Santa Clara, CA Swim Camp Series (Ages 9 to 11)
Bay Club - Santa Clara
3250 Central Expressway,
Santa Clara,
CA 95051
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Introduction
Fitter & Faster is producing a series of swim camps and a video filming & analysis session for competitive swimmers ages 9 to 11 at the Bay Club - Santa Clara in Santa Clara, California during 2025. Click here for the swim camp page for ages 12 & over.
SANTA CLARA, CA SWIM CAMP SERIES (Ages 9 to 11)
-> Fast Butterfly & Breaststroke Technique Swim Camp (August 23 & 24, 2025)
-> Fast Freestyle & Backstroke Technique Swim Camp (October 11 & 12, 2025)
VIDEO FILMING & ANALYSIS
August 23, 2025 (4-6 PM): Provide your swimmer with the chance to receive professional video analysis of their stroke, just like the pros. Choose to have one stroke filmed and analyzed with a single registration, or save by selecting the Camp + Video Bundle, which includes both days of the swim camp along with filming and analysis of all four strokes.
Click the “Curriculum Menu” below for details for each swim camp and video session.
-> Availability in each session of this swim camp series is limited to 24 participants to ensure the highest level learning experience.
-> SAVE when you purchase a "Bundle” for your swimmer.
Select a curriculum below
FAST BUTTERFLY & BREASTSTROKE TECHNIQUE SWIM CAMP: August 23 & August 24, 2025
Butterfly and breaststroke utilize similar body position, “undulating” movements, and an early “catch” to get across the pool with efficiency and speed. They are called the “short axis” strokes because swimmers do not rotate their body at the spine, as is done in freestyle and backstroke. Rather in butterfly and breaststroke, swimmers bend at the hips to generate power and forward momentum. Over two days, your swimmer, no matter their level, will improve their butterfly and breaststroke technique, racing and training skills!
- DAY 1 (Saturday, August 23): BUTTERFLY TECHNIQUE: At the highest level of swimming, butterfly is the second fastest stroke and beautiful to watch because of its rhythmic and powerful strokes. There are some complexities to establishing a smooth, rhythmic fly, but with practice and attention to detail your swimmer can master the stroke and begin swimming it for longer distances and at very fast speeds!
- Bodyline: A butterfly race is going to be fastest with a 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 bad habits can emerge. 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 butterfly strokes.
- Kick: Each butterfly stroke has two kicks to propel the swimmer towards the other end of the pool! If the kicks are properly timed and equally strong, they can positively impact your swimmer’s efficiency and stroke timing! Your swimmer will work on how and when to kick in butterfly for maximum speed.
- Pull: Long and smooth strokes allow swimmers to have a more efficient and fluid butterfly. The pull in butterfly keeps a swimmer accelerating forward. Your clinicians will work with participants to establish an early vertical forearm, “the catch”, enabling the swimmers to put immediate pressure back on the water. Properly completing the stroke keeps the swimmer moving forward efficiently and fast.
- Timing: The timing of the breath in butterfly has a direct relationship on a swimmer’s body position, pull, kick and TIMES! At this camp, we will work with participants on breathing with their chin low to the water... and WHEN to breathe in their stroke cycle so that they develop the most efficient stroke possible!
- DAY 2 (Sunday, August 24): BREASTSTROKE TECHNIQUE: Out of the eight finalists at the Olympic Games, you might see eight different styles of breaststroke! A swimmer's timing and ability to eliminate resistance are hallmarks of an efficient and powerful breaststroker. No matter your swimmer’s level, this session will strengthen their technique and lead to faster and more efficient breaststroke races… and faster IM’s!
- Bodyline: A breaststroke race is going to be fastest with a proper bodyline. Even the slightest adjustment of the chin, neck, and/or back can make a huge difference. Elite breaststrokers focus on minimizing drag by “catching water” on their hands and feet as quickly as possible, so they can shoot back into a “straight bodyline” where they can glide at top speed.
