Past Clinic: Comprehensive Butterfly Racing Camp

Westleigh Recreation Club
14900 Dufief Mill Rd, North Potomac, MD 20878

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

Upcoming Swim Clinics and Camps

Within 250 miles of North Potomac, MD.

Starting Dec 27, 2024

Warrenton Area Recreational Facility (WARF)

Info
Starting Feb 17, 2024

Chelsea Piers Connecticut

Info
Starting Dec 28, 2024

Burkwood Swim and Racquet Club (Lower Pool - Bubble)

Info
Starting Oct 05, 2024

Kaplan Recreation Center at Mt. St. Marys College

Info
Starting Jun 01, 2024

Kaplan Recreation Center at Mt. St. Marys College

Info
Starting Jan 11, 2025

Big Spring High School Natatorium

Info
Starting Feb 08, 2025

Life Time Athletic - Fort Washington

Info
Starting Feb 08, 2025

Mercer County Community College

Info
Starting Dec 29, 2024

Chelsea Piers Connecticut

Info
Starting Mar 15, 2025

Maine Endwell School District Aquatics Center

Info
Starting Apr 05, 2025

George C. Edwards Community Aquatic Recreation Complex at Garrett College

Info
Starting Feb 15, 2025

Hackley School - Johnson Center

Info
Starting Feb 15, 2025

Hackley School - Johnson Center

Info
Starting Mar 16, 2024

Jeff Rouse Swim and Sport Center

Info
Starting Mar 16, 2024

Jeff Rouse Swim and Sport Center

Info

Search all of our clinics at our find a clinic page.

Past Clinic

Introduction

Two-Day High Performance Swim Camp - This camp will focus on racing faster in every butterfly race (plus improve in the IM!).  Sign up for one or SAVE by signing up for both days!

Butterfly is one of the most technical and challenging strokes, and participants at this camp will focus on becoming more efficient and faster butterfly swimmers.  Saturday will review the basic technique of the butterfly stroke.  On Sunday, participants will learn advanced racing skills including underwater dolphin kicking and take their stroke to top speed.

This camp will be led by NCAA All-American Will Pisani and Elite Clinician Natalie Purnell!  Will and Natalie swam at the highest levels and are exceptional teachers with talent for explaining and demonstrating the technique required for fast racing! Scroll down for more details on the curriculum!

Session Times (Both Days):
11 & Under: Check in 6:30 AM, Clinic 6:45 AM-9:15 AM
12 & Over: Check in 9:45 AM, Clinic 10:00 AM-1:00 PM

Social Distancing: Fitter and Faster is following all guidelines as it relates to COVID-19 as set by the CDC, NIH and local authorities. This camp will have limits on the number of swimmers per lane to maintain social distance. We also ask for you to please drop your swimmers off at the sign-in table and to pick your swimmers up after the clinic. If a waitlist is established, please join it. If enough people enter the waitlist we will plan for additional sessions! THANK YOU!

Suggested Participants

Will and Natalie will lead two sessions for each age group. This camp is recommended for swimmers with at least one year of competitive swimming experience. Swimmers younger than 9 years old are not recommended without their coach's approval

Curriculum

DAY 1 (SATURDAY): HIGH PERFORMANCE BUTTERFLY TECHNIQUE

NCAA All-American Will Pisani and Elite Clinician Natalie Purnell will work with participants to improve on the complexities of balancing power and fluid rhythm in one of the most dynamic athletic movements. Elite butterfliers maintain forward momentum by setting an immediate high catch with a perfectly timed kick. They are committed to a breathing pattern, perfecting their distance per stroke, and maintaining a horizontal body position - become committed to these same skills...make them YOUR habits.

  • BODY POSITION: Elite butterfliers focus on driving their momentum forward with minimal drag by keeping their heads low and hips high. Participants will work Will and Natalie on establishing and maintaining the proper body position.
  • KICK: Each butterfly stroke has two equally strong and well-timed kicks. Work on how and when to kick in fly for maximum speed.
  • PULL: Long and smooth strokes will allow your swimmer to have a more efficient butterfly. Will and Natalie will teach participants to get an early catch on the water for more power in each stroke.
  • BREATH: The most common mistakes that swimmers make in fly occur during the breath. Swimmers will work on low and efficient breaths as well as WHEN to breathe so that they can swim more efficiently on the breath stroke.

DAY 2 (SUNDAY): BUTTERFLY APPLIED SPEED & RACE STRATEGY EXECUTION

After building a solid butterfly stroke on day 1, swimmers will then refine their racing skills and cover different strategies for faster racing. Will Pisani and Natalie Purnell will work with swimmers on how to develop a race plan for any butterfly race, whether a 50, 100, or 200. Participants will focus on swimming butterfly with speed and efficiency.

  • DISTANCE PER STROKE: One way to increase efficiency is to take fewer strokes. Counting the number of strokes and improving technique to decrease that number will save energy. On the other side, it may be faster to take more strokes per length, especially in shorter events.
  • TEMPO: Your swimmer’s tempo is how fast or slow they complete each stroke. Having a slower tempo allows swimmers to conserve energy by taking fewer strokes, while a faster tempo is more tiring but much faster. Changing tempo based on event distance and fatigue level will help your swimmer swim as fast as possible.
  • UNDERWATER DOLPHIN KICKING: The fastest swimmers know how to weaponize their dolphin kicking. It is absolutely, undeniably, the fastest way to move through the water! Whether you dolphin kick on your stomach, side, or back, understanding the importance of streamlined, underwater speed is vital for every swimmer!
  • KICK COUNT: Counting dolphin kicks off of each wall is another way your swimmer can switch up their strategy in butterfly races. By tracking how long they stay underwater, they will have a better streamline and breakout on each turn!
  • TRAINING BUTTERFLY: Also included in this session is an elite workout designed by Will, Natalie, and the Fitter and Faster Coaching Team. This workout is specifically designed to challenge your swimmer’s butterfly and help identify strengths and weaknesses in their training, which will ultimately transfer into becoming a better racer!

ASK QUESTIONS

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

WATCH THE CLINICIANS

Observe Will and Natalie 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 two of the best swimmers and coaches in the world! They'll work on holding onto their form while challenging themselves.

Take a photo with Will and Natalie, get autographs, and ALL PARTICIPANTS receive a FREE Fitter and Faster Collector’s Bag Tag for each day they are at the camp. Collect all 37 and trade with your friends!

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

Search all of our clinics...or request a clinic in your area

Get Our Emails
Sidebar Clinic Notification Request
Can't find an upcoming clinic in your area? Subscribe to our emails to get updates on when we come to town.
Connect with us
Facebook Instagram Twitter