Swim Team Question????

Question

Im having problems with my freestyle stroke because I got what my coach calls a bicycle kick. I worked with her for some time and she thinks im having problems with my floating....but back to my question...

After practice she said to me "If thats your problem will just have to pass you"....ok heres my problem...in "sports terms" does pass mean "we'll have to pass on you. Bye Bye" or does it mean "Well let you pass this time, your still in the team".

Im pretty good at breatstroke but were barely practice it so i dont know if it matters....

Answer 1

Is this a swim team, or swim lessons? Major differences there. In lessons you pass of fail, and either move up to a higher level or repeat your level. If its a lesson you may be passed on because you can swim and there is no reason to hold you back because of a minor problem.

A swim team the goal is to have fun, get in shape, and to do well in competition. I have been on several teams for many years, I have coached several teams also and I have never heard the term "Passing" someone used like that. If someone has a problem its the coaches job to work with that person to address the issue and correct it. Unfortunately a coach can only do so much, the swimmer must meet the coach half way. A lot of times that doesn't happen with younger swimmers for several reasons. Either they don't understand how to make their body do what the coach is telling them to do or they just don't want to work hard enough. The first is something everyone at some point has to overcome. If its learning how to walk at age 2, drive a car, do anything new, it takes some getting used to. You might get it in your head but making your body do it takes time.

So I can't answer your question but I can give you some ideas to help you with your problem. A "bicycle kick" is more common among new swimmers than you would think. Its a natural way to kick, we think of swimming in familiar terms, and we know we can push against the water because it offers some resistance, so a lot of people try to do this funky one leg at a time jump thing that looks like they are riding a bike. It gets you where you're going but not very well. You will have to condition your feet to learn how to move through the water.

I suggest doing several things. Get a pull buoy between your knees and a large rubber band, or 2-3 small ones tied together. you should have about 2 foot lengths (not 2 feet, as in 24 inches, the length of 2 of YOUR feet) and put it over your ankles. That is going to do 2 things, I'm sure you can see where I'm going with this. The pull buoy is going to force you to keep your knees close together, and the rubber band(s) are going to keep your feet from moving too far. Now go kick on your back. This will work both of your problems. Hold air in your lungs, even when you breath out keep some air in your lungs, that will help you float. Keep your hips high in the water, as high as you can. Then look down as your feet, don't look too much, just enough to see your toes. They should just break the surface of the water enough to create white bubbles. One thing about your toes, they should never face up, you want them pointed at the wall you came from. If you think you're kicking fast enough, kick faster, I can already tell you that your kick is too slow.

  

Talk to your coach, tell them you want to try what I just told you to do and ask for their help. Ask to stay late or come in early to get a little extra help. Its amazing what 5 minutes a day with a good coach can do for you.

Lastly, don't get discouraged. Some people just don't get it. No matter how good they get, they still struggle. I swam for years and years and I can't do a breaststroke kick very well. I'm not bad, but my legs and feet just don't move like I want them to.  

Answer 2

Im gunna save you some time cause the guy above me cant read your question. I think what she is saying is that you are just going to have to deal with that problem yourself. To help you on your kick, try using a pull-buoy and fins to help you break the habit. Try rotating more so you stop. I had the same problem.