Austin, TX Swim Camp Series @ The Dell JCC (Ages 13 & over)
Dell JCC
7300 Hart Ln,
Austin,
TX 78731
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Introduction
Fitter & Faster is producing a series of swim camps and a video filming & analysis session at the Dell JCC in Austin, Texas for competitive swimmers ages 13 & over throughout 2025. Below are links to the swim camps available for additional age groups in Austin.
AUSTIN, TX SWIM CAMP SERIES (Ages 13 & over)
-> Comprehensive Breaststroke Racing Swim Camp (March 29 & 30, 2025)
-> Event Specific Freestyle Technique Swim Camp (April 26 & 27, 2025)
-> Comprehensive Backstroke Racing Swim Camp (September 27 & 28, 2025)
-> Comprehensive Butterfly Racing Swim Camp (December 27 & 28, 2025)
VIDEO FILMING & ANALYSIS
September 27, 2025 (11:45-2:30 PM): Provide your swimmer with the chance to receive professional video analysis of their stroke, just like the pros. Choose to have one stroke filmed and analyzed with a single registration, or save by selecting the Camp + Video Bundle, which includes both days of the swim camp along with filming and analysis of all four strokes.
Click the “Curriculum Menu” below for details on each swim camp and the video session.
-> Availability in each session of this swim camp series is limited to ensure the highest level learning experience.
-> SAVE when you purchase a "Bundle” for your swimmer.
ADDITIONAL SWIM CAMPS IN AUSTIN, TX:
-> Ages 10 to 12 (@ Dell JCC)
-> Ages 7 to 10 (@ Dell JCC)
-> Ages 7 to 10 (@ Lifetime Fitness)
-> Ages 10 to 12 (@Lifetime Fitness)
-> Ages 13 & Over (@Lifetime Fitness)
Select a curriculum below
COMPREHENSIVE BREASTSTROKE RACING SWIM CAMP: March 29 & March 30, 2025
At the highest level of swimming, breaststroke has the most varied technique. Out of the eight finalists at the Olympic Games, you might see eight different styles of breaststroke! A swimmer's timing and ability to eliminate resistance are hallmarks of an efficient and powerful breaststroker. No matter your swimmer’s level, this 2-day camp will strengthen their technique, racing and training skills that will lead to faster and more efficient breaststroke races… and faster IM’s! Elite Clinician Youssef El-Kamash will lead this swim camp!
- DAY 1 (Saturday, March 29): BREASTSTROKE TECHNIQUE: We want your swimmer to establish a well-timed breaststroke. Today 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.
- DAY 2 (Sunday, March 30): BREASTSTROKE RACING TRAINING AND SKILLS: On the first day of this camp swimmers worked on techniques to implement an efficient breaststroke. On Day 2 we will work on applying speed to their breaststroke! Our objective is to get your swimmer to maintain their technique with distance per stroke, tempo, and flowing speed.
- Tempo: Tempo in breaststroke is the rate at which a swimmer can get back into the proper bodyline to establish a high-speed glide. When swimming breaststroke races, many athletes tend to take too many strokes without ever getting into the proper bodyline. At this camp we will explore different tempos that are sustainable for any distance and allow for the proper glide between strokes.
- Distance Per Stroke: One way to increase efficiency is to take fewer strokes. Counting the number of strokes a swimmer takes per lap, while improving technique to decrease that number, will enable them to be more efficient and even conserve energy. At this session, participants will discover how changing speeds might change their stroke-count, but should not change the effectiveness of each stroke.
- Pacing: A breaststroker’s pace is going to change during a race and from distance to distance. When swimming breaststroke, your swimmer can learn to measure their pace using tempo and distance per stroke. At this session we will practice race strategy pacing for all breaststroke events.
- Breaststroke Pullouts: The breaststroke pullout is an important and unique part of every breaststroke race. We will work with participants on minimizing resistance in their pull-outs and establishing maximum speed. The pullout can be used strategically, depending on the distance of the race, to cover more ground before breaking out.
- Training Breaststroke: At the end of this session your swimmer will do a short and fast swim set to practice everything they have learned over the past two days.
