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Lessons

Browse through our thousands of Lessons to gain a deeper understanding of swimming. Use our search bar located above or, if you're new to the site, use the Guided View to help narrow down the Lessons presented to you. If you use the Guided View, you’ll also be able to add your Expertise Level as an additional filter.

Oct. 14, 2025 - Open Turns

Oct. 14, 2025 - Open Turns

The start of a new season is the perfect time to focus on skills rather than training.  At the top of the list are TURNS…and there are SEVEN turns that every swimmer needs to know.  This week we focus on five of the seven turns – the open turns: (1) Fly to Fly, (2) Fly to Back, (3) Back to Breast (open version), (4) Breast to Breast and (5) Breast to Free. Monday All Strokes Drills (The Seven Competitive Turns) Here’s a quick overview of the seven turns that every competitive swimmer needs to know. https://www.goswim.tv/lessons/1927-all-strokes-the-seven-competitive-turns Tuesday James Guy: Butterfly Turn James Guy offers a master class in how to execute a Fly-to-Fly open turn. https://www.goswim.tv/lessons/2607-butterfly-turn Wednesday Shanteau (BONUS TURNS – Butterfly to Backstroke) For a closeup view of the Butterfly-to-Backstroke transition turn, we turn to US Olympian Eric Shanteau. https://www.goswim.tv/lessons/743-bonus-turns-butterfly-to-backstroke Thursday Haufler Turns (Teaching Progressions for Back-to-Breast Turns –Open Turn) Here’s Steve Haufler’s 5-step teaching progression for the Back-to-Breast open turn. https://www.goswim.tv/lessons/760-teaching-progressions-for-back-to-breast-turns-open-turn Friday Sarah Katsoulis: Breaststroke Turn Aussie Olympian Sarah Katsoulis demos how to place and use the hands for a flat-wall, Breast-to-Breast Turn https://www.goswim.tv/lessons/1829-sarah-katsoulis-breaststroke-turn Saturday Turn Drill: Hot Hand Open Turn If you swim in the USA, where most pools have a gutter or “lip,” you should USE THE LIP.  Here’s how to do it without climbing up and out of the pool! https://www.goswim.tv/lessons/2187-turns-hot-hand-open-turn Sunday Sandeno & Vendt (Breast to Free Turn) Closing out the week with a silent clip of US Olympians Erik Vendt and Kaitlin Sandeno executing the breast-to-free transition turn. What catches our eye is how quickly they get one hand off the wall, and how low they keep the head during the turn. https://www.goswim.tv/lessons/567-breaststroke-freestyle-transition App Update and Athlete Onboarding Glenn discussed the recent app update and emphasized the importance of athletes using the app for data entry rather than coaches. He mentioned conducting onboarding sessions for athletes, parents, and teams, and introduced a new data access system for age group parents, offering both basic and pro levels of data access. Glenn shared his pride in his wife Rachel's performance at her first dual meet, highlighting Northwestern's impressive results and pool records. He encouraged anyone with questions about the app to schedule a demo with him or Alex. Swimming Season and Technique Insights Glenn discussed the successful start of the swimming season and highlighted the positive atmosphere during a recent tri-meet, which included an unexpected feature in the New York Times. He then focused on teaching techniques for competitive swimming turns, emphasizing the importance of using gutters in U.S. pools and the advantages of proper technique. Glenn also shared insights from observing elite athletes like James Guy and Eric Chanteau, noting differences in their techniques despite similar coaching. He concluded by expressing his personal motivation to help people reach their potential and achieve happiness through swimming. Optimizing Swimming Techniques Glenn discussed techniques for swimming with minimal resistance, focusing on the importance of proper hand and foot placement, as well as the lack of resistance in Eric Chanteau's swimming style. He emphasized the significance of cutting a path with the knees and opening the feet at the last possible second to optimize performance. Glenn encouraged viewers to apply these techniques in their swimming or teaching practices to reach their full potential. Backstroke Turn Technique Training Session The meeting focused on teaching swimmers the back-to-breaststroke turn technique, emphasizing the importance of the ready position and practicing with both hands. The discussion covered different types of turns, including flat wall and gutter turns, with specific attention to hand positioning and leverage. The group watched videos of elite swimmers demonstrating proper technique, particularly highlighting the need for quick hand release off the wall to prevent slipping. The session concluded with a demonstration of a staggered hand turn by Brendan McHugh, an elite breaststroke swimmer, showcasing advanced techniques for experienced athletes. Swimming Techniques and Turn Improvements The group discussed swimming techniques, focusing on wall touches and turns. Helen and Glenn emphasized that simultaneous wall touches are illegal and difficult for officials to enforce, advising swimmers to simply tap the wall and move on. Barbara shared a video of Brendan executing a fast and low breaststroke turn, which Glenn praised for its speed and technique. The conversation concluded with a discussion about the evolution of swimming techniques in college and professional levels, noting the increased speed and efficiency of modern turns. Swimming Turns and Speed Techniques The discussion focused on swimming techniques, particularly turn approaches. Mark and Mike discussed how elite athletes maintain speed through turns rather than slowing down in anticipation, comparing it to a ball bouncing off a wall. Mike explained that teaching turns involves simple principles like changing direction quickly and making stroke adjustments before the turn, while Glenn shared an anecdote about Shemanovic being DQ'd due to his unusually fast turns. The conversation concluded with a discussion about the importance of dryland training, particularly core work, to help swimmers maintain speed and execute turns effectively. Swimming Turns: Research and Techniques The group discussed swimming techniques, focusing on spin turns and their superiority to traditional turns, as supported by research from Gary Hall Sr. They explored the mechanics of different turns, including breaststroke and butterfly, emphasizing the importance of teaching swimmers the difference between legal and optimal turns. Barbara suggested focusing on the crossover turn in the next session, while Beth shared insights from using a small 3-lane pool for WITs, highlighting the impact of timing and technique. The group agreed to plan content for the next meeting, considering topics like reverse butterfly or maintaining momentum into the wall.

