2010
GLST Practice Schedule – Ages 6&Under
Week 1: May
3-7
Goal: This week our goal is to make sure all of the
kids are comfortable in the water and to evaluate their skill level. We are also going to “dive” right in and
instantly begin working on endurance! We will be lots of kicking with a
kickboard this week. Not only is this
one of the best ways to build endurance, but it is also a great way to get the
kids to feel very comfortable in the water.
Monday:
·
Introduction
of coaches and swimmers
·
Get
everyone into the water and comfortable with swim team structure (warm up,
swimming in lanes, no holding on to the lane lines, etc.)
Tuesday:
·
Divide
kids into skill based groups
·
Introduce
freestyle: focus on kicks and straight body position
Wednesday:
·
Quick
introduction of new and old swimmers with coaches
·
Further
divide kids into skill groups and continue working on freestyle kicks and body
position
Thursday:
·
Freestyle
arms: drills for today will focus on the proper arm placement for freestyle and
we will also continue our endurance strengthening with lots of kicking!
·
Learn
to breathe to the side
Friday:
·
FUN
FRIDAY!! Every Friday throughout the season I like to have what I call “Fun
Friday” with the kids. Not only do they get to relax a little bit, but it is a
great way for the kids to get to know one another and really work on their team
building. We play structured games that incorporate what they have learned for
the week. These days are still important to attend. We get lots of swimming in, but we just try
to have a little extra fun to keep the kids excited!
Goal: This week I
am really looking for the kids to be very comfortable in the water and for them
to begin mastering freestyle, and the introduction of backstroke.
Monday:
·
Quick
review of what was learned last week
·
Continue
working on endurance and the ability to swim the full length of the pool
without stopping
·
Incorporate
drills that also help with holding their breath and breathing to the side
Tuesday:
·
Introduction
to backstroke
·
Work
on floating and the ability to kick without rolling over
·
As
the kids master the kicking we will begin the backstroke arms
Wednesday:
·
Continue working on backstroke and incorporating lots of
endurance exercises
Thursday:
·
Continue
working on backstroke and endurance.
Friday:
·
FUN
FRIDAY!! We will also be testing the kids this day to ensure that all of our
swimmers are capable of swimming the full length of the pool all by themselves.
Goal: This week we will continue to work on
freestyle and backstroke. We will also
be introducing dives and starts.
Monday:
·
Quick
review of backstroke and freestyle
·
Endurance!
Endurance! Endurance!
Tuesday:
·
Introduction
of dives.
·
Add
on swimming the full length of the pool with freestyle as they master their
technique.
Wednesday:
·
Introduction
to back stroke starts/finishes
·
Continue
working dives
Thursday:
·
Continue
working back stroke starts/finishes
·
Introduce
relay starts for the freestyle relay
Friday:
·
FUN
FRIDAY!!
Goal: By the end of
this week I would really like for the kids to be able to swim a 25 freestyle
(with proper start) and a 25 of backstroke (with the proper start). This week
you will notice more distance swimming (the kids will be swimming the full length
of the pool more and more to prepare them for meets).
Monday:
·
We
will kick the whole practice today. I
will be switching up the drills to keep it fun, but your kiddo will be very
tired today!
Tuesday:
·
Review
of starts, finishes, and relays.
Wednesday:
·
Focus
on freestyle technique and improving whatever weaknesses I access.
Thursday:
·
Focus
on backstroke technique and improving areas of weakness.
Friday:
·
FUN
FRIDAY!!
Goal: We will continue building the kiddos’ endurance and making
corrections from what we saw at the BLUE/GREEN MEET
Monday: BLUE/GREEN MEET!
Tuesday-Thursday:
Work on what weaknesses we see at the BLUE/GREEN MEET!
Friday: FUN FRIDAY!
Goal: Our main focus over these two weeks will be turning our young fish
into great little swimmers. We will continue to work on not only their
endurance but their technique as well.
Attending practice is key! I know five times a week seems like a lot for
these little guys, but there are lots of them and that 45 minutes goes by very
quickly. The more frequently they get in
the pool, the faster they will develop.
Monday – Thursday:
Freestyle, Backstroke, dives, backstroke starts and finishes
Friday: FUN
FRIDAY!!
Goal: This week of practice is strictly for Meet of Champs
qualifiers. We will work with each
individual swimmer and their practices will be based on the events they will be
competing in at the Meet of Champs.
**Coaches
Note: I am looking forward to a great season with the 6 & unders. I can’t wait to get started and get all of
the kids in the water and swimming like champions! GO GATORS!