Tuesday, October 30, 2007
Thursday, October 18, 2007
2006-2007 WH2O Board Year In Review
In preparation for the annual meeting each board member summarized the past year with their accomplishments and happenings from their individual board perspective. You can access this Year-in-Review write-up from the events page on http://www.wh2o.org or from this link (Year-In-Review)
Hopefully this will keep the meeting timely and give us more time to talk about future events and initiatives.
See everyone this Sunday.
Hopefully this will keep the meeting timely and give us more time to talk about future events and initiatives.
See everyone this Sunday.
Wednesday, October 17, 2007
Welcome Back, Coach Tom
Water polo's new coach is returning coach Tom Martinez. Tom arrives back on deck after taking a year off to play in the water. Tom's accomplishments as coach include two Gold-Medal Gay Games wins, 3 IGLA Golds for the A team, and a Bronze and Silver medal for the B Team. Tom Martinez (left) with Cameron Glascow
Monday, October 15, 2007
General Meeting/Elections
This coming Sunday, October 21st, is WH2O's annual meeting. At this meeting, the current Board presents their year-end review, financial statements, and budget for the upcoming year. Also at the meeting, the team elects the new 2007-2008 Board. If you are a current active member of WH2O and are interested in running for a Board position, please email the VP Admin at vpadmin@wh2o.org.
IM Week
Just a reminder that this week is IM week. That means, all strokes welcome! Workouts will not be IM, but will have an IM emphasis.
Monday, October 8, 2007
Tips for Getting Through Butterfly Week
This week's stroke of choice is butterfly. Brian Olver once again gives some tips that can help you float like a butterfly. - JC
We've made it to the last pure stroke week – butterfly - before IM next week. And, I know how excited everyone is to do lots of butterfly!! To help you survive this week, below are a few clips. We need not look any further than Michael Phelps for an example of textbook butterfly. This first clip is of Phelps' world record breaking
200 fly at World Championships earlier this year. It is shot underwater, except at the end. Notice his streamline off the walls, and his full extension with every stroke.
(Time1:36) http://youtube.com/watch?v=dWCp0ooAu0I
This video is shot from a slightly different angle, which allows us to see how he gets his elbows up underwater to pull with his whole forearm. Additionally, for those just learning how to do fly, notice the timing of the kicks - one as his hands enter the water (shoulder width apart), and one as they exit the water.
(Time :16) http://youtube.com/watch?v=RlgHpvqbb-Y
This slow motion clip will give you an even better picture. He uses his full extension to really pull with his lats. Try to visualize yourself doing this the next time you do fly.
(Time :19) http://youtube.com/watch?v=S-F_5k4e1Y0
This final clip of Michael shows some above water footage. See how low his chin is to the water. He exerts his energy pulling himself FORWARD as opposed to up out of the water. You can also see in this clip how he pushes his hips up as his hands enter the water in order to drive himself forward even more, and keep him his body at the surface, rather than allowing his hips to fall vertical. Additionally, you can see how he actually LAYS his hands in the water which allows him to catch the water at the top of his stroke (this takes an extreme amount of shoulder strength).
(Time :53) http://youtube.com/watch?v=o6wNjXj7zGk
And, finally, although this is not Phelps, it's a good head on view that demonstrates where your hands should enter, as well as the swoop of the hands to the middle of the body through your pull.
(Time :19) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zmiyhPop6GI
I hope that helps! See you at the pool!
--Brian Olver
(Time1:36) http://youtube.com/watch?v=dWCp0ooAu0I
This video is shot from a slightly different angle, which allows us to see how he gets his elbows up underwater to pull with his whole forearm. Additionally, for those just learning how to do fly, notice the timing of the kicks - one as his hands enter the water (shoulder width apart), and one as they exit the water.
(Time :16) http://youtube.com/watch?v=RlgHpvqbb-Y
This slow motion clip will give you an even better picture. He uses his full extension to really pull with his lats. Try to visualize yourself doing this the next time you do fly.
(Time :19) http://youtube.com/watch?v=S-F_5k4e1Y0
This final clip of Michael shows some above water footage. See how low his chin is to the water. He exerts his energy pulling himself FORWARD as opposed to up out of the water. You can also see in this clip how he pushes his hips up as his hands enter the water in order to drive himself forward even more, and keep him his body at the surface, rather than allowing his hips to fall vertical. Additionally, you can see how he actually LAYS his hands in the water which allows him to catch the water at the top of his stroke (this takes an extreme amount of shoulder strength).
(Time :53) http://youtube.com/watch?v=o6wNjXj7zGk
And, finally, although this is not Phelps, it's a good head on view that demonstrates where your hands should enter, as well as the swoop of the hands to the middle of the body through your pull.
(Time :19) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zmiyhPop6GI
I hope that helps! See you at the pool!