Oct. 7, 2025 - Building Stability and Connection with Weights, Tethers, and Buckets

Oct. 7, 2025 - Building Stability and Connection with Weights, Tethers, and Buckets

Building Stability and Connection with Weights, Tethers, and Buckets Weights, tethers, and buckets are great for building strength, but can do so much more!  Join us this week as we look at how these tools can be used to build core stability and increase your feel for the water. Monday Turn Drill: Stretch-Cord Walls Adding a bit of resistance focuses the mind on just how much force you need to apply to your pushoffs. https://www.goswim.tv/lessons/2308-turns-stretch-cord-walls Tuesday Turn Drill: VAST Pushoffs Swim tethers are an excellent tool for achieving better velocity off each wall. https://www.goswim.tv/lessons/2077-turns-vast-pushoffs Wednesday Turn Drill: Stretch-Cord Turns How tight should you tuck the knees on an open turn?  Stretch-Cord Turns will help you identify – and strengthen -- the critical muscles. https://www.goswim.tv/lessons/1695-turns-stretch-cord-turns Thursday Breaststroke Drill: Band Kick This simple tool will help you set up a smaller, less resistive breaststroke kick.  And will help you develop feel for the water in your ankles and feet. https://www.goswim.tv/lessons/837-breaststroke-band-kick Friday Freestyle Drill: Learning Stability with Weights Here’s how to use weights to get a feel for horizontal bodyline. https://www.goswim.tv/lessons/2695-learning-stability-with-weights Saturday Pull Buoy to Swim Stability with Weights – 4 Here’s how we use weights to help a swimmer understand core stability and horizontal bodyline. https://www.goswim.tv/lessons/2363-pull-buoy-to-swim-stability-with-weights Saturday Pull Buoy to Swim Stability with Weights – 4 Here’s how we use weights to help a swimmer understand core stability and horizontal bodyline. https://www.goswim.tv/lessons/2363-pull-buoy-to-swim-stability-with-weights Summary Resistance Training in Swimming Glenn shared personal experiences about using resistance training in swimming, including his use of stretch cords to improve stroke timing during his swimming career. He recounted a story about pulling a mile breaststroke with a bucket tied to his ankles, which Rachel's new swimmer confirmed was true, leading Glenn to reflect on the accuracy of his memories from 40 years ago. GMX7 Resistance Trainer Demo Glenn demonstrated the GMX7 resistance trainer, which allows variable resistance training in both directions, and shared a discount code (GOswim10) for 10% off. He showed several resistance training exercises, emphasizing the importance of proper wall push-offs and turns, and explained how resistance training can help swimmers improve their technique. Glenn also discussed the value of learning from all coaches and respecting different training methods, regardless of their origin. Swimming Techniques and Turn Corrections Glenn discussed swimming techniques with Melinda, focusing on foot positioning and leg cramps. He emphasized keeping heels off the wall and avoiding flat-footed pushing off. Glenn also addressed illegal swimming turns, expressing concern about coaches teaching non-simultaneous hand turns. He demonstrated exercises using TheraBands to improve breaststroke kicks, emphasizing the importance of mental engagement from athletes. Finally, Glenn showed a technique involving weighted swimming to engage the core and maintain proper body position, using scuba weights held in front of the swimmer. Advanced Swimming Training Techniques Glenn and Beth discussed various weight options for a training exercise, including small medicine balls, water bottles, and rocks. Glenn demonstrated a complex exercise involving buoyancy, weights, and rotation, emphasizing the importance of core stability over using kicks to correct imbalance. He showed footage of Michael Phelps performing an outside-in dolphin kick with a 25-pound weight, highlighting the power generated from the legs. Glenn also shared techniques for maintaining water feel during tethered swimming, using stationary sculling and alternate sculling exercises. Finally, he presented extreme training methods involving heavy resistance, such as pulling buckets and wearing weights, warning against attempting these exercises without proper experience and guidance. Swimming Technique and Resistance Training The group discussed the use of resistance training in swimming, with Aleks sharing his experience using parachute sets to improve swimmers' technique, particularly their catch. Glenn noted the shift in elite swimming towards emphasizing length and elegance over pure power, citing observations from watching Northwestern and British national team practices. The discussion concluded with Nancy suggesting a topic for next week's meeting about t-shirts in swimming coaching, though Barbara hadn't yet finalized her topic. Swimming Equipment and Technique Discussion The group discussed swimming equipment and techniques, focusing on the use of t-shirts, leggings, and drag suits in swimming. Glenn shared his personal experience with pantyhose affecting his breaststroke timing, while Aleks emphasized the importance of keeping resistance off swimmers' bodies, especially for younger children. The team also discussed using equipment like parachutes in warm-up pools, with Aleks noting that designated equipment lanes are often available at meets. Glenn announced new updates to the Pro and Basic data apps, which caused some initial confusion for Aleks at a recent meet. The conversation ended with Glenn mentioning that Rachel would have a manager filming her first meet of the weekend, and William had a question for Glenn that would be addressed after the recording.

