Greetings!
Welcome to our quarterly newsletter
designed to keep you apprised of
recent developments in the science
of swimming. If you would like
information about how advanced
technology can help every swimmer go
faster (including the world's
fastest), please contact me.
Sincerely,
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Technique Improvements are
Key
Research shows value of
technique over swimsuits
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Optimizing your technique requires
an integrated program of advanced
technology for instruction and
analysis, including clinics and
private instruction. Our
client list includes thousands
of swimmers who have benefitted from
our technology, including world
record holders, world champions, and
Olympians from many countries.
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Recent Clinic News
2009 Summer SpeedWeeks are Huge
Success
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The June and August SpeedWeeks held
in Tallahassee, Florida drew
swimmers from across the USA as well
as several other countries.
Each week included morning
instructional sessions and afternoon
Aquanex+Video analysis sessions.
SpeedWeek also featured
presentations by guest experts on
nutrition, sports psychology,
physical therapy, and strength
training. These experts used
activities to encourage swimmers to
think carefully about the
combination of factors that support
continued improvement. The best kind
of feedback - - individual best
times - - has been emailed to us by
a number of parents and swimmers.
Thanks to all those swimmers who
have committed to improving their
technique: you make SpeedWeek work!
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Butterfly Technique Tip
Visual cues for fly are similar to
free
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Most swimmers begin the butterfly
pull with straight arms above the
shoulders. If the arms complete the
entry below the shoulders, they are
in a stronger position to begin the
pull. If the elbows are flexed as
backward hand motion begins, more
force is generated.
Two visual cues help master elbow
flexion during the pull phase. At
the completion of arm entry, see the
hands directly in front of the
shoulders. As elbow flexion begins,
see the hands move to the inside of
the elbows. With an optimal head
position, both cues are within the
swimmer's visual field.
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Aquanex+Video Analysis
Coach-swimmer
communication benefits from data
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The coach-swimmer relationship and
communication process benefits from
an Aquanex+Video analysis. The most
advanced technology for the analysis
of swimming technique provides force
values that make it easier for a
coach to show a swimmer how he/she
is not taking advantage of strength.
A coach can waste a lot of time
trying to explain a technique change
when only using underwater video.
The synchronized force data of
Aquanex clearly shows the impact of
a 50% force loss or 30% of
nonproductive time that the hand is
in the water.
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Ask Dr. Havriluk
Is a straight arm recovery in
freestyle beneficial?
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There are at least three reasons not
to use a straight arm recovery in
freestyle.
1) If the arm is straight
as it exits the water, the upward
arm motion will force the body
further underwater and cause
needless fatigue. 2) If the arm is
straight as it recovers through the
air, it is more likely to stress the
shoulder. 3) If the arm is straight
on entry, misdirected force will
waste time and energy. While some
swimmers may benefit because they
improve their push phase in an
effort to straighten the arm for
recovery, it is far better to
improve the push phase independently
of the arm recovery.
Other questions are addressed at the
FAQs page on the STR website. |
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In This Issue |
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Technique Improvements
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Clinic News
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Aquanex Benefits
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Ask Dr. Havriluk
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SpeedWeeks 2009/2010
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Upcoming Events
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Swimming Conference |
The Biomechanics and Medicine in
Swimming Conference will be held in
Oslo, Norway on June 16-19,
2010. The conference has been held
every four years since 1970 and
brings together coaches and
scientists interested in the science
of swimming. Click the logo for more
information.
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SpeedWeeks 2009/2010 |
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STR's advanced technology
and unique strategies expedite the
skill learning process. We are
planning SpeedWeeks in numerous
locations all over the world. Limited spaces
are available to ensure maximum
individual attention and
incomparable progress! Email us
for information about dates and
locations that will best fit your
schedule.
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Upcoming Events |
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Aug 22-23 - SpeedWeekend,
Tallahassee, FL
Sep TBA - SpeedWeekend, Tallahassee,
FL
Sep TBA - Aquanex+Video Analysis
Clinic, Peachtree City, GA
We also have upcoming clinics at
other locations in the USA, as well
as in the Caribbean, South America,
and the middle east. We are already
booking dates into Summer 2010 so
it's not too early to get us on your
calendar!
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Aquanex Research |
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Our ongoing research with Aquanex
includes collaborations with Dr. Ted
Becker of EPI in Seattle (minimizing
the risk of shoulder injury and
maximizing force generation in
butterfly) and Dr. Joel Stager of
Indiana University (effects of
progressive resistance). Other
topics include expediting skill
learning, aquatic equipment design
effects, and seasonal variations in
force.
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Publications |
Dr. Havriluk recently published
"Improving Performance in Swimming:
Learning Strategies for Basic
Technology" in Swimming World
Magazine. "Analyzing Hand Force
in Swimming: Characteristics of
Olympic Sprinters" is due to appear
in American Swimming Magazine
later this year. Copies of
many articles are posted on the
Research page of the STR
website. |
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