2010 Training Schedule Grand Lakes Gators 11 & Up

 

WEEK 1 – May 3 – May 7

            Training will consist of getting kids back into the water and building up a bit of endurance. We will swim more than work on strokes; however, each day will have a specific stroke on which we focus. Kids need to be legal before we start meets and that should be our focus; getting kids to know how to swim all the strokes.

May 3 – New Swimmers

            Introduction to all the strokes

            Dividing swimmers into lanes based on ability

            Introduction to diving and flip turns

May 4 – New Swimmers

            Repeat of Monday – More turns and starts

May 5 – New Swimmers & Returning Swimmers

            Acclimate new and returning swimmers

            Further divide swimmers based on ability and previous knowledge of strokes

            Diving and turn work today

May 6 – All Swimmers

            Repeat of Wednesday

May 7 – All Swimmers

            Repeat of Wednesday – add relay starts so swimmers are comfortable with how they are performed.


 

WEEK 2 – May 10 – 14

            Training for this week will be more stroke work oriented. Drills that will be used the rest of the season will be introduced during this week. This is our “first week” in our season plan, meaning, that the progression of training and strokes is based as this week being the start, not the previous week. Lengthy swimming will be infrequent, but not non-existent. Endurance is still needed to complete the season. Practices will consist of a Warm-Up, Kick Set(s), Stroke Work, Main Set (this will be the distance swimming and/or a subset of stroke work), Starts & Turns, and a Warm – Down. The Warm-Up portion of practice will remain the same. My reasoning for doing this is that if a swimmer is late, they may come in and get started without hesitation and question as to, “What are we doing Coach Mike?!”

May 10 – Freestyle

            Warm-Up (Consistent)

            200 Free

            100 Choice Swim (one stroke)

            100 IM

            Kick Set – Most kick sets will consist of 50’s – 75’s and later in the season 100’s. Fast and proper kicking is a must for fast swimming. Kick will be with and without a board throughout the season. No board kick will be streamline.

            Stroke Work – Today’s work is Freestyle. We will focus on beginning drills such as Finger Tip Drag, 10 Kick Rotation, 10-3-10 (progression to 6-3-6), and streamline kicking.

            Main Set – The main set may be a sub set of the Stroke Work or a new set. If, for example, it was a subset of the Stroke Work, it may go something like this:

            2 X       {2x100 Kick(K)/Swim(S)/Drill(D)/Swim(S)

                        {4x50 D/S by 50

                        {3x100 “Perfect” Freestyle

            If, again for example, it was a new set, it may go something like this:

            2X        {4x100 Free Swim

                        {3x75 S/K/S

                        {2x50 Sprint Freestyle

                        {1 x 25 easy choice

            Starts & Turns – Each and every day we will work starts and turns. The fastest parts of a race are as follows: 1. Start, 2. Turn, and 3. Breakout. Swimming is actually the slowest part of your race. Not have adequate starts, turns, and breakouts can take the fastest parts of a race and make them the slowest. (Note: breakouts are included in start work). Starts will be swimmers choice and turns will be for the stroke that we are working that day.

            Warm-Down – Warm-Down will vary from day to day based on the amount of swimming. It will never be less than a 100 easy and no more than a 300 easy. I prefer to do the Warm-Down all freestyle, but some days it may change. It is important for every swimmer to complete a warm down before leaving practice so as to release as much built up lactic acid as possible. Lack of warm down can result in cramps, tight muscles, and being that lactic acid is a toxin, can make you have an upset stomach.

May 11 – Breaststroke

May 12 – Backstroke

May 13 – Butterfly

May 14 – IM

 

Note: The next two weeks (May 17-21, May 24-28) will be using this format. Strokes will change each day (listed below) but the workout format will not change.

 

 

 

WEEK 3 – May 17-21

May 17 – Butterfly

May 18 – Backstroke

May 19 – IM

May 20 – Breaststroke

May 21 – Freestyle

 

 

WEEK 4 – May 24 - 28

May 24 – IM

May 25 – Freestyle

May 26 – Breaststroke

May 27 – Butterfly

May 28 - Backstroke

 

Once swim meets have started, practices will be geared toward proper starts and turns, as the swimmers should have the strokes down now. We will still follow the same format as above, but with more starts and turns.

 

WEEK 5 May 31 – June4

May 31 – Practice Meet: Warm-Up 8am, Meet Start 9am

June 1 – Breaststroke/Starts &Turns!

June 2 – IM/Starts & Turns!

June 3 – NO PRACTICE!!!

June 4 – Freestyle/Starts &Turns!

            June 5 – Grand Lakes v. South Ranch @ South Ranch Warm-Up 8:30am, Meet Starts 9am

 

WEEK 6 June 7 - 11

June 7 – Freestyle/Starts & Turns!

June 8 – Backstroke/Starts & Turns!

June 9 – Breaststroke/Starts &Turns!

June 10 – IM/Starts &Turns!

June 11 – Butterfly/Starts & Turns!

June 12 – Grand Lakes v. Willofork @ Grand Lakes Warm-Up 8am, Meet Starts 9am

 

WEEK 7 – June 14-18

June 14 – Breaststroke/Starts &Turns!

June 15 – IM/Starts &Turns!

            Grand Lakes v. Nottingham @ Nottingham Warm-Up 5:30pm, Meet Starts 6pm

June 16 – Backstroke/Starts & Turns!

June 17 – Butterfly/Starts &Turns!

June 18 – Freestyle/Starts & Turns!

            June 19 – Grand Lakes v. Green Trails @ Grand Lakes Warm-Up 8am, Meet Starts 9am

During the next training phase only swimmers who have qualified for Meet of Champs will be required to attend practice. Focus will be on the strokes the swimmer is swimming. Lanes will be divided by ability and stroke. Starts and turns will be a major focus as well as further refinement of specific strokes.

 

WEEK 8 June 21-25 – Meet of Champs Swimmers Only

June 21 – Swimmer specific strokes

June 22 – Swimmer specific strokes

June 23 – Swimmer specific strokes

June 24 – Swimmer specific strokes

June 25 – Swimmer specific strokes

            June 26 – Swim Meet: Meet of Champs Time and Location TBA

June 27 – Swim Meet: All-Star Meet Time and Location TBA

This will be the completion of our season. If all goes as planned each swimmer should progress in each stroke to a point that the stroke is well refined and the swimmer is confident to swim it at any meet.

 

 

All swimmers are required to have a water bottle at practice every day!! Girls must wear a swim cap for practice and swim meets, and everyone must have a pair of goggles! Swim caps and goggles will be available for sale when Texas Swim Shop is at practice.

 

GOOD LUCK AND GOOO GATORS!!!