EVENT-SPECIFIC FREESTYLE: TECHNIQUES FOR SPRINT, MIDDLE, AND DISTANCE SWIM CAMP: April 26 & April 27, 2025
Elite swimmers adapt their stroke technique based on the distance of their event, from the explosive speed of the 50 sprint to the endurance of the mile or open water. To excel across this wide range of distances, swimmers often modify their freestyle stroke, learning different variations suited to each event. In this advanced camp, we will explore these variations in-depth, focusing on the connections between different parts of the body, the timing and coordination required, and the biomechanical principles behind each technique. This camp is designed for swimmers with several years of competitive experience who have mastered the fundamentals of freestyle and are ready to refine their skills at an elite level. This swim camp will be led by Elite Clinician & Olympic Gold Medalist, Clark Smith!
- DAY 1 (Saturday, April 26): Sprint Freestyle Technique: In sprint freestyle, swimmers prioritize power over efficiency to reach maximum speed. To achieve this, the technique differs significantly from the distance version of freestyle. Key adjustments include reducing or eliminating the glide phase, minimizing hip rotation, and relying on a more “open” stroke that utilizes inertia. This style is often referred to as “shoulder-driven freestyle”.
- Hip Steadying Kick: Sprint freestyle demands a high turnover rate, which necessarily reduces hip rotation. A small-amplitude, fast, and constant kick helps stabilize the hips, providing a solid platform for the arms and trunk to generate power.
- Shoulder-Based Rotation: Although hip rotation is minimized, shoulder rotation remains crucial. This movement engages the back and core muscles to power the pull. In addition to technique instruction, our clinicians will teach your swimmer exercises to develop and enhance the core strength and trunk mobility required for this stroke.
- Inertial Recovery & Drive Into the Catch: Sprint freestyle features a more open, less controlled arm recovery. The arms are swung through the recovery phase to generate momentum, which helps drive the swimmer's hands into the catch position with increased force.
- Longer Lever Arms: Both above and below the water, sprint swimmers extend their arms more fully. While they maintain a high elbow position during the pull for leverage, the arms remain relatively straight throughout the stroke, allowing the swimmer to utilize the full length of the arm for propulsion.
- Quick, Efficient Breathing: To maintain a higher stroke rate, sprint swimmers must breathe quickly. Since there is minimal hip rotation, breathing is less connected to body rotation, and swimmers turn their heads from the neck rather than keeping it connected to their trunk.
- DAY 2 (Sunday, April 27): Middle Distance & Distance Freestyle Technique: Middle distance and distance freestyle is often referred to as “hip-driven” freestyle, which is the version most commonly taught to younger swimmers. In this session, we will dive deeper into the mechanics of the hip-driven stroke, focusing on how proper timing and body connections unlock both speed and efficiency. This technique is essential not only for longer races but also for training purposes, as it forms the foundation of all freestyle swimming.
- Linked Hip and Shoulder Rotation: Power in middle-distance and distance freestyle comes from synchronized rotation of the hips and shoulders. This connected movement allows the swimmer to engage their core and back muscles, generating maximum leverage. A strong, coordinated kick that drives the hips around is essential to establish this rotation.
- Kick-Catch Connection: Timing the downward kick with the catch on the same side of the body is critical for a connected, powerful stroke. Elite swimmers understand that the kick is not just rotational but also helps deliver force to the pull. Swimmers often overlook kick timing, but mastering it is key to improving stroke efficiency and power.
- 2, 4, & 6-Beat Kicks: Kicking patterns in middle-distance and distance freestyle vary based on effort level and race demands. Swimmers may use a 2-beat kick for a relaxed pace, a 4-beat unbalanced kick for moderate efforts, or a 6-beat kick for higher speeds. Modulating the kick rate allows swimmers to smoothly transition between different paces. We will focus on mastering the 2-beat kick first, then progressing to 4- and 6-beat kicks as athletes master the timing and become more efficient.
- High Elbow Catch & Straight Pull Pattern: The high elbow catch (or early vertical forearm) is the foundation of power in hip driven freestyle. This technique begins from a fully extended arm in the glide phase. It is initiated with a finger tip press to feel and catch the water, and progresses through the wrist and elbow to engage the large muscles in the back and shoulders. The high elbow catch is a fundamental that swimmers at the highest level constantly practice and refine. Our clinicians will guide your swimmer through drills to develop a great feel for the watch resulting in a highly effective catch.
