletes were elected to the IOC Athletes Commission. A. Anabolic agents B. Diuretics and masking agents In a vote that took place in the Olympic Village in C. Peptide hormones, mimetics and analogues Sydney, Aleksandre Popov (RUS – Swimming), Susie O’Neill (AUS – Swimming) and Manuel 2. All violations of Doping and Control Rules Estiarte (ESP – Water Polo) were chosen with five conducted by Continental Bodies or Regional more athletes from a group of 45 contenders. Organisations consisting of FINA Members shall be heard by the FINA Doping Panel. Along with these three athletes, FINA President Mustapha Larfaoui (ALG), FINA Honorary 3. Any competitor anticipating a possible world Treasurer Dr Julio Maglione (URU) and FINA record is responsible to ensure that doping Bureau Member Sam Ramsamy (RSA) are also IOC control is available. Members. 4. Sanctions have been enhanced according to the Prior to the elections, the General Congress took following FINA new Rules, DC9.1.5 and other important decisions. Among them… DC9.1.6, as follows…

1. The recognition of the Continental DC9.1.5: A new doping offence involving another Organisations – however, the FINA Bureau prohibited substance by a competitor who has been must approve their Constitutions. sanctioned for a doping offence shall be sanctioned 2. The creation of a new Sports Medicine as for a second offence of that substance. Committee. 3. In the World Swimming Championships DC9.1.6: Sanction for violation under DC2.1,a) Program, the 50m events in Backstroke, involving more than one prohibited substance shall Breaststroke and Butterfly for both men and be imposed in accordance with the rule for the women, as well as the Men’s 800m Freestyle substance with the greatest sanction of the found and the Women’s 1500m Freestyle will be substances. included. 4. The decision concerning the approval of the No additional sanction shall follow for the other Mixed Duet in Synchronised Swimming was doping offence, but the presence of all prohibited referred to the FINA Technical Congress, to be substances found shall be noted in the award. held in Fukuoka, Japan, in July 2001. A new adverse report from the same competitor There were also some important decisions concerning suggesting presence of a prohibited substance shall the Doping Rules. be sanctioned in accordance with rule DC9.1.5.

1. The substances prohibited in competition are… Finally, the General Congress confirmed the following members of the FINA Doping Panel… A. Stimulants B. Narcotics Mr Harm Beyer (GER) C. Anabolic agents Mr Tashiro Neganagi (JAP) D. Diuretics and masking agents Mr Ben Belkasen Farid (ALG) E. Peptide hormones Mr Jean Lob (SWI) F. Canabinoids Mr Ross Wales (USA) G. Beta-blockers (Diving and Synchronised Mr Peter Kerr (AUS) Swimming only) H. Corticosteroids I. Local anaesthetics

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FINA DOPING PROGRAM 1044 TESTS IN 2000! Sydney, 15th September 2000 In-Competition Doping Tests 2000

Proceeding with its fight against doping, FINA has Africa South Africa 5 carried out, so far, 1044 doping tests during the first Total for Africa 5 nine months of 2000. Among these, 810 were out-of- Americas Brazil 3 competition tests and 234 in-competition. Canada 16 Cuba 2 Out-of-Competition Doping Tests 2000 Mexico 10 Puerto Rico 2 Africa South Africa 21 USA 25 Total for Africa 21 Total for Americas 58 Americas Brazil 11 Asia China 47 Canada 35 Hong Kong 2 Costa Rica 1 Cuba 2 Indonesia 2 Jamaica 2 Japan 2 Panama 1 Kazakhstan 3 Puerto Rico 1 Macau 1 USA 189 P.R. of Korea 1 Total for Americas 242 Asia China 79 Syrian Arab Republic 1 Japan 46 Total for Asia 59 Korea 5 Europe Belarus 3 Malaysia 1 Belgium 1 Singapore 3 Croatia 1 Thailand 1 Total for Asia 135 Czech Republic 2 Europe Austria 1 Denmark 1 Belarus 5 Finland 2 Belgium 1 France 3 Croatia 2 Germany 13 Czech Republic 5 Great Britain 9 Denmark 7 Finland 2 Greece 2 France 14 Hungary 3 Germany 60 Italy 7 Great Britain 29 Monaco 1 Hungary 17 Netherlands 3 Israel 3 Italy 18 Norway 1 Lithuania 1 Poland 4 Netherlands 31 Romania 3 Poland 3 Russia 12 Portugal 1 Slovakia 1 Romania 14 Russia 23 Slovenia 2 Slovakia 1 Spain 2 Slovenia 2 Sweden 3 Spain 16 Switzerland 2 Sweden 19 Ukraine 6 Switzerland 2 Ukraine 16 Yugoslavia 2 Total for Europe 293 Total for Europe 88 Oceania Australia 118 Oceania Australia 22 New Zealand 1 New Zealand 2 Total for Oceania 119 Total for Oceania 24 Grand Total 810 Grand Total 234

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FINA CALENDARS OF EVENTS SWIMMING CHAMPIONSHIPS, WORLD CUPS, GAMES 2001 WSCA NEWSLETTER July 17-29 9th FINA World Fukuoka JPN WORLD SWIMMING COACHES ASSOCIATION Championships July 22-Aug 1 19th Deaf World Rome ITA Games Aug 22-Sep 1 Universiade Beijing CHN Aug 29-Sep 9 5th Goodwill Games Brisbane AUS Sep 2-15 14th Mediterranean Tunis TUN Games Nov 3-11 1st Afro-Asian Games New Delhi IND December European Short TBA Course Champs th TBA 7 Central American Guatemala City GUA Games st 2002 1 Floor, 461 Olive Street, Albury NSW 2640 Mar 21-Apr 3 9th FINA World Masters Christchurch NZL Phone: (02) 6041 6077 – Fax: (02) 6041 4282 Champs E-mail: [email protected] Apr 4-7 14th World Sports Moscow RUS Medicine Congress Apr 4-7 6th FINA World Moscow RUS Championships 25m (Reproduced from ASCA Newsletter, Apr 4-14 7th South American Cordoba ARG Volume #2000 Issue #8) Sports Games Jun 30-Jul 7 2nd FINA World OWS Bled SLO Championships (to confirm) US SWIM TEAM SETS THE Jul 25-Aug 4 26th European Champs Berlin GER (to confirm) STANDARD FOR FUTURE Jul 26-31 XVII Commonwealth Manchester GBR By Karen Allen, USA Today, 25th September 2000 Games December European Short TBA Course Champs “SYDNEY – One for the history books.” 2003 Jul 15-27 10th FINA World Barcelona ESP Champs That’s what US swimmers and coaches are calling 2004 their 2000 Olympic Games performance. Oct 7-10 7th FINA World Indianapolis USA Champs (25m) FINA CONGRESSES The USA expected a fight to the end from Australia – FUKUOKA, JAPAN – 2001 and the Aussies gave it to them. But the Yanks were July 19 Extraordinary Congress, if required the clear winners. “When you face a great opponent, July 19 Open Water Swimming Technical Congress it forces you to get your act together”, said sprint star July 20 Swimming Technical Congress Gary Hall, who unseated two-time Olympic champion Aleksandre Popov in the 50-metre BIDS FOR FINA EVENTS th Freestyle, won a bronze in the 100 and anchored the For the 8 FINA World Swimming silver medal-winning 4x100 Freestyle Relay and the Championships (25m) in 2006, bids must be st world record-setting Medley Relay, the meet’s final presented before 1 October 2001. event.

For each of the following events, bids must be st When all the medals were handed out and all the presented no later than 31 December 2001… records counted, everyone realised they had seen history, especially the sell-out Sydney Aquatic Centre rd • 3 FINA World Open Water Swimming crowd. Long after the meet was over, the crowd Championships, 2004 lingered, watching the video highlights on a big th • 10 FINA Masters World Championships, screen and watching the list of the 15 world records 2004 scrolling on the scoreboard.

For all these events, bids must be addressed to the “They didn’t want to go home, even though Australia FINA Office in Lausanne (SUI). didn’t have a great meet”, US Team Coach Jon Urbanchek said. “They wanted it to go on and on and Note: For further details, Federations can contact the on.” So did the USA. Executive Director of FINA, Mr Cornel Marculescu at the FINA Office in Lausanne. “There was such team unity”, said BJ Bedford, who swam the leadoff leg of the gold medal-winning,

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world record-setting Women’s Medley Relay. When the USA finished its Olympic Trials on 16th “Everyone of us exulted with the other’s triumphs August, there was plenty of reason for concern. The and cried with their failures. A feeling like that Aussies had set five world records at their May Trials doesn’t happen often in life. It was a beautiful thing.” – none was set at the US Trials.

Comparing the Stats Little time to prepare

The stats are tricky – the sport has changed over the With the Games only a month away, there wasn’t years. Boycotts in the 80s and the East German drug time for extensive preparation. The last time the USA scandal of the 70s skewed the strength of the held trials so close to the Games was 1988 – and competition. The number of events varied, up and 1988 was a disaster. down, but the 32 today are almost double the 18 in 1964. In 1984, new rules took effect, cutting the In 1988 no US swimmer, other than Matt Biondi and number of swimmers allowed in each event per Janet Evans, won individual gold medals and the country from three to two. USA lost the medals race for the first time since 1956, which was the last time Australia hosted the “The bottom line is this was the fastest meet in Olympics. history and we dominated it”, US Team Coach Dave Marsh said. US Head Coaches, Mark Schubert and Richard Quick, were on the 1988 staff (Quick was the overall The numbers back him up. team coach), and knew things had to change this time around. The 33 medals are the most by the USA since the boycott year of 1984, when the Eastern bloc, The biggest change, Schubert said, was the including powerful Russian and East German teams, atmosphere of the pre-Games Training Camp. were missing. The USA beat Australia handily. The Aussie high point came on the first night when they In 1988, the team went to a luxury hotel on Waikiki knocked off the US 4x100 Freestyle Relay, giving the Beach in Hawaii. When the swimmers weren’t USA its first loss in the event in Olympic history. But training, they were playing in the waves. When they the Aussies finished with only 18 medals overall. trained, they stuck with their individual coaches on their own programs. Personalities didn’t mesh – there The US high came in 1968 when it won 52 medals wasn’t much true team cohesiveness. but there were three entries in each event then, and worldwide competition has improved since. More This time, the team spent two weeks in Pasadena, athletes are competing – there were 981 swimmers in California – avoided the beach and worked out Sydney. More countries are winning medals – 18 together. nations this time. Fifteen world records were set by athletes from four nations (Australia, Netherlands, “We had to sell the team concept and the guys who Ukraine and USA). deserve the most credit for doing that is the individual coaches. We convinced them and they sold The 33 medals came against an Australian team, it to the athletes.” stronger than it had been in decades and backed by nearly 18,000 screaming fans, the largest swimming There was an informal mentoring system, matching crowd in Olympic history. rookies with veterans.

“This was the greatest performance by a US swim World Champion, Lenny Krayzelburg (24), who won team ever”, USA Swimming Team President Dale three gold medals, worked out next to up-and-comer Neuburger said. “This team has set a standard for Aaron Peirsol, even though Peirsol (who won silver every team in the world to be judged by in the in the 200 Backstroke) was a threat to him. future.” The triumph was stunning – and unexpected. “I learned so much”, said Peirsol, 17. “I grew Australia has been gearing up for a record-setting physically, mentally and emotionally. What happened Olympics since it was awarded the Games in 1993. here was just awesome, and it says great things about Much of that effort was on swimming. the next four years”, said Krayzelburg. “Hanging around and training with Aaron and 15-year-old

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Michael Phelps was fun for me and I learned some things, too. Sometimes it was frustrating because they are like the Energizer bunny … they just have so Dr Joel Stager’s Evaluation on the much energy. I’m like … ‘Hey, guys, I’ve got to Impact of Bodysuits rest’.” Hard work was a big part of the camp, but Brent S. Rushall, Ph.D.,R.Psy. high pressure wasn’t. 2nd September 2000

Email: [email protected] “Everyone knew we wanted to come out and show we’re legitimate – that we’re still the No.1 swimming The various bodysuit manufacturers have advertised nation”, said Chris Thompson, who won bronze in very significant performance gains that should result the 1500 Freestyle. “But the focus was on getting the from using their products. It is common to hear the job done day by day.” figure 3% used, and in some cases, higher values are

proposed – e.g. Speedo in Australia. Among the Scrabble … not surf manufacturers, it is agreed that full-length bodysuits

will enhance performance, despite misgivings among When the swimmers weren’t workout out, they were the swimming population about their being fitted and resting or at least entertaining themselves in a less of certain shapes. If bodysuits, and their “high-tech” hazardous way than bodysurfing in Hawaii. They fabrics, have the obvious significant effect upon played Scrabble and video games. swimming performance, there should be a general

improvement displayed by a swimming population “In 1988 I think they were tiring themselves out when they are used in a competition. without really realising it,” Schubert said. “This time we did a few excursions, but we had big coupon Dr Joel Stager, an applied physiology professor in the books for discount movies and things like that. Department of Kinesiology at Indiana University, Everyone was quiet and focused. It was by far the uniquely evaluated the effects of bodysuits on best training camp I can remember, going back to competitive performances at the US Olympic 1976.” Swimming Trials held in Indianapolis in August

2000. Olympic swimming trial times from the past 25 Quiet in camp – loud at the Olympics years were used to predict the performances in the

just-completed US 2000 Olympic Trials (power The 33 US medals just awarded were six more than curve was the line of best fit). If predicted times at those won at 1992 Barcelona Games, which was the meet were similar to those recorded, then no hailed as the USA’s return to power, and seven more universal performance-enhancer, such as bodysuits, than those taken at this country’s Atlanta Games. existed. If there was a general improvement above

that which could be reasonably expected, then one “It has always been that the US was very dominant might propose that bodysuits do enhance and it will always remain like that”, said Dutch performance in line with manufacturers’ claims. A sprinter Inge de Bruijn, who won three gold medals comparison of predicted and actual times would serve and set three world records. as an evaluation of any effect derived from bodysuits.

