This swim camp will focus on different aspects of Breaststroke! Over 4 sessions, swimmers will discover ways to swim more efficiently and practice different techniques to improve their swims! This camp will be led by ELITE Clinician, two-time Olympian: Carlos Claverie!

Session 1: Breaststroke Technique & Drills (Nov 13)

More than any other stroke, breaststroke is the most varied. Out of the eight finalists at the Olympic Games you might see eight different styles of strokes! A swimmer's timing and ability to eliminate resistance are both hallmarks of an efficient and powerful breaststroker. Participants have the foundation, now they will work with our clinicians on how to utilize core and hip drive to create a fluid and more forward driving stroke.

• BODY POSITION: The best swimmers in the world learn at a young age about the importance of being patient with their stroke and trusting their "glide position". Many swimmers rush their stroke, create "drag" and exhaust themselves. Olympian Carlos Claverie will work with participants to maintain a better body position for a more efficient breaststroke.
• KICK: The kick is about 80% of the power in breaststroke. Carlos will work with participants to polish up their kick resulting in the ultimate propulsion forward!
• PULL: Participants in this session will learn drills to encourage them to keep their hands and elbows high on the water throughout the entire pull, thereby minimizing resistance and maintaining speed.
• TIMING: A fast breaststroke is all about the rhythm! The proper timing will make your stroke fast, smooth and less taxing on the body. Learn how elite swimmers times their breaststroke for ultimate efficiency.

Session 2: Breaststroke Starts & Pull-outs (Nov 13)

The start sets up a swimmers race. The more power off the block the better! There are countless intricacies to performing an explosive start, followed by an efficient and dominating underwater pullout into an explosive breakout. Carlos has spent countless hours practicing these skills and will work with swimmers on how to be explosive and efficient with each movement.

• STARTS: Carlos will work with swimmers to find their best position on the block as well as how to powerfully launch off into a tight streamline. Swimmers will also discover their optimal reaction time to get off the blocks fast and ahead of their competition
• BREASTSTROKE PULLOUTS: The best breaststrokers are faster under the water than on the surface! With the proper body position and timing, a swimmer's pullout will take them almost to the other side of the pool. Participants will practice how to utilize this skill in their breaststroke swims!
• BREAKOUTS: Many swimmers add movement within their breakout that creates drag and destroys all of the power created during their underwaters. Swimmers will work on timing their breakouts to accelerate into the lap.

Session 3: Breaststroke Turns & Finishes (Nov 14)

Swimmers will identify and work on what techniques carry their momentum through the turn to get in and out of every wall faster. Participants will practice accelerating into the wall, using their core and arms to get through the turn, and planting the feet on the wall for a powerful push-off in the perfect streamline. They will follow up with discovering faster ways on how to break a streamline into a strong underwater pullout and carry momentum all the way to the finish!

• OPEN TURNS: Swimmers should not just go through the motions of an open turn; if they’re doing this, they are actually stopping and then trying to regain speed. An expertly executed open turn involves carrying momentum from one lap into the next. Swimmers will work with the clinicians to nail an efficient and quick open turn.
• FINISHES: Races can be won or lost by hundredths of a second, and many races come down to the last few strokes. Swimmers will reinforce their kick to accelerate into the wall, time their stroke for a perfect arm extension, and keep their head down to out touch the competition.

Session 4: Breaststroke Race Strategy (Nov 14)

Carlos will work with swimmers on how to develop a race plan for any breaststroke race, whether a 50, 100, or 200. Swimmers will focus on swimming breaststroke with speed and efficiency.

• TEMPO: 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 participants swim as fast as possible. The swimmers will work with Carlos on different tempos for different breaststroke races!
• DISTANCE PER STROKE: One way to increase efficiency is to take fewer strokes. However, It may be faster to take more strokes per length, especially in shorter events. Swimmers will play with stroke counts and how it pairs with tempo to hone in on how to adjust distance per stroke for different races.
• PACING: Especially in breaststroke racing, it’s important for swimmers to get into a rhythm. While a 50 breaststroke is all about a fast turnover and snapping the kick, a 200 breaststroke is almost a different stroke with a strong pull, powerful kick, and long glide. Participants will explore different ways to split each event for faster racing!