[swimin]

I am curious if anyone has read the June issue of the magazine. What are your thoughts on the article?

[swimin]

Some good answers @wordofmouth…..

FYI Swimming world Magazine’s June issue does quote Micheal Andrew trains 3 times a day at 1500 yds or meters (not sure which) each training session. And he raced almost every weekend from March through April. Not saying that’s bad, but is it a realistic type of training for your 14&unders.

Read the article and let me know your thoughts. I feel it is a really good read and does not favor either type of training (USRPT or traditional).

The thing I keep getting stuck on is mixed training gives mixed results. I feel like with anything in life the same thing does not work for every person. Like learning in school everyone learns differently and certain things work for some and not for others. Are we saying USRPT is for everyone????

I am in with USRPT at this point, but wonder what will come of it once all the questions and kinks are worked out.

Thoughts.

[swimin]

Hi all,

Wanted to get this discussion back on the top of the list. Would like more information on the younger swimmers. How does everyone think this training is going so far for the younger ones who like to swim those 200 M and 400 M events. I am seeing better results with boys than with our girls. Is there something to that? Should the girls be training differently? I have also read that girls will need more distance in their workout to swim at peak performance. Anyone have any thoughts or experience with this? Also are we all still sticking to the mix training gives mix results. I am thinking for girls they may need a day or two of more distance than boys. Just want I am seeing in our pool. All feedback welcome. Thanks

[swimin]

Does anyone have information on these younger kids recovery time out of the water? I am reading some of these kids are doing 2 workouts a day which means for most of them (who are not home schooled) they are practicing before school going to school all day and then doing another 1 and half to 2 hour practice in the late afternoon or evening. Parents are asking questions about their child practicing more than once a day because Michael Andrew and another child who is training race pace is doing it. I have read research about a child’s recovery time and the need to fully rest their body in order do race or any sport at peak performance. Isn’t USRPT suppose to be less time in the water? Anyone have any thoughts? Really would like to hear from age group coaches who are having success with your younger kids.

[swimin]

Another question to anyone who can answer it. Do I understand this correctly there is no taper when you are training USRPT? Especially with these younger swimmers because you don’t really have anything to taper off of. Please someone confirm.

[swimin]

@Rick good point. I was thinking the same thing. My thought is the more parents who understand this method the easier it will be for them to explain it to others. And you may gain a few swimmers. Parents are your clubs biggest referrals and hopefully biggest fans. The last time I checked Parents are the reason we get pay checks. Something to think about. Kind of feel like we are all in this together at this point. Especially with these younger swimmers. Not many of them doing USRPT yet and education is key. It takes an entire village.

[swimin]

@Greg I have heard nothing but great things about Michael Andrew and his family. From what I understand he is very nice kid and they are a great family. Looking forward to seeing more of him in the swim world.

[swimin]

Correct me if I am wrong, but from what I am learning about USRPT there is no taper. @swimmama you did say the home schooled children you know doing this race pace training are training 2x a day. At 10?? I would think training 2x a day is a lot of swimming for anyone under 12. Isn’t the point of this training to do less distance. This is where my confusion comes in because I understand Micheal Andrew (another home schooled child) is doing this training 3 x a day. And hey more power to these programs who have kids that really love the sport and get them in the water for workouts 2 to 3 times a day and having swim meet success. Reality is the majority of kids are not home schooled and most coaches and parents don’t want there 12&u swimming more than once a day at any level. Any thoughts? Can these kids compete with those doing race pace 2+ times a day if the workout is less than 1500 yards? I am thinking the works need more than 1500 yards or meters a day. By the way I am learning a lot here. The questions and responses are educational. I hope for everyone else too. This is new to many and are we are all trying to learn from others experiences. I don’t think any of us would be here if we were not interested in the program. : )

[swimin]

@oldschoolc You proved your point (to me anyway). And thanks for your input it is very well taken and much appreciated.

@kevin Yikes! Lots of kids in the pool, but 1 coach to 15 swimmers is not unusual for bigger teams. If it’s working sounds like you have a good system going.

[swimin]

My concern is for the younger swimmers. I like it but not sure we should be experimenting on these 8-12 year olds. Michael Andrews is now 15, but he is doing 3 US race pace training workouts 3 times a day and he is the only one in his workout group. I think we need more success with the younger swimmers. Or am I wrong and just thinking old school. It’s hard to do this with a large workout group. Just my observation. Again I am willing but not completely sold. I feel Bob Bowman and Phelps were saying MA success is great but let’s see how far this will take him in long course and longer events. They are not convinced. And obviously Michael Phelps has had lots of success with what he has been doing. Thoughts and comments are welcome. Please give it to me.

[swimin]

Thanks for your reply and sorry it has taken me so long to say thank you. I guess the biggest concern here is with the 9-12 yrs who are doing well with the distance events and seem to really like swimming middle distances. 200, 400, 500. Is this the best method for them with long rests between each set? And like I said in an earlier post I like the idea of all of this but if it’s not being done exactly the way it is intended are we benefiting the kids who were getting great times prior to training USRace Pace. Then you put them in a 200M or 400M free and they are dying at the end of the race. Can not keep the pace? What do you call this? Are they possibly out of shape because the training distances are less? Are we possibly coaching this technique the wrong way? Is there a maximum number kids that should be with one coach for this type of training. I know Michael Andrews does this training 3 x a day and he is the only swimmer in his workout group. Anyone’s thoughts are welcome. And if you have this type of swimmer please share your advise, and your successes.

[swimin]

Thanks so much for your response Denaj. This group is practicing for 1.5 hours as well (ages 9 to 11). There seems to be a lot more stroke work and wall time in our practices, than what you are saying. This group went from practicing about 2500 to 3200 in a practice to switching philosophies and now doing race pace. Which I am totally on board with but I am concerned it is not being done USRPT way. I feel like it may a modified version for this particular group. I believe it is being done this way because the group has large range of swimmers. Some who really need a lot of stroke technique and others who could always use more stroke technique but really don’t need an hour and 15 minutes of it. This group is only doing one race pace set per practice and the set is the last 15 minutes of the practice. The set is 10 25’s or 5 50’s. I am concerned for the hand full of the top swimmers in that group wondering if they should be moved out. But then you run into an age difference in the next group where they are mostly 11-13 year olds with a few older 10 year olds. The coach for this group (9-11) is very new to working with fast 10&U who want to hit the top levels of national age group times. The coach is trying, but for this group of 9 to 11 year olds it is hard for the coach to manage it all. I have watched our other groups and coaches seems to be on board and know what they are doing with USRPT. Anyone else out there running into these issues. All feedback is welcome. Thanks

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