- Kick: The kick creates a lot of the power in breaststroke. Swimmers need to keep their knees high in the water and snap their feet quickly around and back to create a powerful kick. Our clinicians will work with participants to strengthen their kick for the ultimate propulsion forward!
- Pull: The name of the game in breaststroke is to create as much propulsion as possible in the pull while minimizing resistance… and then quickly getting back into a straight bodyline to establish a high speed glide. Participants at this session will focus on setting up a proper "catch" and keeping their hands and elbows high on the water throughout the entire pull. The techniques your swimmer will practice will minimize resistance and enable them to maintain forward momentum for the fastest breaststroke.
- Timing: Fast, flowing breaststroke is the result of proper timing between a swimmer’s hands and feet. Establishing proper timing in your swimmer’s breaststroke will allow for more fluidity, power and speed. Participants in this session will learn how elite swimmers time their breaststroke for ultimate efficiency and the fastest races.
VIDEO FILMING & ANALYSIS: August 23, 2025
Since so much of the stroke happens below water – it is incredibly important to see what’s going on below the surface! Small adjustments to your stroke can lead to big time drops! This is your opportunity to get beautiful footage of your stroke and get analysis from an expert… and you can review with your coach as well!
- ANALYSIS: Our Fitter and Faster expert will use a video analysis application to record their comments on your technique. They will use slow motion, pause the video at specific points, and draw on the swimmer's video all while explaining where opportunities for improvement are. Each stroke will have approximately 3 to 5 minutes of expert commentary that you can review with your coaches at home!
- DRILL RECOMMENDATIONS: You will receive recommendations for drills to correct the technique of each swimmer.
- SIGN UP: Select to have one stroke filmed. Or, SAVE by choosing to have all four strokes filmed. The "multi-stroke options" are for individual swimmers and cannot be split.
- ARRIVING AT THE POOL (Retain your order number): You will receive an e-mail approximately one week before the filming session with the specific time for your swimmer to check in, warm up, and be filmed. Please retain your order number - this is how swimmers will be identified on that schedule. When you arrive at the pool, you will be greeted by Fitter & Faster staff who will provide you instructions on the filming process.
- WARM UP: Participants will have an opportunity to warm up before filming.
- FILMING: Our camera operator will have you swim two 25s at a strong pace of each stroke purchased (1 stroke or all 4 strokes). The filming of each stroke will take about three minutes. The video will capture a side angle and a front angle below the water to get an accurate view of your technique.
- SESSION LEGNTH: Depending on the number of strokes you are getting recorded, your session time will run between 5 and 15 minutes.
- TIMELINE: All videos will be analyzed and returned within 14 days of the camp. The analyzed videos along with the original video will be sent via email for you to keep!
FAST FREESTYLE & BACKSTROKE TECHNIQUE SWIM CAMP: October 11 & October 12, 2025
Freestyle and backstroke are referred to as “long-axis” strokes because they rely on the rotation of the hips and shoulders around the spine to generate power. This camp builds on the natural connection between the two strokes–including bodyline, flutter kick, and a high elbow catch–to enhance technical development in both. Your swimmer will also explore what makes these strokes different, unlocking some key understanding to help them swim both strokes faster and more efficiently.
- DAY 1 (Saturday, October 11): FREESTYLE TECHNIQUE: Whether your swimmer is just learning freestyle or already competing at the high school level, it’s never too late to build strong habits. In this session, your swimmer will work on bodyline, rotation, breathing, kick, and pull—five key elements that contribute to an efficient, powerful freestyle.
- Bodyline: A streamlined body position is the foundation of a fast freestyle. Even small adjustments to head, neck, or back alignment can make a significant difference. As swimmers grow and mature, they often develop habits that disrupt bodyline. Your swimmer will learn how to maintain proper posture and engage the core to stay long and hydrodynamic through every stroke.
- Breathing: Efficient breathing is a challenge but critical to maintaining bodyline. Lifting the head too high causes hips to drop and drag to increase. Clinicians will work with participants to keep the head low and horizontal during the breath, using controlled rotation of the neck and body for a smooth, quick inhale.
