MANHATTAN MARLINS

Missouri Valley Swimming
Level 2

Fall 2024 Week 4 Technical and Conditioning Focus

Reid Carlson

Fall 2024 Week 4 Technical & Conditioning Focus: September 23 – 28

Technical Focus: IM Transitions

Conditioning Focus: General Aerobic

Macrocycle: Fall 2024; Mesocycle: General Preparation; Microcycle: IM Transitions

Hello Swim Families!

Welcome to week 4!

This week’s technical focus will home in on IM transitions. Specifically:

  • Monday = Freestyle Body Position, Catch, & Pull (standard Monday stuff)
  • Tuesday = Butterfly-to-Backstroke Transitions
    • “Drop-Back Turns,” essentially
  • Wednesday = Backstroke-to-Breaststroke Transitions
    • Coach Reid’s favorite skill to teach… cross-over turns!
  • Thursday = Breaststroke-to-Freestyle Transitions
    • “Drop-Back or Open Turns” again
  • Friday = Backstroke Flipturns
  • Saturday = Cross-Over Turns & Backstroke Starts
    • And we will use backstroke wedges, like you’ll see at meets!

The fastest swimmers in the world have lost races because of bad turns. Being fast between the walls is important; however, it is equally important that a swimmer get on and off the walls quickly and powerfully, which is our technical focus for this week, as detailed above. Of course, we work on these skills every Friday and/or Saturday, depending on training group.

On Wednesday, Platinum will condition with a remix of one of Coach Reid’s favorite lactic acid tolerance sets. It will not be a long set, but it will be intense and is vital to conditioning!

Week 4’s conditioning focus will continue with the theme that is “General Aerobic.” Starting next week we will move into a different phase called “Aerobic Preparation,” which essentially means, for the Platinum and Blue groups, that the aerobic work will sharpen and become somewhat more intense.

As for the White and Minnows groups, their training is not static though it does not progress at the same pace as those of the more advanced groups. What is most important for White and Minnows is developing a strong kick and good body position while swimming, while of course also focusing on technical details—this week, turns!

Please let me know if you have any questions, and I'll see you at the pool!

 

-Coach Reid