--Brian Olver
Tuesday, October 2, 2007
Breaststroke Week Tips
Thanks to Brian Olver for the following tips for breaststroke week. He's included a few clips to watch, so copy and paste them into an open window in your browser and enjoy.
Welcome to breaststroke week! While doing breaststroke this week, here are a few tips and clips to help you improve your stroke.
I'd like to first point out that breaststroke is much different than the long axis strokes we just finished working on, and because of that, I personally do not think there is only one "right" way to swim breast. You'll see in the following clips there are various and dramatically different styles of breaststroke even among the world's elite. However, upon inspection,
you will notice that there are many similarities as well.
1) Kitajima underwater. This is probably the best video footage you can find on breaststroke. Notice that his kick is fairly narrow and very quick. And, at the end of every stroke he immediately returns to a
full streamlined position. These two factors allow Kitajima to get more distance per stroke than any other male breaststroker in the world.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6lYWPKVl-Bo
2) Another underwater clip - slow motion:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xtww6M4Dghs
3) This clip of Megan Jendricks and Agnes Kovacs underwater really allows us to see two distinct styles of breaststoke. Jendricks, on the far side, illustrates a fairly traditional technique always moving forward, while Kovacs, on the near side, opts to dive downward leading with her hands and following it through with her entire body. But, notice how quickly both of their arms recover and push back forward, thereby reducing the amount of time they are stuck in the "vertical" position, which causes the most drag.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hbFhrDb9ulc
4) Leisel Jones is the current world record holder in the 200 breast, but her stroke is totally unconventional. She manages to power through the water utilizing her strong legs. Her head stays low to the water, and she slowly lowers herself back into
the water (like Jaws). But, it clearly works for her. You will also notice the water that shoots up in front of her face on every breath - this is because she squeezes her elbows and forearms together very quickly to propel herself forward. (3 min., 14 sec.)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=26WXA2b_Wo4
5) And finally, Brendan Hansen is the world record holder in both the 100 and 200 breast for men. His breaststroke is TEXT BOOK. His hips remain level and all of his energy is used to drive him forward. On his recovery, his shoulders are shrugged tight to lessen the resistence as he moves through the water. Combined with his powerful legs and amazing endurance,
he really can't stop him. (I love this clip.) (5 min., 44 sec.)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZLuGCo0nSg8
I hope this helps everyone! See you in the pool.
--Brian Olver
Welcome to breaststroke week! While doing breaststroke this week, here are a few tips and clips to help you improve your stroke.
I'd like to first point out that breaststroke is much different than the long axis strokes we just finished working on, and because of that, I personally do not think there is only one "right" way to swim breast. You'll see in the following clips there are various and dramatically different styles of breaststroke even among the world's elite. However, upon inspection,
you will notice that there are many similarities as well.
1) Kitajima underwater. This is probably the best video footage you can find on breaststroke. Notice that his kick is fairly narrow and very quick. And, at the end of every stroke he immediately returns to a
full streamlined position. These two factors allow Kitajima to get more distance per stroke than any other male breaststroker in the world.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6lYWPKVl-Bo
2) Another underwater clip - slow motion:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xtww6M4Dghs
3) This clip of Megan Jendricks and Agnes Kovacs underwater really allows us to see two distinct styles of breaststoke. Jendricks, on the far side, illustrates a fairly traditional technique always moving forward, while Kovacs, on the near side, opts to dive downward leading with her hands and following it through with her entire body. But, notice how quickly both of their arms recover and push back forward, thereby reducing the amount of time they are stuck in the "vertical" position, which causes the most drag.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hbFhrDb9ulc
4) Leisel Jones is the current world record holder in the 200 breast, but her stroke is totally unconventional. She manages to power through the water utilizing her strong legs. Her head stays low to the water, and she slowly lowers herself back into
the water (like Jaws). But, it clearly works for her. You will also notice the water that shoots up in front of her face on every breath - this is because she squeezes her elbows and forearms together very quickly to propel herself forward. (3 min., 14 sec.)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=26WXA2b_Wo4
5) And finally, Brendan Hansen is the world record holder in both the 100 and 200 breast for men. His breaststroke is TEXT BOOK. His hips remain level and all of his energy is used to drive him forward. On his recovery, his shoulders are shrugged tight to lessen the resistence as he moves through the water. Combined with his powerful legs and amazing endurance,
he really can't stop him. (I love this clip.) (5 min., 44 sec.)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZLuGCo0nSg8
I hope this helps everyone! See you in the pool.
--Brian Olver
Monday, October 1, 2007
Breaststroke (NOT BUTTERFLY) Week Commences
Sorry about the mix-up on the blog yesterday. This week is actually Breaststroke week. Workouts will not be entirely breaststroke, but will have a breaststroke emphasis. Happy stroking.
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