USA Swimming Executive Director Chuck Weilgus At the US trials, virtually all swimmers had bodysuits breathed easier as the meet progressed. made available to them by various manufacturers.

Astute observers estimated that 90-95% of “We ran the numbers after the Aussie Trials and contestants used some form of Speedo suits. One projected maybe 20 medals”, he said, “and look what could make a compelling case that the trials were a we did. There has never been a better performance. “fair test” of the general effect of Speedo’s new suits Everyone said (our success in) Atlanta was just the and fabrics. home course. Well, these kids just blew Atlanta away.” Dr Stager’s work can be viewed in detail at

www.Indiana.edu/-kines/trials2000. It provides tables and analyses in detail. The data shows that there are some events that were better and others worse than predicted (about a two to one ratio). The sizes of discrepancies were so small that, for all but two

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events, one could assert that performed times matched predicted times. Evidence of any performance benefit, as marketed by swimsuit manufacturers, did not exist at the US If one accepts the hypothesis that Dr Stager’s Trials. Manufacturers’ claims should now be predicted times are “reasonable” estimates for normal questioned. Certainly, before one of these expensive swimming progression without bodysuits, or some suits is purchased, much reflection is needed. other performance-enhancing item, some interesting conclusions can be drawn. From this reviewer’s When information about these suits was presented at perspective, this is what was learned about bodysuits meetings in Athens last year, scientists in the from the US trials. audience asked for and were promised the supporting evidence for manufacturers’ claims. Those scientists There is no general beneficial effect of using are still waiting for the evidence. The manufacturer- bodysuits. One gender did not exhibit a benefit over inspired “hype” surrounding these bodysuits has all the other, there was no benefit for one stroke over the earmarks of a marketing ruse. Buyers are warned. another, and there was no favour for one distance classification over another. The presence of the suits The observed lack of benefit of the bodysuits does was not associated with any marked deviation not remove FINA’s culpability for allowing them into (“consistent improvement”) in performances competitions in the first place. The precedent has displayed at the US Swimming Trials. been set to allow external items intended to artificially alter performance into swimming races. Fewer women’s than men’s events achieved the With the Olympic Games being such a milestone in predicted times. This is important because more the sporting calendar, the opportunity exists for the women wore Speedo suits than men did, probably swimming world to reverse the FINA Bureau’s gaffe, because they are forced to wear a torso covering. to return to non-performance-enhancing suits, and restore swimming as a “human-factors-only” sport. Observations of US swimmers’ behaviours were This could be achieved at the September 2000 FINA strikingly similar to those made of Australian Congress in Sydney. swimmers at their trials. As the US trials progressed, swimmers began to discard the neck-to-ankle full suits (before the trials few swimmers would embrace Reality is clouded by Olympic obsession sleeved suits and so they were virtually non-existent). By James Lawton Breaststrokers almost completely discarded them and 16th August 2000 mostly wore traditional-cut suits and males preferred “Watching the profile of de Bruin was to make a not to cover the torso. Crawlstrokers tolerated the cocktail of memories with even the best pockmarked waist-to-ankle covering more than in the other by doubt” strokes but still were in a minority. There were few instances of the “self-tailoring” behaviours of the The opening shot is of the lush green hills of Ireland Australians – e.g. cutting off the lower legs, sleeves, and the narrative tone is drawn from an apparently or widening the arm apertures – probably because bottomless vat of syrup. It is a profile of Michelle de there was a greater variety of available suits in Bruin (formerly Smith), the Irish swimmer who won Indianapolis. Generally, as the trials progressed, three golds at Atlanta four years ago, and it was put swimmers became disenchanted with bodysuits and out last weekend by NBC, the network which five tended to return to styles that are more traditional. years ago paid $3.5 billion £2.3 billion) for Olympic Most elite swimmers do not embrace neck-to-ankle, rights through to 2008. waist-to-ankle, and certainly sleeved suits. That does not mean that some individuals do not like the suits Abraham Lincoln said that you could not fool all of or do not benefit from them, or more tangentially, the people all of the time, but somebody at NBC begs derive a “placebo” effect from them. The picture is to differ. Beaten down by the vast accumulation of slightly “muddied” by some athletes who are “paid” evidence that the toughest of all Olympic events is or “encouraged” to wear the suits. the pursuit of truth, you might shrug at a piece of puffery which failed to mention that the woman who At the 2000 US Olympic Swimming Trials, there was briefly thrilled a nation, and inspired a fierce no suggestion that bodysuits had any beneficial effect backlash against a few brave voices who questioned on performance or selective factors that differentiate her astonishing improvement of performance, is now classes of swimmers or their events.

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banned from her sport after being found guilty of graft, no deceit, no vague sense that for so long the tampering with evidence provided to drug testers. greatest challenge facing the Olympics has been credibility. What, you may ask, is one evasion in a world, which has lived for so long this side of outrage with the Watching the profile of Michelle de Bruin was to reality of the Big Olympic Lie? But perhaps you make yourself a cocktail of Olympic memories, with should have seen the show, the footage of Ireland even the best of them pockmarked by doubt. That of waiting in the gentle rain for its heroine, the Mayor of course is the killing problem – doubt and angst Rathcool riding with De Bruin in an open-top bus, wherever you look – backwards or forwards – and heard her husband, the Dutchman whose career touching the good and the bad with scarcely any as a discus thrower was cut short after he tested distinction. You think of Montreal, which came in the positive, talking about how surprised he was to first shadow of Munich, where the Games ploughed on learn of her training methods, how he had to even before the blood of Israel had been properly introduce her to the wonders of the weight room, and washed away, and there is the image of the Finnish how remarkably she improved when she adopted the policeman, Lasse Viren, waving his running shoes to techniques which had been commonplace in the crowd in that ruinously expensive stadium and swimming for so long. No question of drugs. Just talk flatly denying dark rumours that he had dabbled in of supreme dedication and achievement, of how Bill the new fad of “blood doping”. You think of what Clinton had talked to her so warmly at the Atlanta happened before Viren’s triumph – the music of poolside, how he strengthened her against any who Wagner in an opening march depleted by the doubted her glory. When you saw and heard all of departing Africans, drawn away from the Games by that, there was, at least in this quarter, an politics and many of them weeping on their way out overwhelming sense that one’s flesh was about to to the airport. You think of Moscow without the crawl. Americans, and Los Angeles without the Russians, and in Seoul there was Johnson, and the brilliant In the bitter aftermath of NBC’s Olympic coup, rival sprinter Evelyn Ashford being dragged from the networks, including ABC, who thought they had a Olympic stadium screaming after Flo-Jo had crowned deal to make a joint bid, privately charged the with gold an improvement as sensational as that of corporation with cynical opportunism remarkable De Bruin, and the Olympic President, Juan Antonio even in their own cut-throat business. An insider at Samaranch, announcing, after the fall of Johnson, Rupert Murdoch’s Fox Television, which was said to that “the war against drugs is a fight to the death”. be ready to bid $700 million for Sydney alone, made the point that NBC’s ability to make a stunning deal Before Seoul, the President of the British Olympic with the International Olympic Committee was Association, Sir Arthur Gold, told you that by any perhaps about something more than the dynamic conservative estimate at least 50% of all competitors negotiating methods of Dick Ebersol, a man who had at least experimented with performance- loves Cuban cigars, just maybe as much for their enhancing drugs. None of such matters on NBC’s ability to generate smoke as for their flavour. Olympic Show. Only “personalities and stores”, and the selling of a deal that was no doubt sweetened for Last weekend the Los Angeles Times put it bluntly the IOC by the company’s willingness to pay $1m for enough, saying: “NBC had a decided advantage. It the honour of having its name put on the wall of an had broadcast the Summer Games in 1988 and 1992 Olympic museum. and had already been chosen to televise the Atlanta Games in 1996. Under Ebersol, who is both Ebersol says that it is entirely “plausible” he will sit knowledgeable and passionate about the Olympics, down with Samaranch and discuss contractual NBC Sports traditionally has focused on the possibilities for the 2010 Winter Games. Plausible? It personalities and the stories of the Games, not on is an audacious word from a man whose network told uncovering scandal.” Kevin Gosper, an Australian the incomplete story of Michelle de Bruin. IOC delegate, confirmed the assessment. “I had a very strong feeling for doing business with people we knew and trusted”, he said. He liked the way NBC handled things, and how precisely is that? The Fox man put it tartly: “No steroids, no doping, no 14- year-old gymnasts with anorexia”. No, not that. No Ben Johnson with yellow eyes and ravaged skin. No

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Swimming. I’m honoured to have been chosen as (Reproduced from ASCA Newsletter, one of the original ASCA Fellows, and excited to Volume #2000 Issue #9) continue learning and to contribute back to the ASCA Fellows Program Seeks swimming community. Thank you to Tim, George, Chuck, John and all of ASCA for your Future Leaders time, commitment and resources for this By Timothy Welsh program.”

Now in its second year, the ASCA Fellows Program Sage Hopkins – “The initial stages of the ASCA seeks to identify, to train, and to empower young Fellows Program has been a moving and coaches who will develop into future coaching invaluable experience. I now possess a greater leaders. grasp upon the ‘behind the scenes’ world of swimming and am beginning to understand the That is an ambitious sentence, and the ASCA Fellows steps I will need to undertake in order to give Program is an ambitious program. Its aim is to help back, contribute and hopefully, eventually lead the future coaching leaders in our sport prepare for our great sport. Thank you, truly, for this leadership roles. opportunity.”

Specifically, the ASCA Fellows Program exists to Bill Roberts- “ASCA Fellows is an eye opener. develop in swimming coaches the ability to You are exposed to the side of competitive produce change. The program is built around a year swimming you never considered. After grasping of fellowship training, during which each fellow all the other sides of the sport, including the Xs participates in an intensive training program during and Os, there is the leadership aspect of the the ASCA Clinic and then, with the assistance of an Fellows Program.” ASCA Board Member as mentor, defines and completes a significant project, which can contribute Jonathan Jennings – “The ASCA Fellows to American Swimming. Program has been like starting with a pair of glasses that are all fogged over, then gradually, Throughout their fellowship year, fellows are everything about how things (and when things) encouraged to be in regular contact with one another happen in our sport are revealed as the glasses and with their mentors. As each year passes, and as become clear. Because of this program, I am more the number of fellows increases (at a rate of educated and informed about the sport of approximately five each year), the plan is that a swimming. I also know that I have so much more whole network of young coaches will be developed to learn in order to be an effective, contributing who will have similar training and who will be member of ASCA and the world of swimming. working within their own coaching community to Thank you for helping to educate and motivate improve swimming in the United States. At some me.” point, it is hoped that these ASCA Fellows will assume leadership roles in local, regional, and “The ASCA Fellowship Program was a great national positions. In fact, the entire success of the experience! While not what I initially expected, it ASCA Fellows Program will be measured by the exceeded my preconceived notion of leadership future leadership contributions of ASCA Fellows. training. It peeled back the layers of the onion to get to the heart of what a leader must face in the world of Now is the time for coaches interested in becoming swimming in order to initiate change. And, of course, ASCA Fellows for the 2001-2002 year to apply. it was an honour to work with such quality Interested coaches should contact John Leonard individuals. I highly recommend this for anyone ([email protected]) or Tim Welsh wanting a leadership role in swimming in the 21st ([email protected]). Century.”

The ASCA Fellows 2000 comment on the Fellows Training Program at the World Clinic in Cincinnati, September 2000.

Erik Collins – “A thorough program on leadership and its impact on the future of ASCA and USA

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on career (long-term) success rather than on USA Swimming Coach short-term results. 4. Provides incentive for all of our coaches to put Incentive Program a greater emphasis on long course metres By Dennis Pursley training. 5. Encourage more cooperative and effective PROGRAM PURPOSE & RATIONALE interaction between our club and college coaches (because they will both benefit from In spite of the many obstacles that confront our the performance results). coaches in the pursuit of excellence, USA Swimming 6. Our current system provides athlete and is very fortunate that some of them are continuing to program support. This proposal would provide fight against what often seems to be insurmountable a comparable level of coaching support (the odds to prepare their athletes for international critical missing link). competition. METHOD As these obstacles continue to become more difficult, incentives and rewards for these coaches would help 1. Performance Criteria: 1st, 2nd or 3rd place in to ensure that they continue to fight the fight. an individual event in the highest priority international competition of the year – i.e. Scientific research and competitive swimming history Olympics, World Championships or Pan Pacs. have demonstrated that the ultimate performance in 2. Eligible Recipients: Current coaches of our competitive swimming is the product of several years international medallists who have been of preparation during the critical development coaching these swimmers for at least two period combined with race specific training later in a years, and the coaches who provided the swimmer’s career. training foundation for these athletes during a minimum of three of the eight critical An exceptionally talented swimmer can be relatively development years (ages 11-18). Note: A successful at almost any level of competition even maximum of three coaches would be eligible with a deficient training background during the to receive credit for any performance. critical development years, but the pinnacle of 3. Disbursement of Funds: Eligible coaches success (an Olympic gold medal) cannot be attained would receive three shares of funding for a without a proper foundation. gold medal performance, two shares for a silver medal and one share for a bronze medal. The following USA Swimming Coach Incentive The available dollars would be divided by the Proposal is intended to help ensure continued total number of shares to determine the value success in international competition by identifying of each share. and supporting those coaches who are preparing our athletes for medal-winning performances as well as RECOMMENDED QUADRENNIAL BUDGET those who are providing a foundation for success in the critical development years of our international $3.7 Million – 40% to be allocated to the Olympic medallists. Games and 20% to the highest priority competition in each of the other three years of the quadrennium. PROGRAM BENEFITS [In a typical scenario in a non-Olympic year, gold, 1. Provides incentive for our national team silver and bronze medals would be worth coaches to put a higher priority on preparing approximately $26,000, $17,000 and $9,000 our swimmers for major international respectively for each eligible coach.] competition. 2. Encourages our “pipeline” coaches to stay in club coaching rather than leave the sport or seek a more financially rewarding college position. 3. Encourages our club coaches to lay the foundation and develop training plans focused

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DISTANCE Secrets of the INCENTIVE PROGRAM

By Dennis Pursley Dutch

Dolphin th Incentives and rewards are not as attractive for By Chloe Sal Tau – 5 September 2000 distance events as they are for shorter events. Only a very small percentage of college scholarships are awarded to distance swimmers, and Something was amiss for Inge de Bruijn last month most of the marketing and promotional emphasis in on the day before the Dutch swimming team left for our sport is focused on shorter events. Australia. To further exacerbate the problem, the repetitive higher volume training required for elite-level She realised she had left her kickboard behind – and success in distance events is very time consuming could not bear the thought of leaving home without and unappealing to many swimmers and coaches. it. Performances in these events have been adversely affected by these circumstances. Thankfully, the board was found and returned in time In an effort to bring a higher level of focus, to make the flight. It would be there for the next attention and enthusiasm to distance swimming, we potentially explosive chapter in de Bruijn’s propose that $1,000,000 be awarded to any USA remarkable resurgence. She has had the forlorn- swimmer who wins a gold medal and sets a world looking plank of foam since 1989 – around the time record in the Men’s 1500m Freestyle or the Women’s the striking and immensely talented girl from 800m Freestyle in the 2004 Olympic Games. Barendrecht (then aged 16) – was getting ready to An additional $500,000 would be awarded to the make the transition from medal winner at successive coach of each of these swimmers. junior European titles to world championship finalist.

