Weekend Training Camps: Teaching And Evaluating Competitive Swimmers, Master Swimmers And Triathlon Practitioners / Research To Improve Breaststroke Performances With Rule Changes

submission date: January of 2006 acceptance date: May of 2006 Introduction The purpose of this paper is to describe a procedure for evaluating swimming practitioners that combines theoretical and practical learning activities. These will benefi t athletes and nonathletes alike, applying sophisticated tools (digital video, computer software, objective evaluation and so on) to ordinary people. That has considerable impact in their motivation thanks to, for example, the possibility to compare their technique with swimming champions. The demonstrations were also performed by a swimming champion included in the group that organized the evaluation weekend camp. This activity resulted in obtaining additional funds for our swimming research work that is poorly supported in our country. Organization and methodology Subject Recruiting After preparing a layout of the activity we decided to look for a limited number of assistants (no more than 40). Because the cost of the activity was relatively high we decided to open the sample to master swimmers and triathletes in order to fi nd a population able to pay the price, usually older and economically independent practitioners rather than normal competitive swimmers. This resulted in sample of swimmers with a large age range and swimming skills. In this case because we are calling for triathletes we developed the activity oriented to freestyle or crawl-stroke. Some swimmers were evaluated in a different stroke than freestyle paying one additional fee. Activities Five types of activity were planned: 1) theoretical lessons about the crawl-stroke; 2) video recording and measurement of the start, turn and swim technique; 3) basic anthropometric and body buoyancy evaluation; 4) land activities and 5) crawl-stroke drills demonstration and practice. Theoretical lessons The theoretical lessons included the video visualization of good swimmers, describing their key stroke-points; a basic description of the technique and some tips to organize the practice drills in the training lesson and seasonal plan. Technique models: Each participant received information sheets (included in a CD) with a practical description of each of the three freestyle skills: swimming, starting and turning. Every phase is detailed with pictures and relevant scores (Samples are shown in fi gures nº 1, 2 and 3). Video recording A complex setup with more than 5 video cameras over and underwater was used. This allowed us to video record a sagital view over and Weekend training camps: teaching and evaluating competitive swimmers, master swimmers and triathlon practitioners Raúl Arellano1 1Faculty of Physical Activity and Sport Science. Research Group: Physical Activity and Sport in the Aquatic Environment CTS- 527. University of Granada, Spain. Arellano, R.; Weekend training camps: teaching and evaluating competitive swimmers, master swimmers and triathlon practitioners. Motricidade 2(4): 230-235 230 { Satellite Coach Clinic motricidade4vol2.indd 36 07-03-2007 23:14:25