Group Programs
A group is defined as a number of swimmers that train together. That does
not mean that the program does not accommodate specialty and swim level
diversity, as we provide up to 14 different workouts per workout session for
each group.
We are sometimes asked if we compete with the Coaches and the answer is
that we are competing with the local coaches no more than Mr. Pavarotti
competes with Mr. Verdi or Mr. Puccini. We complement the coaches work in
the measure they see fit.
If a Team has 18 coaches, they very probably can author their own
workouts for each session. If a Team has 40 swimmers with 5 different
specialties, 2 or 3 swim levels, and 1 or 2 coaches, there is no way in the
world they can author and fine-tune the number of different workouts the
group requires for each session for a balanced and planned development of
all the swimming subgroups. In this case we can help the local Coaches by
generating multiple and coordinated workouts for each session.
When this happens, we actually let the local Coach do the coaching from
the perspective of a PROVEN PLAN. This means a strong base of reliable
expectations, a strong frame of mind for both Coach and Swimmers to work and
work hard. NO DOUBTS and a HIGH LEVEL of CONVICTION in the Program are
paramount to encourage and sustain the effort levels required to improve and
excel.
The capabilities of the system are such, that we can deliver up to 14
singular and customized workouts per workout session to a specific group
(NAT, E, JU, G1, AG2 etc) of swimmers:
The 14 workouts consist of:
Long Distance Freestyle (2)
Middle Distance Freestyle (2)
Sprint Freestyle (2)
BR (2)
BA (2)
FL(2)
IM (2)
We do not use send-off times, but swim intervals and
rest intervals. This, at the beginning, will make the
workouts harder to manage, as each group will be
sometimes on different timing patterns. The maximum
workout stress accuracy results from specific rates of
volume, swim intensity and rest, and this is the reason
for our data configuration. Some of the data is not
fully rounded, and we do this for a reason, to permit
the coach to round up or down depending upon how
swimmers feel or how the workout is going.
We avoid send-off times, as taking away rest interval
from slower swimmers, is only make them swim slower in
the long run. ALL swimmers’ performance and improvement
is a main goal of our program, as we are able to deliver
targeted workouts that can make everybody improve.
We do assemble common sets execution so that there is
the minimum required variance among diverse groups that
train together. This results in a more manageable
coaching effort, while we still avoid disturbing each
group’s optimal workout protocol.
There are some statistics that show close to 60% of swimmers do not get
any improvements from training after they reach a plateau. The main reason
seems to be that they are training at paces unfit to their individual
capabilities and we have designed our program to get away from that curse,
but there is no free lunch. In this case some added complexity is a
by-product of this feature.