- Breathing Patterns: A bilateral breathing pattern of every third stroke maintains great balance, however the majority of elite swimmers breathe every other stroke during races. Breathing to a single side allows a swimmer to use their strong side every breath and often establishes a better rhythm. Our elite clinicians will help your athlete figure out their most effective racing breathing pattern. The clinicians will also emphasize how to maintain balance in their stroke through technique and training strategies.
COMPREHENSIVE BACKSTROKE RACING SWIM CAMP: September 27 & September 28, 2025
Over two days, your swimmer will work with Fitter & Faster's world-class clinicians to elevate their backstroke. They'll focus on refining bodyline, catch, kick, and pull for improved efficiency. They'll then explore strategies for tempo, stroke length, and efficiency to enhance their racing performance. Whether your swimmer is new to backstroke or looking to refine their technique, this camp offers valuable insights to help them progress in the pool.
- DAY 1 (Saturday, September 27): BACKSTROKE TECHNIQUE: Cultivating good habits to swim high level Backstroke begins as soon as you learn the stroke. Even if your swimmer is already in high school - it’s never too late to begin practicing techniques that will drastically improve their efficiency, power and times. Today, your swimmer will work on techniques to strengthen their bodyline, catch, kick, and pull - resulting in faster backstroke races.
- Bodyline: A competitive swimmer’s bodyline is the key to fast swimming. The name of the game is to eliminate all extra movement of the body including even the slightest bobbing, wiggling. 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 backstroke.
- Rotation: Backstroke is fastest and most efficient when a swimmer’s body is “rotating” around their spine with each stroke. This part of swimming Backstroke has a big effect on maintaining a proper bodyline. Participants will practice activating their core muscles to form a powerful connection from head to toe with every stroke - resulting in faster backstroke!
- Kick: A swimmer’s kick is the motor behind their Backstroke! There are obviously proper and improper ways to kick which we will review at the camp. Just as important, however, is practicing the complexities of how and when swimmers need to “shift gears” in their legs to become stronger and faster racers.
- Pull: Just like in freestyle, the pull in backstroke keeps a swimmer balanced and accelerating forward. Essentially the best swimmers are creating a paddle with every stroke. The clinicians will work with participants to establish an early vertical forearm “the catch”, enabling the swimmer to put immediate pressure back on the water. Properly completing the stroke keeps the swimmer moving forward efficiently and fast.
- DAY 2 (Sunday, September 28): BACKSTROKE RACING AND TRAINING SKILLS: On Day 1, participants practiced high performance backstroke techniques. Now, let’s leverage these skills to develop strong racing and training habits. Learning to prioritize tempo and length of stroke, while maintaining efficiency has a huge impact on maximizing speed in backstroke.
- Stroke Length: A long stroke will enable your swimmer to “catch” and hold onto more water to propel them as they swim. Whereas, a short stroke is inefficient and not sustainable for very long. The clinicians will work with participants on this important skill for fast swimming.
- Tempo: Tempo is the rate at which a swimmer is moving their arms and legs. When sprinting short races many swimmers often tend to take too many strokes (“spin their wheels”) and not “hold onto the water”. At this camp we will explore different tempos that suit your swimmer for their backstroke races.
- Pacing/Control: A swimmer’s tempo will change depending on the backstroke race that they are swimming. It may also change at different points during the same race! Your elite clinician will teach participants how to manipulate their tempo, speed and energy at different points in a race. This is called Pacing or “Control”.
- Backstroke Starts: The fastest part of every single race is the start - that’s no different for backstroke! 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.
- Speed Set: At the end of this session your swimmer will do a short and fast swim set to practice everything they have learned over the past two days.
VIDEO FILMING & ANALYSIS: September 27, 2025
Since so much of the stroke happens below water – it is incredibly important to see what’s going on below the surface! Small adjustments to your stroke can lead to big time drops! This is your opportunity to get beautiful footage of your stroke and get analysis from an expert… and you can review with your coach as well!
- ANALYSIS: Our Fitter and Faster expert will use a video analysis application to record their comments on your technique. They will use slow motion, pause the video at specific points, and draw on the swimmer's video all while explaining where opportunities for improvement are. Each stroke will have approximately 3 to 5 minutes of expert commentary that you can review with your coaches at home!
- DRILL RECOMMENDATIONS: You will receive recommendations for drills to correct the technique of each swimmer.
- SIGN UP: Select to have one stroke filmed. Or, SAVE by choosing to have all four strokes filmed. The "multi-stroke options" are for individual swimmers and cannot be split.