September 16, 2025 - End of Season Planning TODAY!

September 16, 2025 - End of Season Planning TODAY!

What Do You Want Them to Know at the End of the Season? One of the most effective ways to approach a new season is to think ahead to championships in March.  What are the skills you want every swimmer to have when they step to the blocks at that final meet?  What things look sketchy and uncomfortable now…that you want to be locked in and comfortable later?  Join us this week as we talk about race-day essentials: streamlines, underwater dolphins and breaststroke pullouts, relay take-offs, breathing patterns, and race-day finishes. Monday Drop Pushoff on Your Side You’re starting your season and about to practice THOUSANDS of “half-turns”. Allow yourself to learn every time you push off the wall, to take advantage of the proper ready position pushoff and master coming out of an open turn into a great line. https://www.goswim.tv/lessons/1914-all-strokes-how-to-push-off Tuesday Dave Denniston Drills: Streamline Pushoff By the time swimmers reach their final meet of the season, streamlined pushoffs need to be hard-wired into their nervous system.  Here’s how to work on them from Day One. https://www.goswim.tv/lessons/173-streamline-pushoff Wednesday Turns: Practice Underwater Dolphins The only way to have great underwater dolphins off your walls is by building consistency in practice.  Here’s a path to getting started, and to help swimmers find discipline and consistency with their underwater dolphins. https://www.goswim.tv/lessons/2724-turns-practice-underwater-dolphins Thursday Kara Lynn Joyce:  Sprint Breathing To excel at sprint freestyle – 50s and 100s – you must learn how often to breathe, and then train for this at every practice.  Three-time Olympic sprinter Kara Lynn Joyce shares her secrets. https://www.goswim.tv/lessons/657-sprint-breathing Friday Turns - Deep Pushoffs The direction you leave the wall determines the intention of your pushoff. Start the season with the “deep” desire to have better pushoffs by aiming downward. This extreme drill will give you the idea. https://www.goswim.tv/lessons/1586-turns-deep-pushoffs Saturday Relay Starts – Team Work with York YMCA Must-have skills for big meets:  understanding the responsibilities of both the swimmer coming in, and the swimmer taking off; and being able to adjust to changing conditions, speeds, and stroke rates. https://www.goswim.tv/lessons/1982-relay-starts-team-work-with-york-ymca Sunday Pushoff Target Starting the season with “where you pushoff today”, will give you a target of improvement for tomorrow. Drop a coin or a marker on the bottom of the pool, or if your team has kick-out markers like in the video. DO SOMETHING that reminds you that you MUST be in a state of discomfort just a bit each step of the season to get to the point you want to be at the end of the season. START TODAY! https://www.goswim.tv/lessons/1448-pushoff-target

