Past Clinic: 2023 Philadelphia, PA Swim Camp

Friends Select School
17th & Benjamin Franklin Parkway, Philadelphia, PA 19103

A description of what was covered at this past clinic is below the upcoming clinics.

Upcoming Swim Clinics and Camps

Within 250 miles of Philadelphia, PA.

Starting Apr 06, 2024

Hollidaysburg High School

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Big Spring High School Natatorium

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Fairlands Aquatic Center

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Bowie State Univ - Leonidas S. James Physical Education Complex

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The Atlantic Club (TAC)

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George Mason Aquatic and Fitness Center

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Marywood University

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Starting Apr 27, 2024

Youth Development and Aquatic Center

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Edward T. Hall Aquatic Center

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Youth Development and Aquatic Center

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Starting May 18, 2024

Lititz Recreation Center

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Starting Jul 20, 2024

Mercer County Community College

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Starting May 10, 2024

Victor Aquatics Center

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Starting May 10, 2024

Victor Aquatics Center

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Starting Jun 01, 2024

Kaplan Recreation Center at Mt. St. Mary's College

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Starting Jun 01, 2024

Kaplan Recreation Center at Mt. St. Mary's College

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Starting Mar 16, 2024

Jeff Rouse Swim and Sport Center

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Starting Mar 16, 2024

Jeff Rouse Swim and Sport Center

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Past Clinic

Introduction

Fitter & Faster is producing a swim camp in Philadelphia, PA on January 27-29, 2023!

This camp consists of 4 sessions – all for competitive swimmers ages 11 & over. 
Friday, Jan 27:
Session 1: The Fifth Stroke - Underwaters

Saturday, Jan 28:
Session 2: Essentials of Fast Butterfly Technique
Session 3: Essentials of Fast Breaststroke Technique

Sunday, Jan 29:
Session 4: Explosive Starts

Scroll down for more details on the curriculum! 
    -> Availability is limited to 24 participants to ensure the highest level learning experience!
    -> SAVE when you purchase the “Full Camp Bundle”!

SESSION TIMES:

Jan 27 (Friday):

  • Session 1: Check in 5:15 PM, Camp 5:30-8 PM

Jan 28 (Saturday):

  • Session 2: Check in 12 PM, Camp 12:15-2:45 PM
  • Session 3: Check in 3:30 PM, Camp 3:45-6:15 PM

Jan 29 (Sunday):

  • Session 4:  Check in 12 PM, Camp 12:15-2:45 PM

Suggested Participants

Our top priority is to provide a world-class learning experience for all participants at all of our camps. This camp has sessions for swimmers ages 11 & older. Participants will range from one-year of competitive swimming experience to AAAA times and faster. If you are the parent of a child under the age of 11 and would like for your child to be considered for this camp, please complete this questionnaire.

Curriculum

Day 1: Friday, Jan 27:

Session 1: THE FIFTH STROKE - UNDERWATER DOLPHIN KICKING

Why do elite swimmers have faster times in “short course” pools than in “long course” pools? It’s the power they’re able to generate from the walls, leading into the fastest sequence in every lap of a race: streamline -> underwater dolphin kick -> breakout!

  • STREAMLINE: The streamline - if done properly - will be the fastest a swimmer travels while in the water. Proper streamlines are even faster than underwater dolphin kicking. Even the most elite swimmers in the world are constantly working on improving their streamline. Your swimmer will get tips to improve their streamline and a better appreciation of what they need to do on every single wall in practice and in races.
  • INITIATING UNDERWATER DOLPHIN KICKING: Elite swimmers want to maximize their streamline on every single lap. So, they don’t want to start their underwater dolphin kicking while they’re still achieving maximum speed in their streamline. They also don’t want to start the underwater dolphin kicking after their streamline has begun to slow. Your swimmer is going to learn how to time when to begin their underwater dolphin kicking.
  • POWERFUL UNDERWATER DOLPHIN KICKING: There are a few different techniques that swimmers use when underwater dolphin kicking. The common theme of these techniques is that the best swimmers kick up and down with equal power. We will show your swimmer the different techniques that elite swimmers use and teach them how to implement.
  • NUMBER OF UNDERWATER DOLPHIN KICKS: Figuring out the optimal number of kicks off each wall, for each race, is essential to fast swimming. Elite swimmers want to spend only the absolute necessary amount of time underwater to establish speed with each length. They want to avoid losing their breath and taking weak kicks.
  • BREASTSTROKE PULLOUTS: The best breaststrokers are faster under the water than on the surface! Swimmers will polish up the components and sequence of movements that make up a fast underwater breaststroke pullout.
  • BREAKOUTS: Many swimmers add movement within their breakout that creates drag and destroys all of the speed created during their underwaters. Participants will work on timing their breakouts to explode into each lap.

Session 2: ESSENTIALS OF FAST BUTTERFLY

We want your swimmer to establish a rhythmic butterfly. During session 2, we will practice various drills and skills that will enable your swimmer to have flowing hips and a long, more powerful butterfly stroke.

