Swimming Master Classes

Swimming Master Classes provide swimmers with the opportunity for an in-depth look at their swimming technique and improve their swimming efficiency.

The primary focus will always be on key fundamental principles of effective stroke technique, starts and turns with appropriate drills and practices when building the stroke - starting with an understanding of correct body alignment.
 
Suitable for competitive club, County, Regional and National level swimmers aged 9-16 years.

Class sizes have a low coach-swimmer ratio of 1:10, i.e. a maximum of two swimmers per lane.

A typical Master Class includes:

  • A 45-minute technical workshop.
  • Videos featuring world class swimmers in action
  • A goal setting exercise, “My Next Steps”, to help swimmers stay on track with their technical goals.
  • A 2-hour pool session.
  • Swimmers will be given practical tools to understand how to technically improve their training and race performance back in their club environment.​​

A typical Master Class timetable:

  8.15am Registration
  8.30am Classroom Workshop
  9.15am Transfer to pool
  9.30am Pool session
11.30am Finish
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​Note: On rare occasions this may be subject to change.
Cost: £69.00
​“Racing Skills” Master Classes
Focussing on the key points of a specific stroke, starts, turns, finishes and on optimising technical efficiency while swimming fast.
 
Classroom Workshop: A technical presentation to gain an understanding of the key technical requirements of the stroke, start and turn. Swimmers will learn about the importance of streamlining and correct body alignment, the importance of an effective kick, learn how to engage the core to support a strong, stable position in the water.
 
Pool Session: Practical application of stroke, start and/or turn drill progressions; developing efficiency at speed - learn how to hold speed under pressure.​
7 & 8 April and 26 & 27 May
​Individual Medley Swimming Master Class
​An IM Master Class focuses on the key requirements for individual medley swimming; mastery of all 4 strokes – butterfly, backstroke, breaststroke or freestyle, IM turns and transitions, pacing and race tactics.

Classroom Workshop: Technical presentation (including training, pacing and tactics) and videos featuring world class swimmers. There will be a 200m IM focus with a “Performance Predictor” exercise to finish.

Pool session: There will be focus on key technical requirements on each stroke, dive start and IM turns. Race segments will be practiced; swimmers will learn how to control their effort on butterfly; how to execute smooth transition turns alongside stroke-specific strategies.
9 April
​"Sprint Skills" Master Class 
Focussing on the specifics and tactics of sprint swimming, and the importance of explosive starts, underwater kicking, breathing patterns, turns and finishing.
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​Technical Workshop: A technical presentation will focus on the importance of the start, powerful underwater phases, the kick, gain an understanding of the role of the core muscles to form a powerful connection from head to toe with every stroke.
 
Pool Session: Practical application of sprint swimming; developing the kick, explosive starts, powerful underwater phases, speed at turns and maintaining efficiency at speed and when under pressure.​ Learn and practice proper alignment and engagement of the core as a strong foundation for better technique - creating a full-body connection for more efficient and powerful strokes.
28 May
​“Pre-Season” Skill Development Master Classes
Targeting the new swimming season, developing skills and improving swimming efficiency in each stroke, start and/or turns.

​Classroom Workshop: Swimmers will gain an understanding of the key technical requirements of the stroke to develop skills and improve stroke efficiency. Swimmers will learn about the importance of streamlining and correct body alignment, the importance of an effective kick, learn how to engage the core to support a strong, stable position in the water. 

Pool Session: Practical application of stroke, drill and stroke progressions; developing swimming efficiency and an understanding of how to maintain efficiency through a range of swimming speeds.
25 & 26 August
Starts, Turns & Underwater Kick Master Class 
To develop and improve starting, turning, underwater kicking skills and perfecting a smooth, powerful breakout.
 
Classroom Workshop: Swimmers will gain an understanding of the key technical requirements of the underwater kick (on front and on back), starts and turns.
 
Pool session: Practical application of start and turn drill progressions and underwater kicking skills. Swimmers will learn about the optimal position on the starting block, take-off, leg drive and flight direction to achieve speed at entry and glide speed; learn how to spot and use the walls to generate speed and momentum going into the next lap.
27 August
We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit. (Aristotle)