September 9, 2025 - Breaststroke Shoulders

September 9, 2025 - Breaststroke Shoulders

Breaststroke Shoulders Discussion The topic for the meeting was breaststroke shoulders, a subject Alex admitted he doesn't often focus on but found interesting to explore. He planned to share videos and discuss the role of shoulder action in the stroke. Breaststroke Technique and Positioning Aleks discussed Amanda's breaststroke technique, focusing on her shoulder shrug and hip engagement. He explained how Amanda's vertical body position and forward hip drive naturally result in an upward shoulder shrug. Aleks also covered the importance of hand recovery in breaststroke, noting that while Amanda brings her hands high out of the water, younger swimmers should keep their hands at the surface and drive them forward. He emphasized the need for a straight, flat recovery and warned about the risk of DQs with high arm positions. Finally, Aleks stressed the importance of maintaining a streamlined position to reduce drag and increase speed. Breaststroke Techniques and Drills Aleks discussed various breaststroke techniques and drills, emphasizing the importance of body position, hip drive, and hand recovery. He highlighted how maintaining a straight line from fingertips to toes and keeping the head down can improve stroke efficiency. Aleks also explained the benefits of keeping the elbows close to the body during the pull phase and snapping the hands forward quickly to facilitate a smooth recovery. He noted that sprint breaststroke requires a different approach compared to endurance breaststroke, but the fundamental principles remain the same. Effective Swimming Techniques Discussed Aleks shared a video of Brennan Hansen swimming and discussed the technique he demonstrated. He highlighted how Hansen's small profile in the water and his ability to create a cone of disruption showed effective cutting through the water. Aleks emphasized the importance of making a "bed" with the arms extended forward before laying the head down, which he said was a key part of the stroke technique. He praised Glenn for capturing unique angles of the swimmer that defy expectations. Breaststroke Pull Width Optimization Aleks discussed a breaststroke drill that demonstrates how swimmers can experiment with different pull widths to find the optimal balance between body drive and drag reduction. He explained that while some swimmers benefit from a wide pull, others may need to be more narrow, and emphasized the importance of finding the right position that allows for maximum hip movement and forward momentum. The drill involves gradually widening the pull while observing how the hips track forward and the body rises out of the water, ultimately helping swimmers achieve a more efficient stroke. Breaststroke Technique and Training Discussion Alex shared a story about a Russian swimmer who participated in a Zoominterview during the COVID-19 pandemic, discussing their experience transitioning from swimming in Russia to the United States. Barbara and Melinda discussed the role of elbows in breaststroke technique, with Barbara emphasizing the importance of bringing elbows in to create a good profile and Melinda noting that excessive elbow squeezing can cause shoulder pain. Alex suggested using drills like swimming with a noodle under the armpits and lying on a landline to prevent novices from pulling back too far. Paul Frentsos had a question about shrugging in breaststroke technique, but the transcript ended before he could ask it. Forward Swimming Techniques Discussion Paul and Aleks discussed swimming techniques, focusing on maintaining forward momentum and balance in the water. They agreed that teaching swimmers to keep their arms forward and avoid pulling their elbows too far back is crucial, especially for younger athletes. Aleks emphasized the importance of head position and using techniques like the tennis ball under the chin to help swimmers stay forward as they breathe. They also discussed how powerful kicks and pulls can help swimmers overcome the challenges of pulling too far back. Breaststroke Immersion Techniques The discussion focused on breaststroke technique, particularly regarding the optimal depth of immersion. Aleks explained that immersion depth is swimmer-dependent and varies by event, noting that 50 breaststrokers should be flatter on the surface while 200 breaststrokers need more depth. They emphasized that proper technique involves maintaining a forward hand recovery, avoiding hand drop, and keeping the head down, with the body naturally finding its appropriate depth based on these fundamentals. Breaststroke Technique Analysis and Insights The discussion focused on comparing breaststroke techniques between swimmers Kate Douglas and Lily King. Aleks shared insights about Lily's development from a tempo-driven 200 breaststroker to a more forward-oriented technique, while Paul observed Kate's adaptation from 200 to 100 breaststroke by adjusting her tempo and stroke rate. Karen noted that swimmers sometimes struggle with trusting a forward pull and powerful kick rather than relying on increased stroke rate, and mentioned a technique tip about forehead positioning in breaststroke. Breaststroke Technique and Training The discussion focused on breaststroke technique and training, with Aleks sharing their approach to teaching swimmers to minimize stroke counts, particularly aiming for 4-6 strokes for boys and girls respectively. They emphasized the importance of focusing on body drive and hip engagement rather than shoulder movement, citing Leon Marchand's efficient 2-stroke 25m split as an example of what can be achieved through consistent training. Robin contributed insights about the importance of maintaining the correct line in breaststroke, noting that getting just one inch under the water can reduce surface drag by 50%, while Paul inquired about tips for naturally faster breaststroke swimmers, to which Aleks recommended using a tempo trainer to analyze and improve stroke tempo. Swimming Tempo Trainer Techniques Alex Fansler discussed using tempo trainers to help swimmers understand and adjust their pace, particularly by making gradual changes in 25-second intervals. He emphasized the importance of translating tempo trainer exercises to actual swimming through stroke counting, which helps swimmers maintain their pace without the metronome. For next week's session, Barbara suggested focusing on what coaches should be concerned about as the new swim season begins, including fundamentals like streamlines, dolphin kicks, and pullouts.

