Whoever Wins the Start Wins the Race

Three Key Learning Points:

* First movement matters - what part of the swimmer’s body moves first usually determines the success of their first 15 metres.

* The “little hole” - hands together, feet together, body in streamline before entry.

* The “three kicks” - kick fast underwater, kick fast to the surface, kick INTO the stroke.

There’s a lot of talk on the internet about swimming speed - what pure speed is, how to develop it, how to coach it. Feel free to go internet-deep-diving for what it’s worth.

But here’s an old saying that still holds up:

He or she who wins the start wins the race.

In a 50, whoever wins the start usually wins the race.

Sure, sometimes a swimmer’s start might be a bit ordinary and they have to pick it up over the back end of the race, finish strong and come through the field to win - but in most cases the first 15 metres decides who’s on the podium - and often who’s on top of it.

So how do you actually coach a better first 15?

First movement counts!!

When I’m teaching coaches how to coach starts I stand on the side of the pool and we watch the swimmer closely.