Junior Dolphins

Whelp Mother Nature has most definitely been in a mood! Coldest, stormiest season start in 24 years! Despite the shortened practices we did make some progress!

My Wees worked on and most mastered the streamline push off stairs! This pulls together many skills: straight leg kicking, face down, bubbles and moving in a streamline with arms above head. This we will continue to work on. We will add the arms this week. I am not going to throw side breathing at them until later.

We continue to feel comfortable on their back. First supporting the back and head. Some were weary of even lying on my lap. End game is them floating independently and adding arms. It is a tough skill to master. For back stroke the verbals are “head back and belly up”. This bring legs to surface. Kick would be as straight leg as possible with a splash at toes. The deep knee kick really wastes energy and pulls the body down. Body down, head pops up. When you are in water with them, get them to semi arch back. Nose pointed up.

The Mids worked on their arms with free. Prompts: “elbow up and reach”. We do a water pull drill to get them to feel how water can be moved with closed fingers. When they bring arms forward we don’t want them crossing the center of their head. This is to prevent a bounce or wiggle back and forth. Reaching straight out and pulling. They should feel water moving under body.

We got on our backs, floating and some were getting into some arm strokes. It’s tough with Little’s to float for any period of time. They need to have a kick or pull arms.

The Pres worked on free and back stroke starts, stroke and streamline of body.

I don’t think I know everything about teach8ng kids to swim. I try to switch up what we work on if I see it not working. Some kids get what I am trying to convey, others I look at showing it differently.

They all come to practice with a positive attitude and try their best. I am loving working with all of them!

This week practices: afternoons Monday, Wednesday and Thursday.

Mornings Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.

I’d like my Mids and Pres to swim in the next home meet on July 5th. This is of course if they are game. It is only 15 yard and a coach will be in water with them. I need my morning crew to practice going off blocks in the afternoon when the team has them out. Will send out those days when I check w Kyle.

See you at the pool!