- Rotation: Freestyle is most powerful when the swimmer rotates around their spine with each stroke. Rotation allows swimmers to use their back and core muscles during the pull, making the stroke stronger and more sustainable. Your swimmer will learn how to glide on one side and initiate rotation as the pulling hand begins its movement.
- Kicking: The kick is the motor of freestyle. Swimmers must drive from the hips and knees with good timing and control. This session will help your swimmer understand how to adjust kick tempo and power to provide speed when they want or need it.
- Pull: Clinicians will teach participants to establish a “high elbow catch,” also known as early vertical forearm, to apply pressure to the water immediately. Swimmers will then work on pushing water directly back towards their feet with sustained leverage, engaging large muscle groups for a powerful finish to each stroke.
- DAY 2 (Sunday, October 12): BACKSTROKE TECHNIQUE: While backstroke shares many concepts with freestyle, the actual skill can be much different. In this session, your swimmer will refine bodyline, rotation, kick, and pull specifically for backstroke.
- Bodyline: Backstroke bodyline should eliminate unnecessary movement. Even small amounts of bobbing or swaying create drag. Participants will learn to maintain a flat, aligned posture and engage the core to support a strong, stable position in the water.
- Rotation: Unlike freestyle, backstrokers rotate most fully onto their side when their hand is midway through the stroke. Rotation in backstroke is essential for two key reasons. First, to apply power during the pull, the swimmer’s hand must be positioned in front of the shoulder and at least a few inches below the surface of the water—something that’s only possible with proper body rotation. Second, rotation helps activate the large muscles of the back as the swimmer drives their hand through the surface and into the catch.
- Constant Motion: Unlike other strokes, backstroke has no built-in glide phase—the arms are always moving. Your swimmer will work on strategies to keep their stroke continuous and efficient, maximizing distance per stroke while maintaining tempo.
- Kicking: Effective backstroke kicking requires generating propulsion in both directions—both the forward and backwards motions. Your swimmer will learn to kick efficiently on their back, using ankle flexibility and consistent drive to support rotation and propulsion.
- Pull: Backstroke pull requires a high elbow catch, but also uses more of the full arm in the pull than any other stroke since the hand is pulls much further outside the body line. We will work on feeling that full pull and engaging the large muscles of the back to generate power.
SWIM CAMP START TIMES:
- BOTH DAYS: Check-in: 8:45 AM, Camp 9-11:30 AM
Video Session - August 23, 2025:
- Depending on the number of strokes you are getting recorded, your session time will run between 5 and 15 minutes
- You will receive an email a week before the filming session with the specific time for your swimmer to check in, warm up, and be filmed.
- Swimmer's scheduled time will be between 4-6 PM.
- Video Filming & Analysis is for ALL swimmers, including adults!
Suggested Participants: Our top priority is to provide a world-class learning experience for all participants at all of our camps. This camp series has sessions for swimmers ages 9 to 11. Participants will range from one year of competitive swimming experience to AAAA times and faster. If you are the parent of a swimmer under the age of 9 and would like for your swimmer to be considered for this camp, please complete this questionnaire. If you are looking for the swim camp page for ages 12 & over, Click Here!
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!
Nick Thoman
Size matters so much less when you have great technique... and your clinician is living proof of that. At one point, Nick Thoman was known as the world's greatest short course swimmer in the world. His starts and turns were a weapon - he was shorter than most of his top competition, but HE was the world record holder in the 100 short course meter backstroke AND he is an Olympic gold medalist. Learn to weaponize great technique, no matter your size or strength, to improve at this clinic with Nick Thoman!
Elite Clinician
Fitter and Faster clinicians are Olympians and National Team members who have achieved at the highest level of the sport of swimming... and who have the unique skill to teach what they know from a technical perspective to swimmers of all ages and abilities.
Inquisitive, Educated Swimmers are Faster Swimmers! Sign up today!