None of the European coaches doubted the girl’s FOR SALE talent but de Bruijn would develop a reputation as a SWIMMING SCHOOL & EXECUTIVE HOUSE swimmer who was very good but never really great in the same way as, say, American Jenny Thompson Established Swimming School specialising in would become great in de Bruijn’s events. Infants, Pre-Schoolers and Hydrotherapy clients. Now the kickboard is awkwardly wedged between Located opposite the beach on the south coast the powerful Dutchwoman’s legs as she eats up the of New South Wales. kilometres at the Netherlands team’s training camp in Newcastle, large paddles strapped to her hands to Indoor heated, 11-metre, hydrotherapy/teaching increase the drag and Inge de Bruijn is on the verge pool and spa. 5-Bedroom large Executive of greatness. residence with ocean views. Downstairs area could be utilised for office, How did it happen? reception, physiotherapy and massage, etc. How does a woman closing in on the age of 27 slice A GREAT LIFESTYLE almost four seconds off her time for the 100m Butterfly in two years, smashing Thompson’s world Suit semi-retired swimming professional or record while she’s at it? couple wanting to leave the rat race behind. How does an athlete who only four years earlier was $425,000 neg. booted off the national team and subsequently quit swimming, seemingly abandoning her chance at an Please ring Sandra on 0412 965 374 Olympic medal, recapture the motivation? for further details.

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And how does she break eight world records in the Before the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, de Bruijn felt space of a frenetic two months of competitive utterly bereft of that slippery sporting ingredient – swimming? motivation. She plonked herself in front of the television and watched the beginnings of a Dutch It can’t be as simple or as sentimental as an old swimming renaissance at the Games, as Kirsten kickboard. And de Bruijn – consistently gracious in Vlieghuis won bronze in the 400m and 800m the face of Susie O’Neill’s unfortunate remarks about Freestyle races and Marcel Wouda finished fourth her “pretty suss” times – has expressed a strong and fifth in the Individual Medleys. desire that swimmers be compelled to have their blood scanned for performance-enhancing substances Abruptly, de Bruijn changed her mind about her at the Olympics. She says she has been tested at least sudden and, she now admits, rash retirement. Envy nine times since May. set in and motivation came flooding back.

Some of the answers are here, behind the trees Previously, despite being a finalist at the Barcelona enclosing the pool and sports centre at the University Olympics as an 18-year-old, she had been focused of Newcastle. enough while she was swimming but wayward when she wasn’t, and prone to missing training sessions in The other day the Dutch coaches, among them favour of going to the movies with girlfriends. Stefaan Obreno, Jacco Verhaeren and manager Ad Roskam, looked on as de Bruijn pulled her 174cm, “It [the 1992 Olympics] was a great experience – 55kg, muscular body up a rope – using only her arms. there’s so much going on. You’re just walking Then she shimmied down and heaved herself up the around with all those great athletes, but I think I was rope a second time – again without using her legs. too young … too young to perform and get it all straight,” she said. This was followed by crunches and push-ups, another “rope trick”, then more crunches and push-ups and As she watched the 96 Games on television, de another excruciating climb up the rope. Bruijn vowed she would apply herself. The following year she travelled to the US to visit a friend, former The day before that the coaches had watched de Breaststroker Roque Santos, who put her in touch Bruijn’s back and shoulders swell up as she with Bergen, renowned for his rigorous dry-land performed a frightening number of dips in the gym. training and famous for coaching Tracy Caulkins to She also practises martial arts and has been known to Olympic gold. Bergen was immediately ruthless – swim with her shoes on – to increase the resistance. It reportedly preventing her from breaking training to is a remarkable regime for a swimmer from a country return to Holland for her father’s funeral in 1997. like the Netherlands, which has had neither the wealth of swimming resources Australia and the US “I needed to be tougher mentally,” she said earlier could boast, nor the ruthless culture of excellence this year. “Before I never was. I was scared. Today, adopted by other European nations. I’m not scared of anyone. I feel invincible, I train like an animal.” “All the coaches came out, looked at it and wondered how it was possible that a girl could do that,” Within months, at the 1998 World Championships in Roskam said. “That’s how she trains. He [de Perth, she was setting her first personal best in five Bruijn’s US coach, Paul Bergen] makes her do things years. you really don’t think people are able to do. She’s amazingly strong.” “I think it’s good to have some bad experiences as well – I think you learn from the bad things,” de The Inge de Bruijn revolution has happened in two Bruijn said. “When I swim, I look back and I think of places – at a pool in Beaverton, Oregon, where the year that I had off. I started all fresh. I mean, it Bergen presides over the Tualatin Hills Swim Club, was no fun at all to watch the Olympics from home, and at the thriving Dutch centre of excellence, PSV but I think it really helped me.” Eindhoven, where she hands her training over to her coach and boyfriend of more than two years, Jacco Meantime, Dutch swimming was getting stronger. Verhaeren. “He knows me … how do you say it? Pieter van den Hoogenband was beginning to emerge Through and through,” de Bruijn said. as the hot young swimmer a nation could construct an Olympic team around – the same way Russian teams

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had been built around Alex Popov. His parents, about Inge is she can swim really fast times when Olympic swimming silver medallist Astrid Verver she’s still in fairly heavy training. So she has a fairly and Cees-Rein van den Hoogenband (a sports doctor short taper. You can wake her up at midnight and at the famous soccer club PSV Eindhoven) had she’ll go out and break a world record.” founded an elite swimming school that would attract Verhaeren and, eventually, Belgian coach Stefaan Her propensity to swim world record times in the Oberno as trainers, and van den Hoogenband, Wouda swimming equivalent of the dead of night – when her and Vlieghuis as its star swimmers. endurance workload is at its highest – has resulted in a pleasant ritual among Dutch coaches. After heavy Now, when de Bruijn is not training in the US, she nights of swimming competition, Verhaeren, Obreno, thrives at PSV, where the more relaxed training and Roskam and their colleagues gather in a bar in emphasis on quality rather than quantity whichever city it is – Monaco, Sheffield, Amsterdam, complements Bergen’s physically gruelling schedule. Rio de Janeiro – that has just witnessed the latest stage of de Bruijn’s furious dash to the top of world There, she can be closer not only to Verhaeren, swimming. Eight times in recent months they have himself something of a young prodigy in Dutch raised their beers and wondered incredulously … coaching circles, but her sprawling family of elite “What did we see tonight? Oh, it was another world athletes. Her sisters, Jakline and Yvette, were once record.” members of the Dutch women’s water polo team at the Sydney Games. Inge de Bruijn is loath to speculate about what her coaches might be toasting in a hotel bar somewhere “It’s not only in the US, it’s also training with in the Olympic city in a couple of weeks, but her Jacco,” de Bruijn said. “Since 1997 I got a lot more recent times suggest she has edged ahead of focused, a lot stronger. I really used my talent. It’s Thompson as favourite to win gold in the 50m and also because of what I do in the Netherlands. I think 100m Freestyle and the 100m Butterfly. “You said I’m really privileged to have two great coaches quietly. Not me.” because they complement each other so well. It’s like I’ve fitted a piece of the puzzle, really.” FINAL Call for East Germany’s With such a competitive aquatic sporting pedigree, it Drug Curtain is a wonder de Bruijn had reached the age of seven From Craig Lord in Sydney before beginning swimming lessons. A neighbour in Barandrecht – a town of about 25,000 people near Rotterdam – asked her along for company at the local Just over 24 hours after Sydney bids farewell to the pool. Games in a celebratory flood of fireworks, colour and noise, a far darker chapter in Olympic history will Roskam knew her then. He says big Dutch talent, in a come to a much quiet close – one that will leave 384 relatively small swimming nation, is easy to spot. medals forever tainted. At midnight on Monday, all “She was great – a really spontaneous young girl,” pending cases against coaches, doctors and officials he said. “And her feel for the water was already accused of bodily harm for their role in East tremendous.” Germany’s state-run doping program will be closed for good. Many will now escape a process that had The young de Bruijn progressed quickly, winning much more to do with losing face and a few thousand medals at the junior European championships in 1987 marks than being punished seriously, but hundreds of and 1988, when as a 15-year-old she churned through others have faced their victims across courtrooms the 50m Freestyle in 26.79 seconds. (Her current crowded with media and memories of a bygone world mark is 24.39.) Then, in 1991, she took home “golden” era. four medals from the European championships in Athens. Then came the Olympics, and then the The legacy of 144 gold, 120 silver and 120 bronze inexplicable slump. Then the equally incredible Olympic medals won by East Germans at the Games revival. of 1972, 1976, 1980 and 1988 (the Games of 1984 were boycotted) is one of disabled children, sex The difference? “Hard work,” Roskam said in a changes, severe ill-health and a generation of second. “If you combine an exceptional talent with athletes, swimmers, rowers and others cheated out of hard work, then you get exceptional times. The thing their true place in sports history. The sensations

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experienced by the winner on his or her day have spine and reproductive organs. Then there was Shot been denied to those who finished behind East and Discus throwers Brigitte Michel and Birgit Germans. Nor are the “losers” ever likely to get any Boese, who were told that their reproductive organs official recognition of what should have been their were like those of a 10-year-old. Come Monday greatest moments. night, the German Olympic Committee, FINA and the IOC might just now think it time to show a little FINA, swimming’s global authority, is a case in more respect for the likes of Andreas Krieger, who point. In the pool, East German women won 32 out was known as Heidi Krieger when she threw the Shot of a possible 43 gold medals at the 1976, 1980 and in days before the drugs forced her to undergo a sex 1988 Games. It was a record rewarded with three change operation that left her, or him, suicidal. FINA Prizes (of Eminence), the top honour that swimming gives for services to the sport. FINA said And somebody might even have the courage to speak that it would wait until the legal cases in Germany to the parents of Joerge Sievers, who was found dead had concluded before making a decision on the prizes at the bottom of a pool after suffering massive heart given to Kornelia Ender in 1975, the GDR’s failure during training. East German authorities swimming federation in 1986 and Kristin Otto in informed the parents that their son had a severe ‘flu 1988. The wait is over. But when asked by The and had drowned. They failed to mention the autopsy Times what he intended to do about those prizes, report that would be unveiled in court more than 20 Mustapha Larfaoui, the President of FINA, said that years later. Among the list of horrors was a “severe swimming had to take its cue from the International thickening of the heart chamber walls”, an “acute Olympic Committee, which had decided to leave the infection of the spleen” and “toxic-infectious damage results and medals standing. of the liver”.

The FINA prizes, however, were merits over and The game of Cluedo was finally over by the coaches above that, awards that could surely now be taken and doctors at the pool with banned and dangerous away, particularly in the case of the 1986 honour substances. The Olympic spirit – it was not. going to the GDR system? Was a gesture to the victims not now possible? Larfaoui stared into the distance for what seemed an eternity, then murmured: (Reproduced from Fitness Swimmer, “We will have to think more about this – but history July/August 2000) is history.” That does not stop it being rewritten, of Quality Control course. In its wisdom and hunger for success, the By Daryn Eller German Olympic Committee has listed every East German result as its own in the national team Coach Dave Salo’s signature style – fewer yards at higher handbook for the Sydney Games – even, pathetically, intensity – is producing faster swimmers who stay in the those gained in Moscow 1980 when West Germany sport longer. Adopt his strategy and see it work for you, did not attend because of the boycott. too.

