Freestyle & IM Transitions Swim Camp

Marshalltown YMCA
108 Washington St, Marshalltown, IA 50158

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Introduction

Fitter & Faster is producing a 2-day swim camp at the Marshalltown YMCA in Marshalltown, Iowa on November 2 & 3, 2024!

FREESTYLE & IM TRANSITIONS SWIM CAMP
DAY 1 (Saturday, November 2): Freestyle Technique
DAY 2 (Sunday, November 3): IM Transitions & Flip Turns

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

SESSION START TIMES FOR BOTH DAYS:
Ages 9 to 11: Check in 9 AM, Camp 9:15-11:45 AM
Ages 12 & over: Check in 12:30 PM, Camp 12:45-3:45 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 9 to 11 and 12 & 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 9 and would like for your child to be considered for the younger sessions of this camp, please complete this questionnaire.

Curriculum

FREESTYLE & IM TRANSITIONS SWIM CAMP - November 2 & 3

Over 2 days, your swimmer will have the opportunity to work with our Elite Clinicians. They will receive expert guidance on refining their freestyle techniques as well as developing quick and powerful IM transitions, and perfecting flip turns. This swim camp will not only enhance their skills in stroke mechanics, body positioning, and breathing efficiency but also empower them to maximize speed and momentum using strategic wall techniques.

    Day 1 (Saturday, November 2): FREESTYLE TECHNIQUE

    Cultivating good habits to swim high level freestyle 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, pull, and breathing pattern.

    • BODYLINE: A freestyle race is going to be fastest with the 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 often bad habits are created. 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 strokes.
    • ROTATION: Freestyle is fastest and most efficient when a swimmer’s body is “rotating” around their spine with each stroke. This part of swimming freestyle 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.
    • KICKING: A swimmer’s kick is the motor behind their freestyle! 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: The pull in freestyle keeps a swimmer balanced and accelerating forward. This is a skill that needs cultivation throughout all swimmers’ careers. Having an early vertical forearm “catch” enables a swimmer to put immediate pressure back on the water. Properly completing the stroke keeps the swimmer moving forward efficiently. The later the “catch” or not “finishing” the stroke has a negative impact on a swimmer’s bodyline and speed.

    Day 2 (Sunday, November 3): IM TRANSITIONS & FLIP TURNS

    Quick, powerful IM transitions and flip turns are crucial to fast times and winning close races. The top age group and elite swimmers aren't using walls just for turning around—they use them to generate speed and momentum going into the next lap. Elite swimmers are constantly refining their turns and seeking ways to improve them. Today, we're going to work with your swimmer on elevating this crucial part of every race (and practice) to the next level!

    • MOMENTUM: The fastest swimmers use walls to generate speed and momentum going into the next lap. Outside of the elite ranks, many swimmers stop or slow down while going into the wall, which kills their momentum! We will work with participants on the intricacies of approaching every wall at top speed and seamlessly initiating their “turn”.
    • IM TRANSITIONS: The back-to-breast transition has a couple of ways that swimmers can approach it. Our elite clinicians will work with participants to finesse their IM transitions and explore different types of transition turns to have the tools to go from the backstroke to the breaststroke leg the fastest way possible!
    • OPEN TURNS: Swimmers will work on transitioning all of their speed and momentum from the butterfly leg into their backstroke leg through a snappy, tight open turn. If swimmers go through the motions of an open turn or have bad technique, they can lose valuable time in a race!
    • FLIP TURNS: swimmers to increase momentum in the middle of a race! Flip turns in which the athletes slow down or have “mechanical” movements negatively impact the speed at which a swimmer comes off the wall. We will work with your swimmer to produce fast flip turns so that they can explode off the walls at maximum speed.

    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!

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

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    Lead Clinician

    In his camps, Davis likes to break down strokes into simple components. He makes it a priority to work one on one with camp participants, pulling them aside to talk through what they’re working on and to ensure they have a better understanding of the stroke. Davis likes to talk to Fitter & Faster camp participants about his time as an age group swimmer to teach young athletes the virtues of patience and persistence. Sign up for a swim camp with Davis today!