- ARRIVING AT THE POOL (Retain your order number): You will receive an e-mail approximately one week before the filming session with the specific time for your swimmer to check in, warm up, and be filmed. Please retain your order number - this is how swimmers will be identified on that schedule. When you arrive at the pool, you will be greeted by Fitter & Faster staff who will provide you instructions on the filming process.
- WARM UP: Participants will have an opportunity to warm up before filming.
- FILMING: Our camera operator will have you swim two 25s at a strong pace of each stroke purchased (1 stroke or all 4 strokes). The filming of each stroke will take about three minutes. The video will capture a side angle and a front angle below the water to get an accurate view of your technique.
- SESSION LEGNTH: Depending on the number of strokes you are getting recorded, your session time will run between 5 and 15 minutes.
- TIMELINE: All videos will be analyzed and returned within 14 days of the camp. The analyzed videos along with the original video will be sent via email for you to keep!
COMPREHENSIVE BUTTERFLY RACING SWIM CAMP: December 27 & December 28, 2025
At the highest level of swimming, butterfly is the second fastest stroke and beautiful to watch because of its rhythmic and powerful strokes. There are some complexities to establishing a smooth, rhythmic fly, but with practice and attention to detail your swimmer can master the stroke and begin swimming it for longer distances and at very fast speeds! No matter your swimmer’s level, this 2-day camp will strengthen their butterfly technique, racing and training skills that will lead to faster and more efficient butterfly races!
- DAY 1 (Saturday, December 27): BUTTERFLY TECHNIQUE: We want your swimmer to establish a rhythmic butterfly. Today 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!
- Day 2 (Sunday, December 28): BUTTERFLY RACING AND TRAINING SKILLS: On the first day of this camp swimmers worked on skills to implement a solid, efficient butterfly stroke. On Day 2 we will work on racing skills and apply speed to their butterfly. Your swimmer's elite clinicians will work with participants on maintaining their technique by developing proper distance per stroke, appropriate race tempo, and training for a faster and stronger butterfly.
- Stroke Length: Lengthening your swimmer’s butterfly stroke will enable them to “catch” and hold onto more water to propel them as they swim. In butterfly, it is particularly important to establish a “rhythmic flow”. We will teach participants how to stay long and avoid a short butterfly stroke that is inefficient and not sustainable for very long. The clinicians will work with participants on this important skill for swimming fast butterfly.
- Tempo: Tempo in butterfly is the rate at which a swimmer is moving their arms and hips. When swimming butterfly races many athletes tend to take too many short strokes (“spin their wheels”) and not “hold onto the water”. At this camp we will explore different tempos that are sustainable for any distance your swimmer is racing.
- 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.
- Speed Set: At the end of this session your swimmer will do a short and fast swim set to practice everything they have learned over the past two days.
START TIMES FOR MARCH, APRIL & DECEMBER CAMPS:
- Check in 8:15 AM, Camp 8:30-11:30 AM
- DAY 1: Check in 2:45 PM, Camp 3-6 PM
- DAY 2: Check in 11:45 AM, Camp 12-3 PM
- Depending on the number of strokes you are getting recorded, your session time will run between 5 and 15 minutes.
- You will receive an email a week before the filming session with the specific time for your swimmer to check in, warm up, and be filmed.
- SEPTEMBER 27, 2025: Swimmer's scheduled time will be between 11:45-2:30 PM.
- Elite Video Filming & Analysis is for ALL swimmers ages 10 & Over.
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
Throughout the camp, swimmers will practice what they've learned with some of the world's most elite Swimmer Clinicians and coaches!
Take a photo, get autographs, and chat with your clinicians!
Youssef Elkamash
Youssef Elkamash is an Egyptian swimmer who has represented his country in the African Games and World Championships. He swam in college at Indiana University where he was a NCAA All-American, and continues to compete following his collegiate career due to his love for the sport. Youssef likes teaching Fitter and Faster camp participants about proper body alignment and helping them understand their unique body position in the water. He also focuses on technical skills that will make athletes more efficient in the water.
Elite Clinician
Fitter and Faster clinicians are Olympians and National Team members who have achieved at the highest level of the sport of swimming... and who have the unique skill to teach what they know from a technical perspective to swimmers of all ages and abilities.
Inquisitive, Educated Swimmers are Faster Swimmers! Sign up today!
