Past Clinic: Explosive Performance: Starts and Turns

Keystone Aquatic Center
103 Midway Drive, Carlisle, PA 17015

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

Upcoming Swim Clinics and Camps

Within 250 miles of Carlisle, 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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Copley High School's Simmons Natatorium

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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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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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Lititz Recreation Center

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Wheeling University - Alma Grace McDonough Center

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David M. Hallman III Aquatics Center

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Mercer County Community College

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Victor Aquatics Center

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Victor Aquatics Center

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

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

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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

Two-Day Explosive Performance Swim Camp! Sign up for one or both days.

Did you know the fastest parts of every race are the start and turns? At this high performance swim clinic, swimmers will work on starts, underwater dolphin kicking, and breakouts on Saturday. Then on Sunday, participants will focus on flip turns, open turns, and finishes.

Your clinicians for this camp will be Olympic gold medalist Clark Smith, Olympian Elvis Burrows, and National Champion Aly Tetzloff! Scroll down for more details on the curriculum! 

Suggested Participants

SAVE: Sign up before prices rise or the sessions fill up!

Clark, Elvis, and Aly will lead two sessions for swimmers ages 12 & over and two sessions for swimmers ages 11 & under with at least one year of competitive experience. Swimmers younger than 9 years old are not recommended for these clinics without your coach's recommendation.

Curriculum

SESSION 1 & 2: STARTS, UNDERWATER DOLPHIN KICKING, & BREAKOUTS

The start is your opportunity to cover as much ground as possible in a very short period of time, with great efficiency and momentum heading into your underwater kicking and breakout. There are countless intricacies to performing a start and you only get better with practice. Olympic gold medalist Clark Smith will share his experiences on how he found time to practice and improve his start both in and out of the water and teach your swimmer some of his most effective strategies to execute this explosive and athletic movement.

  • STARTS: How you set up on the block including proper hand and foot placement can allow your swimmer to drive forward with a lot of explosive power. Clark will work with each swimmer to find their best position on the block as well as how to launch their body forward efficiently into a tight streamline and enter through a small hole.
  • UNDERWATER DOLPHIN KICKING: The not-so-secret weapon of elite level swimmers is their underwater dolphin kick. Clark is known as one of the best underwater dolphin kickers in the world and he specializes in teaching swimmers how to unlock their potential in this important skill.
  • BREAKOUTS: Learn how to carry momentum from the underwater dolphin kicks into the breakout by timing the first stroke and staying streamlined. Your swimmer will practice keeping their head down and it'll make a big difference in their breakout!

SESSION 3 & 4: FLIP TURNS, OPEN TURNS, AND FINISHES

Races are often won and lost because of the quality of turns and finishes of the competitors. Many people don't realize this, but the push-off and streamline from the wall after a turn SHOULD BE the fastest a swimmer will go while in the water other than the streamline after a dive. Even elite level swimmers often add in extra movements on their turns and finishes that slow them down and even cause them to lose races that they could have won. At this session, Olympic gold medalist Clark Smith will work with each participant to maintain their momentum at these key points in a race.

  • FLIP TURNS: Your swimmer will learn how to carry their momentum through the turn to get in and out of every wall faster. Swimmers will practice accelerating into the wall with long strokes and then using their core and arms to get through the turn. They'll practice planting their feet on the wall for a powerful pushoff in the perfect streamline. Clark will give the swimmers drills and exercises to help them master this athletic skill now as well as in the future!
  • OPEN TURNS: Think about the open turn differently! You should not be making an open to turn around and swim the next lap. If you're doing this - you're actually stopping and then trying to regain speed again. An expertly executed open turn involves spinning backwards. This enables you to carry momentum into the pushoff. We're going to teach you how to cut a lot of time on this turn... helping you in all of your breaststroke and butterfly races!
  • FINISHES: Races can be won and lost by hundredths of a second. Many races come down to the very last stroke. Your swimmer will learn how to drive their legs, elongate their arms, and keep their head down so that your swimmer doesn't waste any time or strokes as they approach the wall.

ASK QUESTIONS

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

WATCH THE CLINICIAN

Observe Clark 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 top speed with one of the best swimmers in the world! They'll work on holding onto their form while challenging themselves.

Take a photo while wearing Clark's medals, get autographs, and a gift from TYR Sport!

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

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