A spokesman for the Germans in Sydney said, “Well, It’s a chilly Spring night in Irvine, California, and the none of them ever tested positive and we were Novaquatics swimmers, oblivious to the cold, have different but now we are all the same.” Perhaps he already been going at it for a good 10 minutes in their hadn’t read the testimony from the courts in which outdoor pool. Except, that is, for one errant teenager confirmation that the Kreicha, the IOC-approved who arrives late. Watching Dave Salo, the swimmer laboratory, had tested East Germans before they waits until his coach’s attention is diverted, then tries ventured beyond the Berlin Wall to ensure they tested to slip into the water unnoticed. “clean”. Perhaps he hadn’t read the stories of the women who paraded their disabled offspring into The ploy doesn’t work, but whereas other coaches court and told of the terrible internal scars that they might give the latecomer a dressing-down, Salo will carry through what, for some, will be shortened simply throws out a sarcastic remark. It’s typical of lives. Perhaps he had not noticed Rica Reinisch, a his coaching style … let your swimmers know you triple champion in 1980, revealing that she had expect the most from them – but don’t grind them to suffered five miscarriages and suffers from recurring a pulp trying to get it. ovarian cysts, or the testimony of swimmer Catherine th Menschner, who received male hormones from the Now entering his 10 year as Head Coach of the age of 10 and has suffered permanent damage to her Novaquatics, Salo is quietly gaining the attention of

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the swimming world. More than a few top swimmers Backstroke kick. Somewhere in there they also fit in have emerged from his team, among them a spin drill (rapidly turning over the arms for a short Breaststroker Amanda Beard, who won a gold and distance). Call it race training for the MTV two silver medals at the 1996 Olympics and is the generation. “Everything is so fast-paced in their American record holder in the 100m Breaststroke. world, I try to work five or six detailed items into a (Beard now attends the University of Arizona in workout to keep them involved,” says Salo. “The Tucson.) In 1992, one of Salo’s swimmers went to intensity is higher, but it prepares them to race.” the Olympic Trials – in 1996, five made the cut. This year, Salo hopes to send 24 swimmers from among Don’t get bored his senior athletes (who are between the ages of 13 and 27) to the Olympic Trials. “[Salo’s] workouts are always changing,” says Jessica Hayes, 16, a Middle Distance Freestyler and Go farther on less Backstroker who has been with Novaquatics since she was 6. Salo’s low-key demeanour has also earned The number of Olympic-calibre swimmers coached his swimmers’ gratitude. by Salo is not nearly as meaningful as the way those swimmers reach the elite level – by putting in ½ to ¾ Lindsey Buck, a promising 16-year-old the amount of training time as their competitors. Butterflyer who has slowed down slightly since she While many coaches demand their swimmers log entered her midteens and is grappling with the 70,000-100,000 yards a week in the pool, demands of academics and sports, says Salo is a great Novaquatics swim a modest 40,000-50,000. “I would booster. “He doesn’t put a lot of pressure on me and I characterise our program as quality-oriented”, says get the individual attention I need,” she says. “Dave Salo. “In traditional programs they train to train. In gives 100 percent, so I want to give 100 percent our program we train to race.” back.”

Focus on fast Stir it up

Some studies have shown that swimmers who do Salo recommends drills that emphasise the various moderate yardage race better than swimmers who log components of your stroke. He also urges swimmers higher yardage, but Salo’s coaching philosophy is to work on each element of swimming – kicking into formed more by his own academic and coaching the wall, doing flip turns, streamlining during your experience than any research in scientific journals. pushoff. Consider too, using fins and paddles After swimming for California State University, together, then doing sets with only paddles or fins. Long Beach, Salo moved on to the University of When doing a kick set, add 10 seconds of vertical Southern California, where he earned a Ph.D. in kicking at the beginning of each 50. Work strokes Exercise Physiology. There, it became clear to him besides Freestyle into your sets. that specificity in training makes a lot of sense. In other words … if you want to race fast – you have to Set goals train fast. “Most events are two minutes or less, yet swimmers often train as if for a marathon”, says Salo. You can slog through the water aimlessly or you can “In our program, if we are trying to improve a 200m make those laps count. If you choose the latter, set a Freestyle, we break down the components of that goal and work toward it, Salo says. “You will event, whether it’s the skill of the stroke, the ability become a better swimmer and enjoy swimming much to kick into the wall, the ability to flip, the ability to more. Your goal doesn’t have to be big. It may be dive. There might be 10-12 items we work on.” just to shave a few seconds off your hundred or to lower your open-water swim time by five minutes. Keep them guessing Or, it may be to enter your first competition. Having goals – then setting new ones after you meet them – It would be a mistake to think that because of the can help keep swimming fresh for, well, forever. moderate yardage Salo’s workouts are not intense. Swimming is a great lifelong sport,” says Salo, “and They are. But he keeps them interesting. At a recent there’s always opportunity to improve.” workout, Salo had his senior swimmers do a complicated set that involved kicking into the wall, doing a flip turn, grabbing onto the wall, and pulling up out of the water three times, then working the

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Twenty-one Years of Cal Swimming think that anyone but us knew why we were so happy with 14th place. (Before then, some changes to Now and Beyond) From there, we went to 11th, 8th, 3rd and then 1st in By Coach Nort Thornton 1979 and again in 1980. During those years we were

very fortunate to have recruited some outstanding In 1979, at the ASCA Clinic in Seattle, young men and athletes. It all started with a local Washington, I spoke on “The Cal-Berkeley swimmer named Peter Rocca – the National High Program”. And now, 21 years later in Cincinnati, School Backstroke record holder. The truth is, we Ohio, at the 2000 ASCA Clinic, I am again speaking bought our house in his high school district so my on “The Cal Program”. I am very pleased to be son Richard could swim with him and I could get to invited back – 21 years later. know him better for a recruiting edge. Much has changed – but some things remain the Then we added Graham Smith, a Breaststroker same. and the world record holder in the 200 Individual My background is as follows … I was born in a Medley – Par Arvidsson, the world record holder in Stanford University hospital and the first place I went the 100 Butterfly – Pelle Holmertz, an Olympic from there was the Stanford swimming pool. My bronze medallist and NCAA champion in the 200 father was the Stanford coach at the time and he took Freestyle – Peter Szmidt, world record holder in the me by to show me to the team. 400m Freestyle – my son Richard, who made the I was a high school swimmer and water polo 1980 US Olympic team in the 200 Freestyle – as well player at Palo Alto High School then went on to San as a number of other talented and great young men. Jose State to continue swimming and water polo. We were truly blessed. Whilst I was there, I tried to become an architect, a Then I got fatheaded and foolishly figured that commercial artist and eventually a physical education swimmers would just walk into Cal because of the and coaching major. My first job was teaching and success we were having. That turned out to be a coaching water polo, wrestling and swimming at Los stupid assumption and I have been working ever Altos High School. Next, I moved to Foothill since to capture some of that momentum back again. College, a two-year community college in Los Altos Peter Daland, the great USC Coach, once said that Hills. I taught physical education and coached water “success in NCAA swimming is 99 percent polo and swimming there from 1961 to 1974. In ’74 I recruiting”. I did not believe it then … but Peter was moved to Cal and have completed 26 years as men’s absolutely right on. swimming coach. It took 18 years to prepare for the We have had some great swimmers, namely Matt opportunity to see if I could successfully coach at the Biondi and Ugur Taner, but never the quantity of NCAA Division I level. quality we had in the late 70’s. The recruiting – or When I arrived at Berkeley in 1974, it was lack of it – was not the only factor contributing to our primarily known as a water polo school, having not lower-place finishes. However, we were able to stay scored a single point in the NCAA Swimming in the top 10, all but a couple of the years. I was Championships in the 1973 season. Peter Cutino was persuaded to do some things that were not as a full-time physical education instructor, the water productive as we had hoped. A couple of the biggest polo coach in the Fall and Summer and the mistakes were… swimming coach in the Spring. Pete actually has an excellent swimming mind, but he just ran out of 1. Doing more “quality” swimming in place of the enthusiasm by the end of the year. He convinced our longer, easier swimming. The scientists at athletic director, Dave Maggard, to split the positions Berkeley were pushing more specificity of and bring in a swimming coach. At our first meeting, training and I foolishly took that to mean … train we had more than 75 people come out to see what I more at race pace. Well, the more and more we was all about. I must have scared the hell out of them trained faster and faster, the slower we raced. We because by the end of the season we were down to about perfected failing adaptation. 30. Most of the swimmers who were there loved the 2. We spent less time out of the water, both in attention they were finally getting. A couple of communicating and in our dryland speed circuit. seniors agreed to stay away and keep their scholarships – our goal was to make the top 20 at the The speed circuit was delivered by Evan Flavell, NCAAs. Remember, we didn’t have anybody qualify maker of the biokinetic swim bench and a genius who the year before. To make a long story short, we came th happened to live in Berkeley and develop a 20-station in 14 and everybody got thrown in the pool. I don’t circuit of biokinetic equipment that closely approximated all the swimming movements. The

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purpose is to form and train neural connections that I believe that a culture’s sports and games mirror will allow us to fire the muscles at faster speeds – to the culture’s structure and values. For example … swim faster at less effort. football equals aggression and territorial war – Evan developed a power-peak theory that took basketball equals relentless fakery – and baseball each athlete up to faster and faster settings on the equals obsession with records and categories. Even equipment until we found where they could produce tennis began to resemble World War II, with nylon their maximum amounts of power. Then we had them howitzers being used to serve shells down an work at one setting above – faster – until they opponent’s throat. In golf, millions still idolise produced the same amount of power at their peak – Arnold Palmer’s Army and its cavalry charge. With effectively moving their peak up to the faster setting. running – well, most land sports are meant for This is very similar to what we do in the pool to running in some way. When you take away all the increase speed. complications that give them their separate We made a crucial discovery … our best power characteristics, all that remains is running. A timed producers, highest settings and highest scorers, were run of a known length provides an unarguable also our fastest swimmers and there was only a small measure of form, physical conditioning and difference between good and great. When we tested willpower. It cannot be charmed, cajoled or cheated. for maximum scores – and our effort test – we found If is just you and the clock. that our conference-level swimmer could sustain What about swimming? Where does our activity maximum output for 10-12 seconds, while our fit into the sporting culture? It has been said by some Olympic medallists could push maximally for that our bodies and brains were born in the sea and approximately 15 seconds. So, we concluded that to that we return to water, not to rediscover, but to re- improve, we needed to be able to build up and extend own our oceans. It is said that we re-enter the viscera our maximum output on each machine. of the planet to remember again the forgotten depths This is exactly what Matt Biondi did over his four within ourselves. years at Cal, peaking just before the Seoul games in How long ago did man leave the water … if at all? 1988. Bill Sweetenham, while visiting from There are theories that we evolved directly from Australia, was so impressed with the speed circuit some seafaring mammals rather than tree dwellers. that he brought Evan down to Canberra to install a Our blood itself and all of the liquids within us share speed circuit at the Australian Institute of Sport. As the sea’s saltiness and humans have attempted to far as I know, these are the only two such circuits in return to the sea from which we may have come since the world. the earliest of times. Our ancestors dived for food Like everything else that had worked for us back beneath the sea long before they learned to cultivate in the 70’s, we tended to lose our focus and become a crops on land. Remains of prehistoric finds contain little complacent. We still did these things, but shells from creatures that only lived on the ocean without as much excitement and enthusiasm – the floor. All through history, dating back as far as 4500 lack of which didn’t produce the same results. BC, shells and undersea tales have been found and While I was coasting, the society was changing as mentioned in classical writings. well, which wasn’t a good combination. Back in the Swimming – much like running – is the basis for 1970s, when Vince Lombardi was everybody’s hero all water sports. I feel that you have one main with his “winning is everything” philosophy, a “my difference. In the water, aerobic endurance is based way or the highway” mindset was prevalent, most upon breathing, but breathing must be done correctly coaches expected to just command their swimmers to if swimming is to be relaxed and effective. On land, do it “because I said so”. This has been – and still you only need to inhale. In the water, you need to remains – the prevailing coaching style. time and position yourself in such a way as to have Well, I happen to coach at Cal-Berkeley, where your face above the surface of the water without most of our team members are fairly sharp and where adversely affecting your balance and body position. free speech was founded. They want to know why it Before we get too far away from our culture and is important to do these things. If I can’t sell them on sport, let’s look at what is going on in our country what we are doing, we probably should not be doing today. The major or prototype sports are still funded it, because I get very little real cooperation and/or very well, so they are still drawing young people into success. their sports. People are looking for a pro contract and Do you know what? I’m glad I have had this a financial windfall to set them up for life. I’m not experience because it serves me very well for our certain that they just love the sport as much as they culture today. love the thought of becoming a millionaire.

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Look at the large movement that is extremely players are sold and solidly involved in the program, popular with our youth today, the “X-Games”. Take you are 99 percent there. one activity/sport from this … skateboarding. If you At Cal we have a tremendous alumni support look closely at a skateboarding clan, you will notice group for aquatics. A number of them have created that they are very supportive of each other. The big an endowment, which gives us financial security and thing is trying, with the emphasis on the level of a certain amount of clout in the department so it is detail and style. It is not timed or scored. They are very important to connect the past with the present. individuals being treated individually and yet they are We act a certain role because it pleases our alums – very helpful and supportive of each other. There things such as keeping a high team grade-point seems to be a caring and concern among the group. average, being concerned with our appearance by This actually becomes a lifestyle – skateboarders wearing coats and ties when we travel off-campus take on their own identity. You seldom see anything and going out of our way to be friendly and thank our about skateboarding in the newspapers, so they have alums when they come by the campus. These are all created their own style of information. They are free positive things that create pride in our group and of parental interference because parents do not please our alums and parents. understand the activity. Usually, the older generation So what it all boils down to is marketing your thinks it is a waste of time and a menace and should program. First in recruiting, to get talent to our team, be driven off the sidewalks before someone gets and then to the squad so as to get maximum seriously injured. Well, if you really want to drive performances during the season. It only begins there skateboarding away, just do what we do with – you need to sell it to the athletic director, the competitive swimming … have the parents volunteer student body and the local media. If there is no to run practice sessions – have parents run all-day enthusiasm for swimming on your campus, you are competitions, where only one person can win, on the not going to be able to get anyone to take you weekends and charge a membership fee to be able to seriously when you need to get something done. participate. Then set up time standards and judge the The way we structure our team at Cal is as kids against each other every time they get on the follows… skateboard. Be certain there is only one “winner” and everyone else is a “loser”. Have parents pressure their • We begin every year with a single group. children to beat the neighbours’ children and let’s see • We emphasise technique and dryland fitness, how long skateboarding survives. Swimming has got along with an orientation to the Cal way of doing to be a great activity to have survived all of this. things. I believe that in a successful team the athletes • Gradually, we break into two groups – 200 yards need to have an ownership of the program. They need and down and 200 yards and up. to have a stake in the team’s success. This is as true, • We operate with an individual medley philosophy if not more true, with the coaching staff. I believe it is of training. very important to have good leadership, both at the • We use a cyclical training system, which takes coaching level and at the swimmer level. Obviously three days, twice through each week. you don’t just turn over all responsibility to the • Eventually, we break into three groups – long swimmers. You must select your co-coaches and distance, short distance and strokes, plus swimmers who will lead very carefully, then sell Individual Medley. them on the core ideas you believe are critical. You • After the first month, the groups will normally do then give them a free reign to get it done in their own a short warm-up together and then split into the best way that they can accomplish the team goals. It three training groups. should be noted that everyone on the coaching staff • A separate coach is responsible for each group. can and should contribute to establishing the final They have control of the water training and some plan – the party line. It is OK to discuss and even of the dryland. argue your points in closed coaches’ meetings but • The sprinters will do much more weight and when you leave the room everyone is solidly in dryland than the other groups. support of the decision – whether you believe it or not. • The distance group will do medicine balls, body Next, you need to determine which of your blades, rowing machines and stationary bicycles. athletes are your best leaders – make them captains – • The stroke-individual medley group does some of and get them on your side to help sell your each in a little different way. philosophy. If they are leaders and they aren’t helping you, they will be hurting you. Once your key

