Andrew Sheaff (@AndrewKSheaff)

Just because swimmers can execute great butterfly breath timing without any pressure does not mean they’re ready to make it happen in a race. In reality, there’s probably a ton more work that needs to be happen. This is one of the biggest skill development misconceptions. ...

Backstrokers need to be on their side to pull effectively and thast creates a big problem. They obviously can’t be on both sides at the same time, so they have to quickly shift sides to minimize the gap in propulsion between the two arm pulls. ...

To change speed, freestylers don’t just change their effort, they change their timing. At slower speeds, there are large gaps in propulsion as swimmers are more patient in the front of the stroke. In contrast, sprinters move the arms in opposition....

All about the backstroke pull. A visual 🧵. 1. A powerful starts with an effective set up of the stroke. Swimmers have to get as much of their arm facing backward as possible. The more surface area they create, the faster they go. Cont. ...

Freestylers need an awesome catch if they want to swim fast. There’s a lot of confusion about what a good catch is. The catch looks different for different swimmers, but the principles of an effective catch are the same for everyone. ...

If swimmers can execute this one key skill during flip turns, it will help them swim faster with less effort. They have to push off straight, with a line that creates as little drag as possible. ...

One of the biggest challenges in coaching is helping swimmers pay attention to how they’re swimming in practice. It’s all too easy for them to shut off their brains and go through the motions. Unfortunately, constant reminders aren’t particularly effective. ...

Here’s a simple way to improve butterfly speed and efficiency. A lot of butterflyers, particularly 200 butterflyers, will throw their arms forward, kick, and press the chest in the front of the stroke. Here’s why. ...

To swim fast freestyle, swimmers need to swim straight. Side to side motion creates drag and it also makes it more difficult to create propulsion. That’s bad news. ...