Ryan Woodruff
Head Coach
Lynchburg YMCA
I probably got this idea from somewhere, but it is pretty simple so maybe I came up with it myself...
Want to use video to help your swimmers improve their technique? Great -- buy an iPad and start filming. But there is a better way...
If you coach teenagers, they probably all have a camera phone. Have them pair up. Give them a prompt on what to work on (i.e. examine freestyle breathing technique, looking for horizontal head position) and give them 10-15 minutes to film each other and give each other feedback. Peer Coaching!
The benefits are many:
1. Tons of feedback for EVERY swimmer in your group, something that would take an individual coach hours to do by himself.
2. A chance to use a rapid feedback loop in a way that isn't easy to do in a normal workout. Do it...watch it... do it again, better... watch it... do it again better still.
3. The teaching swimmer learns as well. Teaching is one of the best ways to learn.
4. Team bonding! Swimmers enjoy working together and helping each other improve.
I promise you... give this a try and you will love it. If not, I will give you a full refund of your purchase price for this post.Labels: Ideas, Peer Coaching, Technique