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Since the 70’s, our dryland program has been built 2. Proper diet and plenty of rest are also discussed. I around power, with power equalling strength plus have had more success in this area when I have speed. We are not so interested in building muscles taken the time to explain why rest and diet are as in building the speed of the nerve impulses to the important. Swimmers see a “pay-off” and are muscles. We lift from 4-6 weeks to establish a basic more likely to plan their food and rest strength level and then folks move onto our speed accordingly. Take time to discuss what the 3-day circuit to strengthen the neural circuitry in our body. meet is going to involve. I try to prepare them for This way, when we want to swim faster than we have when the fatigue will kick in, what they can do to ever gone before, we won’t overload the circuits. We lessen the effects, and how to handle Sunday also devote a couple of sessions each week to the finals when there is no gas left! mental side of our sport. Two of the required 3. The most important area when resting 10-and- readings for the Cal team this summer were “Sacred unders is attitude. These swimmers have endless Hoops” by Phil Jackson and “Inner Tennis” by Tim energy. Your job as the coach is to keep this Gallmey. energy headed in a productive direction. The old saying that “we will get what we think Individually, I try to focus on the swimmer’s about most of the time” is very true. I do not believe strengths and play these up. Take time to let the that we communicate nearly enough with our coaches swimmer know what you expect and reinforce and athletes. If you aren’t selling the program and your confidence and support. As a team, we asking questions and listening to the answers, I don’t spend a lot of time discussing the importance of see how you can expect to be successful. No one else teamwork. Be sure to watch for teammates who is going to do it for you. are “down”. Get them back on track ASAP. So … if it’s going to be … it’s up to me. During the “resting period, practice may (okay, it does!) appear chaotic. Swimmers bouncing off the (Reproduced from American Swimming Magazine, walls, lack of order and the excitement are all Volume 2000/ Issue 3) common. These are good signs when working with younger swimmers, really! There is a line of concentration to be maintained and, at the same time, Tapering Age Groupers allow them room to run. When working with younger By Tamisa Cummings, Carmel (Ind.) Swim Club swimmers the best success will come by making them believe they are fast, giving them the tools to When asked to write an article on tapering 10-and- swim fast, and providing the opportunity to prove unders, I was not quite sure “taper” and “10-and- they are fast. under” went together. In nine years of coaching younger swimmers, I have never executed a true taper as many coaches know it but there were certain things I would do to prepare my swimmers for key Proper Race Strategy in the competitions. Some of the suggestions build on training and education that should be ongoing 400 IM through the season. The focus can be grouped into By Jasen Pratt three areas… The 400 IM is an event in which too many athletes 1. As the competition approaches, the swimmers swim incorrectly. However, with a little proper focus more on detail swimming. We spend more guidance and with an emphasis on swimming a time discussing and executing the details of a balanced race, many could excel in this event. race that can make a difference – starts/finishes, Jasen Pratt is the Head Coach of the Regina Optimist Dolphins turn speed and breathing patterns. I am Swim Club and the University of Regina Swim Team in Canada. comfortable spending 3-4 weeks on these items Pratt welcomes any feedback, positive or negative, at knowing the swimmers have built a strong [email protected]. aerobic base during the season. Be observant that Outside of Bill Sweetenham, Dr Akos Toth and this base is not lost. Make changes, if necessary. Dr Jeno Tihanyi, not much has been written about Another area of focus is racing during practice. swimming the 400 Individual Medley. What we see Partner sprints, relays and quality sets (4x50 on today are too many athletes swimming the 400 IM as 2.00, 4x100 on 3.00, etc.) are things I do to get if it were four separate 100-metre events rather than my swimmers swimming fast in practice. looking at the 400 as a whole.

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As we do in 200-metre stroke events, can we Table 2 – Comparison of % Distribution Models for 4.29 Maglischo Kemp Sweetenham Pratt safely tell our athletes the proper splits to swim – say, (1982, (1999, (1982) (1999) a 4.29 – or are the differences between individuals – 1993)* 2000) i.e. the strengths and weaknesses between the four Butterfly 1.01.9 1.00.5 1.00.3 1.02.1 Backstroke 1.07.0 1.09.1 1.08.5 1.08.0 strokes – too great? Breaststroke 1.18.3 1.18.8 1.19.4 1.17.2 Ernie Maglischo said that the strategy for the 400 Freestyle 1.01.9 1.00.5 1.00.8 1.01.6 IM was to take the Butterfly out two to three seconds The numbers do not necessarily add to exactly 4.29 due to rounding off of the tenths. over your 100-metre best time – the Backstroke You can see that all four formulas, despite only would follow at 6-7 seconds over your best – the marginal differences in percentages (Table 1), Breaststroke 8-10 – and the finishing Freestyle would produce decidedly different values when they are be at 6-7 seconds over your 100-metre best time. This converted into time (Table 2). is essentially correct, but I believe it can be more I have examined a few hundred swims from accurately stated by using percentages rather than world-class athletes all over the world. We should “seconds over personal best”. ask, are the numbers (percentages) sound? And more I am going to divide the clarification of strategy importantly, are they practical? Can we validate into two parts – strategy by percentage distribution, theory with practical swims? or how long to spend on each leg of the race – and Some of the athletes I have studied closely are the potential in the event based on lifetime bests in the better medley swimmers competing today – Marcel 100-metre events. Wouda of The Netherlands, Curtis Myden of Canada, The data was collected at National and Jani Sievinen of Finland, Matthew Dunn of Australia, International events from around the world. The Tom Dolan of the United States, Joanne Malar of world records are those broken since 1980 (excluding Canada, Yana Klochkova of the Ukraine, and all Chinese and East Germany swims). I have also Kristine Quance of the United States. included as much data on the best of the current At this point, I think the coach should be aware of medley swimmers as I have been able to find. two things… 1. Although the numbers may not seem that STRATEGY BY PERCENTAGE different, a marginal difference of only 0.5% can DISTRIBUTION translate into more than 1.2 seconds in a 400 IM Nigel Kemp made a blueprint for splitting the 400 race. IM, which was based on the duration it took to swim 2. There are countless examples of races swum at each of the four strokes. Each leg of the medley was times very close to any of the four previously to be split based on a percentage of overall time. Bill mentioned percent models. Sweetenham of Australia has also published a similar Thus, it is quite easy to select from any database method with slightly different values. I believe they, races that will fit very closely to any one of the four. along with Maglischo, were all on the right path in However, from what I have seen, there are more determining how you should tell your swimmer to races being swum in world-class competition that are split the race. (See Table 1) nearer the percentages I state than any other. I have been compiling numbers for the past 18 months, and Table 1 – Comparison of Different % Distribution Models Maglischo Kemp Sweetenham Pratt even though the size of the database keeps getting (1982, (1999, (1982) (1999) bigger, the numbers are not changing appreciably. 1993)* 2000) Butterfly 23.0% 22.5% 22.4% 23.1% Table 3 shows the percentages based on world Backstroke 24.9% 25.7% 25.5% 25.3% record swims compared to world-class swims along Breaststroke 29.1% 29.3% 29.5% 28.7% with the numbers I advocate. Freestyle 23.0% 22.5% 22.6% 22.9% Table 3 – % Distribution for World Records, World-Class * Maglischo never actually stated percentages. These numbers are and Pratt Model extrapolated from his formula (1993) of Butterfly at 2.5 seconds World Records World-Class Pratt above best, Backstroke at 6.5, Breaststroke at 9 and Freestyle at Butterfly 23.3 22.9 23.1 6.5 seconds above 100m best for world class 400 IMers. Backstroke 25.3 25.6 25.3 Breaststroke 28.6 28.5 28.7 What do these numbers in Table 1 mean in a Freestyle 22.8 23.0 22.9 * World-class denotes a top 4 national championship (to practical sense? A 4.29 in the men’s medley will get top 8, depending on the country) finish as well as you a second swim in any nation’s long course international championship finals/consols. My model is a championships. We can use that time as a starting combination of the world record percentages and the world-class percentages. To make an even 100.0%, point to compare the different pacing models in Table numbers had to be rounded in the direction of the world 2. record percentages.

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What do these numbers and splits tell us? Do race strategy. He suggested that you could determine athletes actually swim the event this way? their 400 medley capacity by adding 8%, a relatively The current long course world record in the Men’s small number compared to Tihanyi’s, to the sum of 400 IM is 4.12.30, held by American Olympic an athlete’s 100m best times in the individual strokes. Champion Tom Dolan. The difference of 2% may not sound like a great deal, Table 4 shows the splits my formula advocates but it is at least 4.8 seconds in a 400 IM lasting only versus the actual world record splits for Dolan’s 4.00.00. swim, along with the preceding three world records Does Tihany’s number (90%) or Sweetenham’s set by Tamas Darnyi of Hungary. (92%) reflect world swimming today? Table 4 – Last Four Male Long Course World Record Splits versus Table 5 shows the personal bests of Marcel Pratt Model Dolan 94 Darnyi 91 Darnyi 88 Darnyi 87 Wouda as of June 1999, Joanne Malar and Curtis 58.28 59.10 59.04 59.15 Myden as of August 1999, and Jani Sievinen as of Butterfly Pratt Pratt Pratt Pratt December 1996. 58.33 58.35 58.90 59.05 Table 5 – 100m Personal Bests of World-Class Swimmers Dolan 94 Darnyi 91 Darnyi 88 Darnyi 87 Wouda Malar Myden Sievinen 1.04.61 1.03.47 1.02.72 1.04.66 Backstroke (LC) (LC) (LC) (SC) Pratt Pratt Pratt Pratt Butterfly 56.20 1.03.10 55.59 52.61 1.03.88 1.03.90 1.04.50 1.04.67 Backstroke 58.70 1.05.31 58.18 52.56 Dolan 94 Darnyi 91 Darnyi 88 Darnyi 87 Breaststroke 1.02.50 1.11.50 1.03.12 1.00.09 1.11.76 1.12.15 1.14.20 1.13.51 Freestyle 51.15 57.65 51.70* 48.32 Breaststroke Pratt Pratt Pratt Pratt 400 IM 4.15.34 4.38.46 4.15.52 4.06.03 1.12.18 1.12.20 1.12.88 1.13.08 % of 100m sums 88.3% 91.9% 88.2% 84.8% Dolan 94 Darnyi 91 Darnyi 88 Darnyi 87 * Relay split +0.5 57.65 57.64 58.79 58.10 Freestyle Wouda has also split races, both short course and Pratt Pratt Pratt Pratt long course, at sums of 88.4% and 88.3%. Jani 57.90 57.92 58.47 58.62 Dolan 94 Darnyi 91 Darnyi 88 Darnyi 87 Sievinen of Finland, former world record holder in 4.12.30 4.12.36 4.14.75 4.15.42 the short course 400m IM and current world record It may be nothing more than a curious bit of trivia holder in the long course 200m IM, has also for coaches to file away and bring up later as competed at 86.3% short course. Alex Baumann’s motivation for an athlete, but it should be noted that gold medal performance at the 1984 Olympics was at of the 17 world records (again, not including Chinese 89.7%. or East German swimmers) over the last 20 years, It has been shown that 90% reflects the near limits only three have occurred with a Freestyle split slower of human performance at the senior international than that of the Butterfly. level, especially for males, but how do you know The problem with basing a swim in the 400 IM when an athlete is ready for such a performance? solely by the percent of time spent on one stroke or Many of us, myself included, have probably another is that this formula assumes that the swimmer already thought out some of our swimmer’s potential is balanced through the four individual strokes. This in the medley and can see a possible future for them. most often not the case, especially among younger And if you have used Sweetenham’s method, you medley swimmers. may be even more encouraged as he favours 92% - or AN ATHLETE’S POTENTIAL only 8% above personal bests. BASED ON 100M BESTS I believe before anyone gets too excited over their What I believe helps join the “paper theories” athlete’s theoretical potential, it would be best to see with practical swims are the methods used by Dr Jeno whether or not he or she can match swimming near Tihanyi, coach of former world record holder and 90% of their 100m best over 400 metres (on one Canadian Olympic double gold medallist, Alex stroke) as suggested by Sweetenham. Start with the Baumann, and Bill Sweetenham, coach of the Freestyle, then calculate the four individual strokes. Australian National Youth Squad. Can the swimmer match it? Dr Tihanyi would use a swimmer’s best event • Marcel Wouda swims his 400 Freestyle at 85.3% times for 100 metres to determine the potential of that (LC) and at 84.9% (SC) given athlete in the 400 medley. His research • Australia’s Matthew Dunn has been 84.4% (LC) determined that a world-class athlete, well balanced • Canada’s Curtis Myden at 88.7% (LC) in the four stroke disciplines, has the capacity to • His compatriot, Joanne Malar, at 90.4% (LC) swim the 400 IM at 90% of the sum of his best 100- Ian Thorpe of Australia, current world record metre swims. holder in the 200 and 400m Freestyle (LC), has done Sweetenham has also dealt with how Age 400m Freestyle races at 88.0%, 88.5% and 90.1% Groupers (or immature medley swimmers) with obvious stroke imbalances could properly devise a

