Weekly Quote

A life spent making mistakes is not

only more honorable, but more useful

than a life spent doing nothing.

George Bernard Shaw

Weekly Quote

Don't be afraid to take a big step if one is indicated.
You can't cross a chasm in two small jumps.



David Lloyd George

Weekly Quote

There are no victories at bargain prices.

Dwight D. Eisenhower

Vernon Newsom (1948 - 2009)

Mr. Newsom was instrumental in making the MISD Natatorium project "happen". In addition to his work for swimming at the local level, Newsom was also a friend of swimming as a member (and chairman) of the UIL Legislative Council.

All-America Lists

Academic All-America

Swimming All-America

Summer Training

It's great to see so many of you working out with the club program.

A friend of mine coaches a college team. When he sends his athletes home for the summer, he gives them a strength program to do on their own. I've scaled it down to eight weeks and will send it out to you.

If you're a returning swimmer (that's sent me an e-mail), you should be getting something from me today. Attached will be the eight-week program that will take you through the first week of school.

If you haven't sent me an e-mail, please do it soon. I'm going to set up a THS Swimming group and send out reminders on things like physicals, paperwork, equipment, parent meetings, booster club, etc.

Click on my profile at the right and you'll find an e-mail link.

Find a workout partner, keep it safe, have fun, and get stronger!

What are you doing to stay in shape?

We've got about a dozen Wolves in the club program. If you're not one of them, you need to be staying in shape on your own.

I started Saturday with 3,000 scm at Lifetime's outdoor pool and added 2,000 m (open water) in Joe Pool this a.m. Windy and rough, but well worth it.

Here's a video from the SMU women to help y'all with your starts:

John Wooden's Definition of Success:

Piece of mind, attained only through self-satisfaction in knowing

you made the effort to do the best of which you are capable.

All State Patches

Once the All State list is official (in a few days), you may want to order patches for your jackets.

The link to the order form is here.

Just print it out, enclose the proper payment, and mail it in.

All State Teams

The Texas All State teams will become official later this month. The preliminary lists included several Wolves.

First eight places are "First Team", ninth through sixteenth are "Second Team", and seventeenth through twenty-fourth are "Honorable Mention".

2009 Girls 4A All State

2009 Boys 4A All State

It's been a while...

...since I posted a swim video, so here goes. This is similar to the ladies' backstroke start video posted a while back.

You'll see several different styles of starts here, but note that each swimmer is doing his best to:

a) use an explosive leg drive to get out of and over the water,
b) enter the water cleanly with body following hands, and
c) dolphin kick with a tight streamline to the 15 meter mark.

Hundredths - The Video Evidence

In the 2000 Sydney Games, Anthony Ervin & Gary Hall, Jr. tied for Gold in the 50 free. World record holder and defending Olympic Champion Alexander Popov (a.k.a. The Russian Rocket) finished out of the medals.

Auburn Kick Set

Visit Floswimming.org For More Videos

Encore Women (March '08)

100m IM



100m Fly



100m Breast

Back-Breast Turns

There are plenty of ways to do legal back-breast turns in your i.m. The key is finding one that works best for you.

Whatever type of turn you use (open, back flip, or crossover), you must not roll past vertical before touching the wall with your hand.

Also, no matter how quickly you turn, not doing a good pull-out negates any advantage you gained. Do great pull-outs on all breaststroke starts and turns!

If you're not comfortable with the flip or crossover, do a quick open turn (while getting a good breath) and follow it up with a long streamline before your pull-out.

Here's a crossover turn that pushes the limit of the rule. He's backstroker Adam Mania, of Schroeder YMCA in Brown Deer, Wisconsin (near Milwaukee).

Kicking (& Over-Kicking)

When y'all do it off the walls for five or six yards, the difference is dramatic.

Get into great habits now, so you don't have to think about too much while racing.

Visit Floswimming For More Videos

p.s. This video is from December of 2007. The team - Arizona - won both the men's and women's 2008 NCAA Division I Swimming & Diving Championships in March.

Ryan Lochte Backstroke

Backstroke Start

Elite swimmers from around the world are experimenting with new backstroke starts.

Some things they all have in common, though, are:

1. Exploding off the block/wall
2. Arched back while over the surface
3. Clean entry in which the head, torso, legs, and feet follow the hands
4. Intense dolphin kicking
5. Surfacing at the 15 m mark

Watch the gals show how it's done:

Breaststroke Turn

Here's an excellent side view of a breaststroke turn.

Note how:

• quickly his legs get through to the wall,
• quickly he pushes off the wall,
• long he holds his streamline before the pull-out,
• strong his dolphin kick is, and
• he recovers his hands close to his body.

Next, check this one out. He gets quite a bit out of his pull-out.