Fitter & Faster is producing a 2-day swim camp for competitive swimmers ages 7 to 10 at McHenry High School in McHenry, Illinois on March 15 & 16, 2025! This exciting and engaging series is designed to help young swimmers build foundational competitive skills, boost their confidence, and foster a lifelong love for swimming. We are also producing a swim camp for swimmers ages 10 to 14, click here for more details.

COMPETITIVE ENRICHMENT: STARTS & TURNS SWIM CAMP (Ages 7 to 10)
DAY 1 (Saturday, March 15): Going From Dives to Starts
DAY 2 (Sunday, March 16): Flip Turns, Open Turns & Finishes

Scroll down for details on the curriculum!
-> Availability in each session is limited to 24 participants to ensure the highest level learning experience.
-> SAVE when you purchase the "Entire Camp Bundle” for your swimmer.

START TIMES FOR BOTH DAYS: Check-in 9 AM, Camp 9:15-11:45 AM

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 7 to 10. If you are the parent of a swimmer under the age of 7 and would like for your swimmer to be considered for this camp, please complete this questionnaire. If you are looking for the swim camp for swimmers ages 10 to 14, click here!

Curriculum

COMPETITIVE ENRICHMENT: STARTS & TURNS SWIM CAMP - MARCH 15 & 16, 2025

The fastest part of a race happens at the start and turns! A strong push off the block or wall helps swimmers move quickly and smoothly through the water. The better their start and turn, the farther and faster they’ll go before taking their first stroke!

DAY 1 (Saturday, March 15): GOING FROM DIVES TO STARTS

Transitioning to competitive swimming involves mastering racing starts from the blocks. This Competitive Enrichment clinic is designed to help swimmers elevate their skills by building confidence and transitioning from basic dives to powerful racing starts. Participants will focus on improving their starts, underwater dolphin kicks, and breakouts—the fastest and most efficient part of any race.

BLOCK STARTS: Confidence on the blocks begins with proper setup. Our elite clinicians will teach swimmers how to position their bodies for a stable base, allowing them to remain steady while poised to launch into their start at the sound of the horn.
WATER ENTRY: A smooth, shallow entry into the water is key to carrying momentum from the blocks into the race. This session emphasizes improving water entry, a crucial skill for maximizing speed and efficiency right from the start.
STREAMLINE: A proper streamline is the fastest a swimmer can move in the water. Even elite swimmers continually refine this technique. Participants will receive tips to improve their streamline, helping them maximize speed off starts and on every wall during practice and competition.
POWERFUL UNDERWATER DOLPHIN KICKS: Underwater dolphin kicking is a vital skill, with the best swimmers generating equal power on the up and down kicks. Our clinicians will introduce different techniques used by elite swimmers and teach participants how to leverage them for faster starts and walls.
BREAKOUTS: Breakouts are often a trouble spot, with many swimmers inadvertently creating drag through unnecessary movements. This session will focus on refining breakout timing to maintain momentum and power into each lap.

DAY 2 (Sunday, March 16): Flip Turns, Open Turns & Finishes

For developing competitive swimmers, mastering turns and finishes is a critical step toward transitioning from simply swimming to racing. While proper turn technique is vital, the process begins well before reaching the wall and the impact of a great push off will carry speed through the next length. Similarly, a well-executed finish can make the difference in close races, with the preparation for a great finish beginning far before the final touch.

FLIP TURNS: Racing flip turns require precise technique. Swimmers must drop their head quickly without pausing, keep their hands narrow during the rotation, and finish with foot placement and body position that allow for a powerful push-off. Our clinicians will teach swimmers how to turn for maximum speed and efficiency.
OPEN TURNS: Open turns often require swimmers to re-learn technique. Instead of turning to the side, swimmers will practice bringing their knees and feet straight to the wall, almost like a backflip. They’ll also learn to stay low in the water and use smooth arm movements that lead to optimal foot placement and streamlined push-offs.
MOMENTUM OFF THE WALL: The push-off is the fastest part of each length, and carrying that speed into swimming strokes is essential. This clinic will teach proper push-off positioning and tight streamlines to maintain speed.
MAINTAINING SPEED: One key to both great turns and finishes is maintaining or even increasing speed in the final five yards. Swimmers will develop the habit of “swimming through the wall,” ensuring they carry speed from the flags to the wall and come out ahead in races.
FINISHES: Strong finishes involve eliminating breaths inside the flags, maintaining stroke length and speed, and touching the wall with force just below the surface. Our clinicians will help swimmers build these habits to consistently deliver competitive finishes.

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