Practice Is as Practice Does

It's not "practice makes perfect."  It's "perfect practice makes perfect."

These are world class elite athletes practices just before a world championship meet.  Notice where the swimmers on the platform are standing.  What's wrong with this?

Unless these swimmers are taking a running leap (Step-Start Technique) by taking a few inches step forward to the front of the block, then these swimmers are giving up some valuable distance in their starts.  If they are stepping forward, then their eyes are probably looking in the wrong place.  They are either watching where they are going to step or taking the chance of placing their feet too far forward or too far back when they take their step forward.

The step-start technique usually begins with one foot forward and in place as in a track-start position and then bringing the back foot forward.  Having both feet at the back of the platform is a poor technique unless you plan on walking on water.

A student suggested that maybe they just do this in practice but when they are really racing they do it different.

Another PowerStarts(R) Secret

Practice is as practice does.  "If you practice bad habits, don't expect perfect results in competition."  "Practice does not guarantee skill, and repetition does not guarantee performance improvement."  Guided practice is necessary to improve the different combinations of arm, head, body and leg action that makes a significant difference in a powerful start.  Performing practice trials without attention to correct technique is a waste of time and leads to bad habits which can be immune to change.

Steve Tarpinian, author of THE ESSENTIAL SWIMMER and creator of the video SWIM POWER, says, "Repetition Is the Mother of Skill."

"The Karate Kid" movie told us how repetition of a movement develops skills to higher levels.  In swimming repetition is one of the keys to improvement.

In our fast-paced world, it is common always to be looking for the new and/or faster and/or better method. While there is much to be said about new techniques and new approaches to improving your swimming, one fact remains steady: to learn a new skill, you need practice. There are no short cuts.

But there can be, and there is, a better way to direct the swimmer to practice the Secrets of a Powerful Start by using the patented PowerStarts^(R) Training System^TM.  Almost like in the movie "The Karate Kid," the hero of the movie as you remember had to "wax on, wax off." That wasn't much fun.  With the "Power Start" device it's a lot of fun too!

* Steve Tarpinian is the author of "THE ESSENTIAL SWIMMER" and creator of the video, "SWIM POWER."