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(SC), and at 88.4% again this summer when he broke Table 6 – 1999 U.S. Summer National Champion Robert Margalis’ Splits the 200 and 400 Freestyle world records (LC). versus Recommended Splits From what I have seen, I would agree with Margalis Pratt Tihanyi’s assessment of 90% as opposed to Butterfly 59.53 59.99 Backstroke 1.05.93 1.05.70 Sweetenham’s 92%. With rare exception do we see Breaststroke 1.14.68 1.14.53 the world’s best any higher than 90% (see Table 5), Freestyle 59.56 59.47 Joanne Malar). However, it may be that 4.19.70 Sweetenham’s numbers favour the younger age In 1991, former world record holder and Olympic group athlete over the senior swimmer. champion Tamas Darnyi won both IMs at the World Championships as well as a bronze in the 200m In that case, 92% may be valid since, th developmentally, Age Groupers are physiologically Butterfly. His time in the Butterfly put him 10 on less prepared for the shorter 100m races, due to their the all-time list for that event. Two years earlier at the lower maximal blood lactate capabilities (Rowland 1989 European Championships, he won all three 1996). Therefore, they would have 100m bests at less events. than full potential. Consequently, they may have an In all of Darnyi’s world record performances, he easier time achieving 8% than a senior athlete – it never split the Butterfly in less than 59 seconds, may be worthwhile for someone to take a closer look including his last world record in 1991. Yet how at this. many times do you see athletes at all levels beginning By the same token, a senior athlete who has come a race at 59 seconds or better? How many of them go close to realising full potential in the 100m events 4.12? Only two men in history have ever been 4.12, may also have more trouble attaining 90% than one and only one has ever repeated the feat. Seldom are who has not. Jani Sievinen is a good example. the world’s best 400 IMrs out to show their In two separate swims, it took Sievinen efforts of competitors their biggest strengths. only 84.8% (January 1996) and 86.3% (February Tom Dolan set the current world record at the World Championships in 1994. That year, he was 1992) to achieve two short course world records. This th may also be due in part to the fact that Sievinen has also world-ranked in the 400 Freestyle (11 ), 800 Freestyle (3rd), 1500 Freestyle (12th) and the 200 also been trained to achieve the world’s fastest 200 nd IM times in both short course and long course. Backstroke (132 ). How often does Dolan attempt to Were Sievinen able to match his 86.3% effort reserve everything for the last 100 metres, trying to from 1992 today, he would be swimming the 400 IM win on his Freestyle alone? He swims a very (SC) at 4.02.8 – still almost two seconds ahead of balanced race. Matthew Dunn’s 1999 world record. Were Sievinen During 1996 – one of the most important seasons able to reach full potential (90%) as an IMer, we may of his career – Dolan won the 400 IM at the Olympics and was ranked second in the world in the see him at an amazing 3.54.9! th 400 Freestyle and 17 in the 200 Backstroke. Yet at HOW TO USE THE PERCENT DISTRIBUTION the Olympics, he was tied with Eric Namesnik at the 200, splitting a conservative 1.04.5 (especially for a MODEL th man who is the 13 fastest all-time in the 200 One of the primary uses of this method is to use it Backstroke). By doing so, he maintained balance as a pace moderator for your athletes. By that I mean, inside the 400. Table 7 – Dolan’s 1996 Olympic for example, many are capable of initiating a 400 IM Swim versus Recommended Splits at a much quicker pace than this strategy Dolan Pratt recommends (see Table 2). However, racing the 400 Butterfly 58.37 58.88 Backstroke 1.04.51 1.04.49 IM is not about displaying your strengths. Rather, it’s Breaststroke 1.13.14 1.13.16 about hiding your weaknesses. Freestyle 59.16 58.37 Of the 24 swimmers who swam in the finals at the 4.14.90 1999 U.S. Summer National Championships, 10 of In 1992, Hungary’s Kristina Egerszegi won them had an initial Butterfly split quicker than one Olympic gold in the 400 IM. She also won the 100 minute. Following my splitting strategy, I would and 200 Backstroke. That year, she was ranked No.1 assume that these athletes should be able to finish in the world in all three events. She was also world- ranked in the 200 Butterfly (16th) and the 200 under 4.20.0 – yet only one did … Robert Margalis. th The question, then, is … “Are these athletes, by Breaststroke (128 ). Yet, she was only even with the splitting under one minute in the Butterfly, hiding a early leader at 200 metres. weakness, or just displaying a strength?” Table 6 What I am trying to emphasise is that, despite looks at Margalis’ swim. these athletes’ obvious strengths, they swim balanced

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races – not necessarily optimising strengths, but conserving energy to balance the race and hide their Who do we choose to follow? weakness. There are four elements to any one performance CONCLUSION … physiological, mental, tactical and technical. This article deals with only one – the tactical. As The point I would like to stress is that none of mentioned earlier, little has been written on any of these other percentage strategies are necessarily these four elements specific to medley swimming. incorrect – just less accurate in today’s competitive world. Their numbers may be a reflection of the era Dr Akos Toth, coach of former world record from which they gathered their data. World records in holder Tamas Darnyi, has done a wonderful piece on the days gone by were not swum with nearly the his swimmer, covering the technical and the tactical. same amount of balance as today. Bill Sweetenham’s booklet goes a little further and deals with the physiological, tactical and technical. It would be wrong for anyone to say that any one These works are valuable to all coaches and athletes, way is absolutely correct for every athlete. There are regardless of the level of current competition. examples from all over the world of successful world-class swims being done in a multitude of ways. So, can we give our athletes a strategy based on this research? I would hardly claim that this is a There is a category of swimmer today who swims perfect method. I would love to hear of someone to win. He or she uses the strategy that best suits the refining it even more or coming up with something competition – or as Tihanyi said about Baumann – more concrete. I think it’s important to have a model the strategy is never to lose. For these athletes, it may around which to base our swimmers’ training and to mean a Butterfly leg quicker than usual to intimate determine their strengths and weaknesses. and weaken the will of a competitor, in effect forcing a race on a competitor for which he or she is not Is there a practical application for what I have prepared. presented? Yes – strive for balance in your athletes’ races. What I have found most often is that my There is another category of swimmer in this athletes are over-swimming their strengths to the event – the immortals – swimmers such as Dolan, detriment of their weaker strokes and to the overall Darnyi and Baumann – who, because of their ability, balance of the performance. Coaches can use these could swim the race of their choice, imposing their percentages and times for pre-race strategies, post- will on the others because they were above having to race analysis and subsequent training plans. bend their strategy to suit the competition.

NAME Check #1 Butterfly Backstroke Breaststroke Freestyle Gillian Robb 4.51 100m PB 68 66 81 63 3/11/00 291.00 200m PB 136 138 159 126 Time Difference 0 6 -3 0 400 IM Splits 63 73 75 60 TOTAL 400 IM 271.00 Difference between PB -5 7 -6 -3 400 IM Split as % 23.25% 26.94% 27.68% 22.14% PB 100 + 6% 72.08 69.96 85.86 66.78 200 Target = PB + 6% x 2 144.16 139.92 171.72 133.56 Target 400 IM Splits = PB + 8% 73.44 71.28 87.48 68.04 TOTAL 400 IM 300.24 Target 400 IM Splits as % 24.46% 23.74% 29.14% 22.66% 400 Target each stroke = 200 goal x 2 + diff 100/200 288.32 285.84 340.44 267.12 Target 200 IM Splits = PB 100 + 6% / 2 36.04 34.98 42.93 33.39 TOTAL 200 IM 147.34 Targets 200m 400m Butterfly 144.16 288.32 Butterfly/Backstroke 144.72 Backstroke 139.92 285.84 Backstroke/Breaststroke 158.76 Breaststroke 171.72 340.44 Breaststroke/Freestyle 155.52 Freestyle 133.56 267.12 Individual Medley 147.34 300.24

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NAME Check #2 Butterfly Backstroke Breaststroke Freestyle Hannah 4.51 100m PB 81 83 100 72 3/11/00 291.00 200m PB 177 180 206 159 Time Difference 15 14 6 15 400 IM Splits 63 73 75 60 TOTAL 400 IM 271.00 Difference between PB -18 -10 -25 -12 400 IM Split as % 23.25% 26.94% 27.68% 22.14% PB 100 + 6% 85.86 87.98 106 76.32 200 Target = PB + 6% x 2 171.72 175.96 212 152.64 Target 400 IM Splits = PB + 8% 87.48 89.64 108 77.76 TOTAL 400 IM 362.88 Target 400 IM Splits as % 24.11% 24.70% 29.76% 21.43% 400 Target each stroke = 200 goal x 2 + diff 100/200 358.44 365.92 430 320.28 Target 200 IM Splits = PB 100 + 6% / 2 42.93 43.99 53 38.16 TOTAL 200 IM 178.08 Targets 200m 400m Butterfly 171.72 358.44 Butterfly/Backstroke 177.12 Backstroke 175.96 365.92 Backstroke/Breaststroke 197.64 Breaststroke 212 430 Breaststroke/Freestyle 185.76 Freestyle 152.64 320.28 Individual Medley 178.08 362.88

Presenting Australian Swimming Coach Introduction of Doug Frost and his coaching achievements DOUG FROST Explanation of his Training Philosophies and Principles Explanation of various Training Phases and Detailed Practical Examples of Daily Workouts The entire video is highlighted with underwater footage. Approx. Running Time: 87 minutes

TRAINING CAMP (Quality Endurance Phase) An insight into a typical “Training Week” Pool-side Lecture, detailing and explaining each Set of each Session: Sets Used and Why Energy Systems Targeted and his World Class Team including… Drills and Tips Ian Thorpe, World Champion and multiple World Record Holder. FREESTYLE TECHNIQUE SESSION Australian Representatives Breakdown of Stroke Craig Stevens, Danielle Woods, Kirsten Thomson Underwater Slow Motion and Still Frames and Simon Cowley Skills Development – from Age Group to Internationals Australian Breaststroke Representative

$55 (Includes GST) + $11 P&H

ASCTA, PO Box 824, Lavington NSW 2641, Australia Phone: (02) 6041 6077 … or Fax: (02) 6041 4282

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50 100 50 100 (Reproduced from American Swimming Magazine Age Freestyle Freestyle Butterfly Butterfly Volume 2000/Issue 4) 1990 16 26.41 56.6 01.00.6 1991 17 25.84 56.58 01.00.9 Progression of Inge de Bruijn 1992 18 25.84 57.11 28.22 01.01.0 1993 19 25.86 56.99 27.53 01.01.1 1994 20 26 57.88 27.5 01.01.1 1995 21 25.95 57.47 27.69 01.01.3 1996 22 26.23 28.05 1997 23 56.69 01.00.6 1998 24 25.01 55.62 27.15 59.28 1999 25 24.84 54.79 26.47 58.49 2000 26 24.51 53.8 25.64 56.69

The following is a presentation given by Paul Bergen at the ASCA 2000 US Convention.

Short Course Yards (Time History) Prior 97 97/98 98/99 99/00 50 Freestyle — 22.8 21.8 21.8 100 Freestyle — 49.4 47.8 47.8 200 Freestyle — 1.51.2 1.45.8 1.45.2 In 1997, Inge de Bruijn says she re-dedicated 100 Butterfly — 53.7 52.4 52.0 herself to training. Part of this re-dedication was to 200 Butterfly — 2.03.2 2.01.0 — Short Course Metres (Time History) decide to train with Coach Paul Bergen. Prior 97 97/98 98/99 99/00 50 Freestyle 25.4 25.0 24.6 24.3 100 Freestyle 56.0 55.8 54.8 53.8 Among a host of famous swimmers Paul has 200 Freestyle — 2.03.0 2.01.0 — coached, the standout, until now, was the great Tracy 100 Butterfly 1.00.7 59.1 58.1 57.8 Caulkins, whom some describe as the greatest 200 Butterfly — — — — Long Course Metres (Time History) swimmer of all time. Coach Bergen has been Prior 97 97/98 98/99 99/00 described as an “artist coach”, which is counter 50 Freestyle 25.8 25.0* 24.8* 24.3** perhaps to the “scientist-coach” description. One 100 Freestyle 56.5 55.5 54.9* 53.8** 200 Freestyle — 2.03.2 2.01.0 — thing which all agree upon … Coach Paul demands 100 Butterfly 1.00.9 59.2 58.4* 56.6** perfection in the work expected of the athlete, and the 200 Butterfly — — — — dryland program, which he reportedly calls “body- Strength Gains shaping”, is very significant and both high quality 97/98 98/99 99/00 and high volume. Maximum Bench 155# 165# 190# Maximum Lat-Pull 115# 135# 155# Maximum Chins (full extension) 9 11 15 Inevitably, the question of doping has arisen. Ms Maximum Dips (90o) 18 32 44 de Bruijn has addressed it directly herself, saying she Rope Climb (15ft) 5 10 16 does not use drugs in her training and that she is Wt./Skin Folds tested, as all international level athletes are, on a Prior 97 97/98 98/99 99/00 regular basis. Sadly, in this day and age, every great WT.# 128 136 142 145 performance will be questioned. The answer at this 6 sites — 40/38mm 38/30mm 32/26mm Back, Mid-Tricep, Hip, Stomach, Mid-Thigh and Mid-Calf time is … all drug tests CLEAN. INGE DE BRUIJN’S TRAINING SESSIONS 1999-2000 Preparation Phase (13/9/99-31/10/99) Some say her times are “fantastic” and hard to AM* (M-W-F) 5.20-6.50 Scy/scm believe. In fact, if you look at the men’s time *AMs began during 3rd week progression in the 100 Freestyle and 100 Butterfly (M) 27/9/99 (scy) (Power) 1) 100 Fr-sw from 1980 to the present, Inge’s times are a slower Alt. 100 IM-k (5x) (continuous) progression than the men’s times. That she overcame 2) (K) BR=vt. Weights (m=10#, mh=15#, h=20-25#) an almost certainly doped Chinese time (though that 12x:40 on 1.00 (progressive 1-3 sets of 4) fl, bk, fr = scuba wt. Belt (6-11#) + fins (cut-off @ 2/3 length) was never “proven” a doped time), adds to the fire, 12x50 4x.50 but the fact is, clean athletes have inevitably erased 4x:45 4x:40 all the old East German marks that we were certain 3) (P) (Stretch cord) were “unbeatable”. 1x6.00 (:30-fr alt. :30 st) 8x:40 (hard st) 4) (sw/fr/pad) Congratulations to Inge and her coach, Paul 12x150 on 2.20 (2 cruise/1 fast) Bergen. 5) Warm down 200 Total: 4,600

