Thursday, February 20, 2014

How to Win the Close Races

This past weekend was our Championship meet and we saw close races all weekend long, it was a great.  I don't like when I hear how the last 25 always comes down to who "wants it more."  You can't tell me that 2 swimmers of equal talent and ability turn together at the last 25 and one wants it more or less than the other, simply not true.

Here is the trick to winning close races, I believe it is a combination of 2 things:

1.  It comes back to the team.  If you invest in the team, you will have more invested in the swim, you will have more to fight for, it will be more than just a time.  It is not who wants it more, but who has more reasons to get to the wall first.  During the season, never under estimate the importance of getting to know your teammates and making those deep connections.  They will pay off.

2.  Execution! It's not who wanted it more, it's who executed the last 25 the best.  Who stayed the most streamlined, who timed the finish the best, who's hips were higher, who had the better breakout or pullout?  That is where it is won and lost.  That does not come from who swam the furthest, but who swam the best.  Get your team to value the importance of learning the details of successful swimming.  A lot of people can swim far, it takes execution and paying attention to the details to swim fast.


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