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ASCA Parents Newsletter
HUHU has signed up for the American Swimming Coaches Association
Newsletter for Parents. Here is our first newsletter.
Coach A-

June 24, 2010

News For

SWIM PARENTS

Published by The American Swimming Coaches Association

5101 NW 21 Ave., Suite 200

Fort Lauderdale FL 33309

Good Starts

It's clear to anyone observing a swimming meet that some
swimmers are much faster off of the blocks. Differences in
starting ability from one swimmer to the next are easy for
parents to observe. Unfortunately, it is one part of the race
that is not always mastered equally well by all swimmers.
There are two contributing factors to the success of the
start: learned skill and natural ability.

The simple fact is that not all swimmers are built the same.
Some will always be better starters because they are born
with a higher percentage of "fast twitch" fibers making them
more explosive and capable of getting off the starting block
faster. It is an hereditary factor and cannot be significantly
changed through training.

But start ability is not all heredity as proper mechanics also
contribute. Coaches teach these mechanics several times a
week and can help the swimmer make significant improvements
over time. It is important to remember that swimmers learn
at different paces. Despite the best efforts of coaches,
some swimmers will take longer to learn a good start than
others.

Before judging a swimmer's ability to get off the block, either
as very good or as needing a lot more coaching, look at where
and when the swimmer surfaces after the start. After the
starting signal, who gets to the 10 meter mark first? It's not
always the first swimmer off of the block. A study done
several years ago examined the relative importance of the
initial quickness off the block versus the swimmer's ability to
enter the water, streamline, kick, and breakout properly.
According to the study, how the swimmer hits the water and
what they do in the water are of far greater importance than
speed off of the block. This ability is a complex skill requiring
a lot of practice, mixed with the right body type. Some argue
that it is more dependent on body type which is a factor a
swimmer cannot control. The fact is, that because of body
type and buoyancy, some swimmers streamline better than
other swimmers and with proper kicking an breakout mechanics
will surface in front of other less able swimmers.

So what can we make of all this? Answer: always look at the
larger picture. Is the swimmer improving and is she or he
happy? That's the larger, larger picture. Looking at the
"smaller larger picture" one needs to consider all aspects of
the race including good approaches to the walls, good turns,
proper breakouts, good stroke mechanics, proper race
management, and a great finish. It all adds up. If the
swimmer has not yet developed a great start, entry, and break
out, there are many other areas of the event we can look to
for success.