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AM (W) 29/9/99 (scy) (Speed) even # pull (pb/pad) bk-fr/100 on 6.00 1) 50 Fr-sw, 50 Fr-k, 50 IM-sw, 50 St-k x 4 (Md) 20x100 (fast every 4.00) 2) 20x25 (k-fins), fl, bk-fr) on :35 # @ :15 or faster odd # swim fast stroke 20x:15 (vt. K, br) on :35 @ 35# or heavier even # swim easy choice 3) (k) 10x50 (A) on :55 (B) on 1.00 3) 300 k (choice – stroke/50) 5x100 (A) on 1:40 (B) on 1.50 300 P (fr-pb/pad-breath 5) 1x500 (A) @ 7.30 or better (B) @ 8.00 or better 3x100 IM-sw continuous 4) (p) 6x100 lungbusters (3-5-7-9/25) continuous* 2 x through * (re-did lungbusters because didn’t have 100% doing Total: 7,000/5,800 breathing correctly) PM (W) 5/1/00 5.00-6.15 Weights 5) (p) 10x50 on 1.00 (st) 20yd spins 1) Toe Bo (20 min.) 6) Warm down 300 2) 40 sit-ups/20 push-ups x 3 Total: 4,700 3) 3x12 shoulders PM (M) 13/9/99 3.00-5.00 (sw) 5.00-6.15 (Tae-Bo & wt’s)(scy) 4) Bench (Tech/kick) Boys 1x10(m); 3x8(h); (4a) Dips 2x8(55#); (4b) Tricep 3x8(h) 1) 1x100 Fr-sw (25 rt arm/25 lft arm/50 full) Girls 1x12(m); 3x12(h); (4a) Dips 2x8(40#); (4b) Tricep 3x10(h) (1 x opp. Arm in front/1 x opp. Arm at side) Dist. 1x20(m); (4a) Dips 2x10(25#); (4b) Tricep 3x400(pulleys) (alt. 10x) 1x100 Fr-k (25 rt leg/25 lft leg/50 both) 5) Front Lats 2) (Fins) 25 front scull (no kick) Boys 1x10(m); 3x8(h); (5a) Chins 2x6(55#); (5b) D.B. curls 3x8 10x { 25 swim alt (h) 25 front finning (no kick) Girls 1x12(m);3x10(h); (5a) Chins 2x6(40#); (5b) D.B. curls 25 swim 3x10 alt(h) 3) (k) 10x100 (fins) 5x 1.30/5x 1.20 Dist. 1x20(m); (5a) Chins 2x8(25#) 1x400 “egg-beater” 6) Legs ?x25 kick “shooters” on :40* (br) Squats 1x12(m) 3x10(h) *(kicked out 6 swimmers who couldn’t do them to next group (fl) kick-out 1x12(m) 3x10(h) down, until they could do 16x25 “shooters” on :40 all (bk) leg-curl 1x12(m) 3x10(h) underwater) (fr) alt leg press 1x20(m) 3x14(h) 4) Warm down 200 underwater PM (T) 4/1/00 3.00-5.15 (sw) 5.16/6.15 (run/.ex) Endurance Total: 5,000 1) 15x100 fr on (A) 1x1.15 (B) 1.20 (C) 1.25 PM (M) 13/9/00 (4:00 per station) Dryland (A) 1x1.05 (B) 1.10 (C) 1.15 1) Bench … 1x8+4x2 (A) 1x:55 (B) 1.00 (C) 1.05 2) Dips … 1x8+4x2 repeat 5x 3) Push-ups … :30 full :10 neg/pos :20 rest x 4 2) (k) a) 1x400 IM (no board) 4) Sit-ups … :30 alt :10 neg :20 rest x 4 b) 2x50 on :45 :50 5) Front Lats … 1x8+4x2 2x50 on :40 :45 6) Chins … 1x8+4x2 4x25 on :40(fast) :40(fast) 7) Bar curls … :30 full :10 neg/pos :20 rest x 4 1x100 on 2.30 2.30 8) Back arches … :30 work :10 hold top :20 rest x 4 repeat 3x 9) D.B. Lunges … 20 alt. – 10 rt front/10 lft front x 4 3) (p/sw) (Dist) 6x1000 10) Leg ext. … 1x20 both – 10 rt down/10 lft down x 2 odd# (50rt-arm/50 lft arm) on 14.00 11) Toe ext. … 2x15 “slow” even# (pull-pb/t/pad) on 13.00 12) Jumps/hops … 30 “big” :10 “hops” :20 rest x 4 (Md) 12x400 13) Sit-ups … :30 alt :10 neg: 20 rest x 4 odd# (drill – 200fr/200st) on 6.00 PM (T) 14/9/00 (scy) 3.00-5.00 (sw) 5.00-6.15 (run/ex.) even# (pull-stroke fr (pb/t/pad) bk(t/pad) on 6.00 br(fins) fl(pb) Tech/Kick 4) 20x50 (35 fast im order/15 easy fr) on :50 1) 1x100 Fr-sw (25 ft sci./25 rt arm/25 25 frt Fin/lft arm) Total: 9,500/8,300 alt (10x) 1x100 Fr-k (rt leg/25 l-leg/50 both-fast) PM (T) 4/1/00 Dryland 2) 8x25 fl (fins) breath-2 on :30 1) Girls – Run long Intel (3.5 mi.) alt. (5x) 1x200 Fr (fins) (25 catch-up @ 8-10 strokes/25 full Boys – Run short Intel (2.8 mi.) stroke @ 10-12 strokes) on 3.00 2) Rope Climb – (g) 4-3-2-1 (b) 5-4-3-2-1 3) (k) 1x25 “egg”, br, or fl on :30 sit-ups 10x50 (sw) 1x25 underwater on :30 push-ups 10x25 (sw) 1x25 fr fast on :30 AM (SA) 15/1/00 (scy) Endurance/Quality (12x) 1) 15 min. stretching 4) Warm down 8x50 (14 lines no breath/6 lines easy) 2) 1x100 sw-fr Total: 5,400 1x100 k-fr PM (T) 14/9/99 Dryland 1x100 sw-im 1) 2x long Intel run (approx 3mi.) 1x100 k-st 2) 10 min. rope climb (1 ea. Every 1:20 7x repeat 5x 10 min. sit-ups (:45 work/:15 rest) 10x 3) (p) 1x400 “LB” 10 min. push-ups (:35 work/:25 rest) 10x 1x400 “Treadmill” AM (SA) 9/10/99 (scy) Water Polo/sw/k 1x200 “rev LB” Split into 6 squads (2 squads) per station (20 min. @ each station) 4) (sw) 50fr/50fl-fast) on 1.30 #1 20 min. fr technique work 4x200 (50fr/50fl/100bk-fast) on 3.00 #2 20 min. water polo 4x300 (50fr/50fl/100bk/100br-fast) on 4.30 #3 20 min. kicking (repeat 2x) 4x400 (50fr/50fl/100bk/100br/100fr-fast) on 6.00 Dryland 5) loosen 400 #1 45 min. bike (3x long Intel loop) 6) ?x50s on 1.00 (10@50% of L.T.B. 100 or 15 hard efforts) #2 30 min. run (1x Long Intel loop) Total 8,000-8,500 AM * Didn’t vary much except emphasised 3x300 Fr with and without fins (2 x per week) PM (W) 5/1/00 (scy) Quality 1) 4x500 “Mary Series” (sw/k/p/d – varied by stroke/dist) 2) (Dist) 8x400 odd # swim fast on 5.00

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INGE DE BRUIJN’S OLYMPIC PREPARATION (15 DAYS) 5) 4 x Texas 25s on 1.00 (IM order) alt. X3 PM (F) 1/9/00 (-15 days) (lcm) post travel, mixed easy aerobic) 4x100 Fr (breaths 4/3/2/1 per 25) on 1.30 1) 10x50su/25/pu/10j x 5 @ Hotel 6) Warm down 2) 1x100 fr-sw Total: 4,500 alt (6x) 1x50 IM-swim AM (MON) 4/9/00 (-12 DAYS) 3) (K/P) 1x100k (25rt-leg/25lft-leg/50both-fast) on :10 1) Stretching alt (x6) 1x150p (50fr/25st x 2) on :10 2) 1x800 (100sw/100K) 4) 4) Sw-Fr (Fins) easy on 1.25 @ 1.15/fast on 1.15 @ 1.05 3) 16x50 P on :50 (2xfr slow; 2xSt fast) 100 (mod) on 1.25 @ 1.15 100 (mod/fast) on 1.15 @ 1.05 4) 4) (2x) 1x200 Fr on 3.00 100 (mod) 200 (mod/fast) 1x150 Fr on 2.15 100 (mod) 300 (mod/fast) 1x50 Fr fast on :45/:50 100 (mod) 400 (mod/fast) 1x150 Fr on 2.10 100 (mod) 300 (mod/fast) 1x100 Fr on 1.25 100 (mod) 200 (mod/fast) 2x50 Fr fast on :45/:50 100 (mod) 100 (mod/fast 1x100 Fr on 1.20 5) 200 warm down (underwater turns) 3x50 Fr fast on :45/:50 Total 5,000 5) 12x50 St. drills on 1.00 AM (SAT) 2/9/00 (-14 DAYS) (lcm) Total: 4,400 Stretching PM (NO PRACTICE) 1) 1x100 fr on 1.30 AM (TUE) 5/9/00 (-11 DAYS) alt (x5) 2x50 (Fl/Bk – Br/Fr) on :50 1) Stretching 2) Kick – diving well (15m) 2) 1x600 mixer (Fr/IM) 8 x ‘shooters’ (9# scuba) on :30 3) (K) (diving well) (#9 scuba) alt (x2) 8 x on :30 ‘shooters’ x 2 (second time no belt) 8 laps easy swim 1 x 8 laps easy 8 x ‘shooters’ (no wt) on :30 (record) 4) (P) 1x100 (fr) (5) on 1.40 alt (x2) Alt. (x3) 8 laps easy 2x50 Fl on 1.00 3) Pull 5) 6x100 fr on 1.40 (extended DPS -1) 4x100 on 1.40 (PB/Pad/Band/5) (free) HR @ 14 (for :06) alt (x2) 6) D/Sw 10x50 on 1.10 4x50 st on 1.00 (fast) (record) (fly) odd# drill (Rt/lft/both) 4) 4) Drill even# stroke and time 10x50 on 1.00 goal time – fly = 21 strokes/31 seconds odd# 25 D (E) goal time – free = 31 strokes/31 seconds (or 30/30) 25 Sw-Fr (E) 7) 25s – dive/starts – count kicks to breakout even# 50 D (Fly) (fl = 8k, fr = 4 fl/4 fr) 5) 200 warm down Total: 3,000 Total 4,100 PM (TUE) 5/9/00 (-11 DAYS) PM (SAT) 2/9/00 (-14 DAYS) (lcm) 1) Weights 3-3.45 Weights: 3-3.45 2) 800 Sw/K (4x rev. 200 Ims/per 25) 1) 100 Sw (:10) neg 3) 1x400 fr – LB 200 K (:10) neg (x4-Fr/IM/St/St) 4) 1x200 St 300 P (:10) (1-3/100) 5) 3x400 Fr (neg) on 6.00 (fins) 2) Swim – 100/200/300/400 (Free) (even split) 6) 100 easy swim On 1.25 (base) 7) 12x100 on 1.50 – every 3rd fast – fly – goal = 1.05 & 1.03 Swim – 400/300/200/100 (IM) (descent) 8) 100 easy swim On 1.35 (base) 9) 16 x Texas 25s on 1.00 (4 St/4 Fr x 2) 3) 20x50 5xfr on :50 (@ 34 strokes) 10) 200 easy swim 5xfl on :54 (@ 23 strokes) (x2) Total: 4,800 4) 200 warm down AM (WED) 6/9/00 (-10 DAYS) Total: 5,600 1) 40 su/20 pu x 3 AM (SU) 3/9/00 (-13 DAYS) 2) Stretching 1) 4x100 S – Fr (neg) on 1.30 3) 100 K 2) 4x200 K – St (neg) on 3.45 100 P x 5 (2 fr/1 im/2 st) 3) 4x100 S – Fr (neg) on 1.30 100 D 4) 4x200 P – Fr/St (neg) on 3.45 4) 1x300 IM/Sw (25 Fl/50 Bk/75 Br/150 Fr) on 5.00 5) 300 drill Alt. (x4) 6) 5x300 – Fr (fins) on 4.15 @ 3.45 (32-34 St/50) 1x200 P fly on 3.00 7) 16x :10 sprints (no breath) turn around, swim back easy on 5) 100 easy swim :45 6) 24x (6 line) fl sprints (fins) on :40/:45 4K/45w (fly); 4K/4Sw (free) (6 K-6 Sw fly/ 6 K 6 Sw fr) Total: 5,000 Total: 4,000 PM (SU) 3/9/00 (-13 DAYS) PM (NO PRACTICE) 1) 40su/20pu x 5 AM (TH) 7/9/00 (-9 DAYS) 2) Run 1.5 mile 1) Stretching 3) 600 mixer 2) 600 mixer 400 K (R-L-50 fast x4) 3) 8x50 K (fins) on :50 200 P (Fr-LB) 4) 6x100 P (free) on 1.30 200 Drill (St) 5) 1x400 drill (50 fr/50 st) 4) 4 x broken 200s (4x50) (100 easy after each) (fr – 3 rt/5 full/ 3 lft/5 full x 2 cycles per 50) #1 = 5 sec rest – goal time = fr @ 2.08 (fly – rt/lft/both x 6 cycles per 50) #2 = 10 sec rest – goal time = fr @ 2.00 6) Stretch Cord – 8x50 on 1.10 #3 = 20 sec rest – goal time = fr @ 1.54 (25 build against cord/25 cruise with cord) #4 = 30 sec rest – goal time = fl @ 2.00

