Butterfly Swim Therapy Session – July 2006

In July, Daniel Canetti attended a session at the Leicester Swim Therapy Centre. The centre is a privately run business which specialises in swim technique coaching using a special pool which forces water at the swimmer (the equivalent of a treadmill for swimmers!), holding them in place during their swims so that the under water and above water cameras can record their stroke and both the coach, Jack, and the swimmer can analysis the technique.

Lynne Dawson (Front Crawl) and Vanessa Grayson (Breast Stroke) have previously attended the session and gained several significant improvements in their technique which have been shared with other swimmers.

Daniel’s session was on Butterfly. After a short warm up swim to get used the pool, the recording began. The swims are short sessions, lasting long enough for Jack to get enough video to see all aspects of the stroke. Immediately the coach picked out keys areas for improvement and started working on these one at a time with Daniel.

Firstly, it was clear from the side camera angles that Daniel’s kick was too big – resulting in the loss of flow in the stroke. The Butterfly needs a fairly flat undulating movement from head to toe but with a big kick the legs angle sharply, breaking the stroke movement and also forcing the upper body to angle upward to compensate. Daniel also had no second kick which should occur as the hands complete their pull and just before they start the exit out of the water for the next stroke. Jack advised that the latest findings are not have a big kick then a little second kick but to have two medium kicks in order to keep the rhythm of the stroke whilst maximising the power of the kick. Jack encouraged Daniel to reduce this to a medium kick and add in his second kick through the next couple of swims – the results were immediate and could be seen on the video replay for Daniel.

Jack then started work on Daniel’s breathing. The front camera showed how far Daniel was coming out of the water to breathe and also lifting his face to look forward; both of these were affecting the smoothness of the stroke and wasting energy. Jack encouraged Daniel to lift his head out of the water as little as possible and to breathe close to the surface, using the void created by the head coming out of the water; however, he was very keen and careful to ensure Daniel didn’t take on any water. Again, the changes could be immediately seen on the next swims, with Daniel managing to breathe both closer to the water and with his head facing down, as a result far less of his upper body left the water and, from the side shots, the stroke was streamlined, helping also to keep the kicks to a medium size.

Overall Daniel thoroughly enjoyed the session. Being able to see you stroke from different angles and work closely with an expert to refine the technique made a big difference and built his confidence and ability in his overall Butterfly stroke.

As with all sessions, the videos and voice over recommendations have been supplied on a PC ready DVD which can be borrowed from Bob Grayson or Janet Canetti if anyone wants to see it.

Following the session we have agreed a special offer for Chapeltown club members. A FREE session CD (worth £7.50) for all 60min sessions booked before the 30th September and taken anytime up to 31st December 2006.

For more information visit www.swimtherapy.co.uk  or call 0116 2325833

Report by Kevin Canetti.