Freestyle Full Body

Freestyle Full Body

After you watch the video, take a short quiz. When we look at all the parts of James’s stroke, from fingertips to toes, several things stand out. His head is low – you can see almost all of it under the surface – and his hips are high. As a result (head low, hips high), he maintains a clean, horizontal bodyline. From above the surface, you can see just a tiny bit of James’s cap during the breath, but then it slides beneath the surface during the rest of the stroke. The hips are visible as he rotates cleanly through the water. But what REALLY catches our eye is how James drives his hand into full extension…on every single stroke. This extension is the defining aspect of James’s freestyle, and it makes everything else fall into place. It causes his body to rotate, it helps him achieve a horizontal body line. It lets him move forward with minimal effort from the kick and pull. At slow speed, James has almost a catch-up stroke. If we freeze it here…you can see that the lead arm is still almost fully extended as the recovering hand enters the water. From overhead, you can really see the catch-up nature of his stroke at slow speed. He swaps one hand for the other, maintaining maximum extension. When James picks up the pace, the legs become more active and he lets go, just a bit, of his catch-up timing. If we freeze it here…you can see that the lead arm has dropped into the catch as the recovering hand enters the water. But notice that he is STILL focused intently on driving his fingertips forward and maintaining his bodyline. At top speed, the legs are fully engaged, and James has moved away from catch-up timing. We can see that here… his pulling arm has connected and is well into the pull when the recovering hand enters the water. We can also see it in this overhead view. BUT…even as he approaches full speed, James still reaches FULL extension on every stroke. He remains laser-focused and true to this ONE technique point. He knows that, by reaching full extension…even if just for a moment…on every stroke…all the other aspects of a fast freestyle fall into place. His head will be low and stable. His breath will be low. His hips will ride high. His body line will be horizontal. He’s basically “getting out of his own way” and allowing his kick and pull to give maximum propulsion. And in this overhead shot, let’s notice one more thing: the way his hands stay relaxed as they search for clean water and a solid catch.

Freestyle - Full Body - Bruno

Freestyle - Full Body - Bruno

After you watch the video, take a short quiz. When we look at all the parts of Bruno’s stroke, from fingertips to toes, several things stand out. His head is low. His body rides high on the water. His hips are visible with each rotation of the torso and core. But what REALLY catches our eye is Bruno’s singular focus on driving each hand into full extension…on every single stroke. When Bruno swims slowly, this extension is all he thinks about. And it’s all he NEEDS to think about because it causes his body to rotate, it helps him achieve a horizontal body line, and lets him move forward with minimal effort from the kick and pull. When Bruno picks up the pace, the legs become more active and engaged. But Bruno is still focused intently on driving his fingertips forward. When we freeze-frame at the point of maximum extension, Bruno’s line is beautiful. The line from fingertips to armpit is perfectly level and horizontal. This line extends through the hips and legs all the way to the feet. Bruno seems to have developed a heightened feel for this position and he gets to it as quickly as he can on every arm stroke. Being level like this helps him “sail” through the water. By extending fully out front, the rest of his body levels out and he gets out of his own way. At this increased pace, notice that Bruno’s head is still low and that his hips ride high in the water. At sub-race pace, he works on staying as long and level as possible. While he will breathe very little in a 50-meter race, he works on having a low, efficient breath for his 100-meter races.