  • BODYLINE: A butterfly race is going to be fastest with a proper bodyline. Even the slightest adjustment of the chin, neck, and/or back can make a huge difference. As swimmers mature in the sport and grow physically, their body position shifts and bad habits can emerge. Participants will learn and practice proper posture and engagement of their core to have a strong foundation for better technique - creating a full-body connection for more hydrodynamic and efficient butterfly strokes.
  • KICK: Each butterfly stroke has two kicks to propel the swimmer towards the other end of the pool! If the kicks are properly timed and equally strong, they can positively impact your swimmer’s efficiency and stroke timing! Your swimmer will work on how and when to kick in butterfly for maximum speed.
  • PULL: Long and smooth strokes allow swimmers to have a more efficient and fluid butterfly. The pull in butterfly keeps a swimmer accelerating forward. Your clinicians will work with participants to establish an early vertical forearm, “the catch”, enabling the swimmers to put immediate pressure back on the water. Properly completing the stroke keeps the swimmer moving forward efficiently and fast.
  • BREATH: The timing of the breath in butterfly has a direct relationship on a swimmer’s body position, pull, kick and TIMES! At this camp, we will work with participants on breathing with their chin low to the water... and WHEN to breathe in their stroke cycle so that they develop the most efficient stroke possible!

Session 3: ESSENTIALS OF FAST BREASTSTROKE

We want your swimmer to establish a well-timed breaststroke. During session 3, we will practice various drills and skills that will enable your swimmer to have flowing hips, a powerful kick and a long, flowing stroke.

  • BODYLINE: A breaststroke race is going to be fastest with a proper bodyline. Even the slightest adjustment of the chin, neck, and/or back can make a huge difference. Elite breaststrokers focus on minimizing drag by “catching water” on their hands and feet as quickly as possible, so they can shoot back into a “straight bodyline” where they can glide at top speed.
  • KICK: The kick creates a lot of the power in breaststroke. Swimmers need to keep their knees high in the water and snap their feet quickly around and back to create a powerful kick. Our clinicians will work with participants to strengthen their kick for the ultimate propulsion forward!
  • PULL: The name of the game in breaststroke is to create as much propulsion as possible in the pull while minimizing resistance… and then quickly getting back into a straight bodyline to establish a high speed glide. Participants at this session will focus on setting up a proper "catch" and keeping their hands and elbows high on the water throughout the entire pull. The techniques your swimmer will practice will minimize resistance and enable them to maintain forward momentum for the fastest breaststroke.
  • TIMING: Fast, flowing breaststroke is the result of proper timing between a swimmer’s hands and feet. Establishing proper timing in your swimmer’s breaststroke will allow for more fluidity, power and speed. Participants in this session will learn how elite swimmers time their breaststroke for ultimate efficiency and the fastest races.

Session 4: EXPLOSIVE STARTS!

The better a swimmer’s technique is off the starting block, the more speed they will carry into the water. The final day of this swim camp will help your swimmer improve their start, underwater dolphin kicking and breakouts!

  • BLOCK STARTS: To ensure an explosive start, a swimmer needs to set themselves up properly on the block. The elite clinicians will work with participants on the optimal positioning of your swimmer’s entire body to allow for a quick reaction time and optimal speed.
  • BACKSTROKE STARTS & WATER ENTRY: Your swimmer is going to learn and practice starting a high performance backstroke race. We’re going to work on a “clean”, fast water entry in which the athlete carries the momentum from the start into their streamline, underwater dolphin kicking and breakout.
  • RELAY EXCHANGES: In relays, reaction time is crucial! At this camp your swimmer will learn skills that the best swimmers in the world use to time the “exchange” just right! If we react too quickly, we’ll start before the other swimmer finishes - and we’ll get disqualified. If we start too slow, we can lose our positioning in a race! Learning the proper technique for a well-timed start and an explosive relay dive will make your swimmer a valuable teammate.
  • FINISHES: Races are won and lost by hundredths-of-a-second at every swim meet. Many races come down to the last few strokes. At this camp, your swimmer will learn techniques to set themselves up for a well-timed finish about 10 yards from the wall. A well-timed finish is also a valuable attribute for swimmers competing on relays so that the next person can time their start with precision.
  • RACE PACE: Swimmers at this session will also work with their elite clinicians on putting all of the techniques learned over the 3 days together! They will practice during a swim set developed by our clinicians and the Fitter and Faster coaching team to help swimmers maintain their technique while at race pace!

ASK QUESTIONS

Swimmers and parents are invited to ask the clinicians questions during a Q&A session. Gain insight into their training regimen, diet and nutrition, and recovery tactics.

WATCH THE CLINICIANS

Observe clinicians swim at full speed and demonstrate a progression of perfectly executed drills to achieve powerful, efficient and fast swimming.

PUT YOUR SKILLS TO THE TEST

Swimmers will get to practice what they've learned by taking their stroke to your top speed with some of the best swimmers and coaches in the world! They'll work on holding onto their form while challenging themselves.

Take a photo, get autographs, and chat with your clinicians!

Inquisitive, Educated Swimmers are Faster Swimmers! Sign up today!

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