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7) Starts – Push AM or PM 9THU) 14/9/00 (-2 DAYS) odd# - dive 1) Stretching even# - (x6) 2) 1x800 mixer Time Breakouts – Fr @ 3.0; Fl @ 3.5 3) 1x100 K (rt 25/lft 25/both 25/ both 25 (fast)) Fr = 4 fl K/4 fr/Fl = 6fl K Alt. (x6) Total: 2,400 1x100 P (rt 25/lft 25/both 25/both 25 (fast)) PM (THU) 7/9/00 (-9 DAYS) 4) 8x50 odd# (25 drill/25 easy) 1) 40 su/20 pu x 3.5 Alt. (x4) 2) 6x100 Fr on 1.40 (neg) Even # (fast – stroke and time) 3) 5x100 K on 2.00 (1-5) 5) Starts 3-4 breakouts 4) 1x600 P (3x200 IM – fl/bk/br/st x 3) 6) 200 ‘slog’ 5) 8x100 (1-4x2) (4xfr on 1.20/4xIM on 1.30) Total: 2,700 6) 200 drill stroke AM or PM (FRI) 15/9/00 (-1 DAY) 7) 8x50 fl – odd# easy drill/ even# fast swim 1) Stretching (:28 @ 23 strokes) (4 @ goal or 6 hard attempts) 2) 1x800 mixer Total: 3,100 3) 16x50 alt k/p AM (NO PRACTICE) 4) 6x50 odd# drill/even# strong @ -1 stroke count PM (FRI) 8/9/00 (-8 DAYS) 5) 400 ‘slog’ Tennessee turns @ 50 1) Weights 3-3.45 Total: 2,200 2) 1x800 mixer 3) 4x200 K (neg) on 3.30 Weight Training 4) 1x300 Sw (fins) (fl=fr/fr=fr/bk=bk) (FRI) 8/9/00 (-8 DAYS) Alt. X4 1) 40 su/20 pu x 3 3x100 P fly on 1.30 2) 3x12 shoulders 5) 200 easy swim 3) Bench – 1x10 M; 3x5 (P) 6) 8x50 on 1.10 (stretch cord) (25 build/25 cruise) (5 st/3 fr) 4) Lats – 1x10 M; 3x5 (P) 7) 200 easy swim 5) Legs – Fl/Fr = kickout 3x8 P (2 up/1 down) Total: 4,600 Bk = leg curl 3x8 P (2 up/1 down) AM (SAT) 9/9/00 (-7 DAYS) 6) Curls – 3x5 (P) 1) Stretching!!! 7) Triceps – 3x5 (P) 2) 1x800 Sw-K/100 (MON) 11/9/00 (-5 DAYS) 3) 8x :40 (P) (fr) (stretch cord) on 1.00 1) 40 su/20 pu x 3 4) 8x50 drill on 1.00 (1-4x2) 2) 3x12 shoulders 5) 4 dives off boards in diving well 3) Bench – 3x5 (P); 1x10 @ #1 (fast) Total: 1,600 4) Lats – 3x5 (P); 1x10 @ #1 (fast) PM (SAT) 9/9/00 (-7 DAYS) 5) Legs – 3x8 (P); 1x16 @ #1 (fast) 1) 40 su/20 pu x 3.5 6) Preacher Curls – 3x5 (P) 2) 600 mixer 7) Triceps Press – 3x5 (P) 600 K (every 3rd 25 fast) 400 P (fr – LB) SENIOR REGIONALS, LONG COURSE 22/7/00 (50 METRES) 200 D (fly) 100 Butterfly Finals 3) 6x50 Fr on 1.00 @ :29 Distance 50 100 4) 6x50 Fl on 1.05 @ :30 Breakout (sec) 4.05 3.28 5) 16x100 (:10 x odd# drill; even# P fr) Break Distance 7.64 * 5.44* Total: 4,000 Split (sec) 26.49 30.15 OFF ENTIRE DAY (SU) 10/9/00 (-6 DAYS) Drop-off — 3.65 LAST 5 DAYS – 1 PRACTICE/DAY Cycle Count 21.3* 24.3* AM or PM (MON) 11/9/00 (-5 DAYS) Time 26.49 56.64 1) Stretching Tempo (C/Min) 57.8 55.5 2) 8x200 (fins) on 3.15 (100 Sw/100 K) (1-4x2) DPC (M/C) 1.99 1.83 3) 1x300 drill – 50 fl (rt-lft-both) x 6 cycles Velocity (M/sec) 1.89 1.66 50 fr (3 rt/5 full/3 lft/5 full) x 2 cycles on 5-5.30 Alt. (x2) Turn Time (sec) 0.46 0* 3x100 P 1.30-25-20 Race Efficiency 294 216 4) 8x50 (E-F) (Fast = fr @ 36 strokes @ :29) * Denotes backtrack extrapolation 5) 4x300 fr (fins and paddles) on :30 (slow look good (slog) Race Efficiency: 255.00 points Total: 4,400 Comment: Great job Inge. The actual stroke counts on that swim AM or PM (TU) 12/9/00 (-4 DAYS) were 22 and 25. It was fun to see a swim like that live. Good luck 1) 1200 K/P in Sydney!!! 2) 3x400 Fr (fins) on 6.00 (@ 5.00 @ 32-34 strokes/50) 50 Freestyle Finals 3) 8x50 odd# Stroke drill – fl (rt-lft-both) Distance 50 Alt. (x4) even# Stroke and Time (21 strokes @ :31) Breakout (sec) 3.16 Total: 4,000 Break Distance 6.46* AM or PM (WED) 13/9/00 (-3 DAYS) Split (sec) 24.50 1) Stretching Drop-off — 2) 1x800 mixer Cycle Count 22.3* 3) 100 K (fins) (r-l-50 both/fast) on 2.00 Time 24.50 Alt. (x8) Tempo (C/Min) 63.5 1x1.30 P (St. C.) on 2.00 DPC (M/C) 1.95 4) 1x400 fr on 6.00 Velocity (M/sec) 2.04 Alt. (x2) Turn Time (sec) 0* 4x50 drill fl on 1.00 Race Efficiency 3.5 5) Starts * Denotes backtrack extrapolation 6) 400 (Warm down ‘Slog’) Race Efficiency: 305.00 points Total: 4,000

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50 Freestyle Prelims Bixler began running computer simulations of a Distance 50 Breakout (sec) 3.28 swimmer’s hand and arm, altering certain variables, Break Distance 6.59* such as position of the hand and arm during a swim Split (sec) 24.86 stroke and water turbulence. His preliminary CFD Drop-off — results compared well with traditional physical Cycle Count 23* Time 24.86 experimental data that had been arduously developed Tempo (C/Min) 64.8 from a wind tunnel, a tow tank, and a flume. DPC (M/C) 1.89 Velocity (M/sec) 2.01 Turn Time (sec) 0* Scott Riewald, Biomechanics Director of USA Race Efficiency 281 Swimming, states, “The sport of swimming has relied * Denotes backtrack extrapolation only on experimental research that has been done Race Efficiency: 281.00 points over the past 20 years. We wanted to take it to another level, and the technology behind CFD has

US OLYMPIC SWIM TEAM TURNS TO allowed us to do just that. We recognised the TECHNOLOGY TO PERFECT STROKES potential in Barry’s work and have taken a very logical approach to gaining solid evidence that we know will help us settle the longest standing debate in the swimming community-how a swimmer’s propulsion is generated. Not only will Barry’s work allow us to analyse conditions, such as acceleration, By Scott Riewald, Biomechanics Director, USA deceleration and rotation of a swimmer’s stroke, that Swimming we could not have done experimentally, it has also Barry Bixler, Principle Engineer, Honeywell Engines allowed us to gain valuable data much more quickly and Systems and cost effectively,” Riewald concluded.

Optimising Swimming Strokes with CFD After joining forces with USA Swimming, Mr. Computer Simulations Bixler’s research has progressed quickly. Through this research, Mr. Bixler has been able to establish a Colorado Springs, CO/Lebanon, NH-August 16, firm analytical foundation upon which to proceed 2000. In the competitive world of swimming, nothing with more complex analyses. His first project on is too extreme to consider in efforts to shave fractions research of a swimmer’s hand and arm is taking place of a second off a swimmer’s finish time. So it should in three phases. In Phase I, which took place last come as no surprise that shaved bodies and full body year, the hand/arm was analysed in steady flow. Mr. skinsuits have been joined by the latest computer Bixler’s main finding from this phase was that the technology. Aided by advanced modelling and aerodynamic efficiency of the hand is significantly simulation software, USA Swimming is designing less than an airfoil of similar aspect ratio. Phase II, and helping its elite swimmers achieve their perfect which has just been completed and was sponsored by swim stroke. the Sport Science and Technology division of the US Olympic Committee, analysed the acceleration and USA Swimming, headquartered in Colorado deceleration of the hand/arm. Phase II results showed Springs, Colorado, at the US Olympic Training that drag and lift forces on the hand and arm are Center, is the national governing body for the sport of affected unequally by acceleration and deceleration. competitive swimming in the United States. Until Phase III, which is planned for next year, will analyse recently, USA Swimming’s research has been strictly the addition of rotation and direction change of the experimental. Last year, USA Swimming became arm, making it possible to “design” the optimum aware of groundbreaking research that was being stroke. Full body analysis is also planned as a done to analyse a swimmer’s strokes by Barry Bixler, separate project to begin in the near future, in Principal Engineer at Honeywell Engines and conjunction with Phase III of the hand/arm. Systems, using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) software, which is used to analyse fluid flow. According to Mr. Bixler, “Through this extensive research, I hope to demonstrate to the swimming What began as a hobby for Mr. Bixler has turned community the benefits that can be achieved by into extremely pertinent consulting research that is gaining valuable information from such a simulation aiding USA Swimming to fine tune the strokes of program. CFD is a tool that is just too powerful and their elite swimmers. Using CFD software, Mr. useful to ignore, and fortunately, USA Swimming has

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chosen to lead the way in applying it to swimming. Olympic hopeful swimmer with superimposed CFD Ultimately, I hope to ‘design’ the optimum stroke hand/arm showing oilfilm lines from a CFD analysis. which will improve elite swimmers’ performance.”

Mr. Bixler completed Phase I and II of the hand/arm analyses on an Intel® Pentium III/667 DP Workstation. Intel Corp. has recently committed to provide Mr. Bixler with a parallel multiprocessor workstation to give him the computing power necessary to complete Phase III of the hand/arm analysis as well as for the full body analysis.

“The scalability of Intel Architecture enables threaded CFD software to take advantage of multiple Intel processors,” said Raghu Murthi, Director of Marketing for Intel’s Enterprise Platform Group. “By using multiple Intel processors versus a single processor to perform its computations, Mr. Bixler can now achieve the computational performance necessary to continue using CFD software to analyse complex data such as the dynamics of a swimmer’s stroke. This will provide him with the tools necessary to help the athletes excel.”

CFD software has been used by such recognized names in the world of sports as Team New Zealand Position of the hand/arm at the to design the hull of their winning yacht in the 2000 beginning of the propulsive phase of America’s Cup, by Benetton Formula 1 and Team the Freestyle stroke and oilfilm lines Rahal in designing their racecars, and by Quicksilver from a CFD analysis (WRS) Ltd. in designing their craft which will challenge the world water speed record in the winter of 2001/2002. CFD has also been used to analyse the trajectories of a soccer ball to determine optimum ball design and to analyse the benefits of “V” style ski jumping vs. parallel ski jumping, just to name a Flow pathlines show significant boundary layer few. separation and turbulence

The use of CFD in sports to help gain a competitive edge, through improved personal techniques or through better equipment design, is burgeoning,” Dr. Hanna concluded.

While Mr. Riewald and Mr. Bixler feel that it may be too early for Mr. Bixler’s initial results from Phase I and II of the hand/arm analyses to affect the performance of the swimmers competing in the 2000 Olympics, both Mr. Riewald and Mr. Bixler are confident that this research will definitely have an impact on swimmers’ techniques and performance in their quest for “gold” at the 2004 Olympics.

~~ 97 ~~ SWIMMING in AUSTRALIA – January-February 2001

HAND STATIC PRESSURE CFD ANALYSIS CONTOURS OF A SWIMMER’S HAND & ARM

By Scott Riewald, Director of Biomechanics USA Swimming & Barry FREESTYLE AT THE BEGINNING OF THE Bixler, Principal “INSWEEP” Engineer, Honeywell

SOME INFORMATION ABOUT SWIMMING

• There are four competitive strokes … Freestyle, Backstroke, Breaststroke, Butterfly • These strokes appear simple when viewed about the water surface • Underwater viewing reveals their true complexity • Underwater video of US elite swimmers HAND FORCE COEFFICIENTS at National Team Camp in Colorado CFS VERSUS TOW TANK Springs • Underwater video of US elite swimmers in the flume at the International Centre for Aquatics Research (ICAR)

FREESTYLE AT THE “CATCH”

What does this mean for US swimmers?

• Validates the chosen CFD modelling techniques, Results allowing more complex analyses to proceed …

acceleration, deceleration, rotation, etc. • Typical solution required 2000 iterations • A couple of myths debunked … the Bernoulli • Approximately 125 separate analyses were done Bandwagon – the hand is an airfoil • Second order was slight improvement over first • Ultimately, a resolution of lift versus drag order controversy • Mesh adaption had little effect on the lift and drag • Ultimately, more accurate feedback to US coefficients National Team elite swimmers • For the range of velocities evaluated, the drag and • Soon, the optimum stroke will be “designed” lift coefficients changed very little

• Angle of attack and turbulence parameters had significant effects on the drag and lift coefficients

~~ 98 ~~ SWIMMING in AUSTRALIA – January-February 2001

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