Swim Nova Scotia Camps

Swim Nova Scotia Camps:

Tech to Best:

April 27th 10 crusaders swimmers and 2 coaches traveled out to Greenwood to attend the Swim NS Tech to Best Camp. The camp focused on making positive technical changes to improve swimmer’s performance and confidence in the water. We were joined by swimmers (ages 11-14) and coaches from around the province.

Coaches: 
Michelle Wilson 
Karley Grimard 

Swimmers: 
Jane Morash 
Julia Campbell
Philippa Fulmer 
Lily Zwicker
Nadav Arie
Noa Burger 
Hayden Doucet
Bryce Hodindott

Karley:

We focused on improving streamline breakouts off the walls with tight body position and fast dolphin kicks. Looking at small changes that can create a big difference such as feet and head position and strong cores. It was great to share our bond conduction headphone system with all swimmers and coaches to give real time verbal feedback in the water. This tool sparked great conversation among coaches on new ideas to utilize the system for greater improvement. 

The second half of the day was spent outside the pool in a classroom discussion. Varsity swimmers Sophie Rooney (Acadia) and Liam Ferguson (Dalhousie) walked us through their swimming journey in Nova Scotia from the first time jumping in water at a young age to attending  the upcoming Olympic Trials. It was a valuable session for swimmers to hear how they manage commitment to a demanding training schedule and time management with school work and other commitments outside the pool. It was also insightful to hear their pre-race strategies for managing nerves and how their favourite strokes and events changed over time. 

Michelle:

Tech to Best Camp - is a development opportunity for swimmers and coaches that is organized around a few technical skills.  The camp, through pool and classroom sessions, aims to enhance swimmers' understanding of the value and purpose of these skills with respect to how they move through the water.  

The activities presented are generally not new information for most swimmers.  Hearing it explained by a coach different from their home coach, or having a message reinforced by a different coach can spark the motivation to invest the physical time and mental energy to make a change.  The simple skill of underwater swimming off the start and turns was one of those reviewed at the April 27th camp in Greenwood.  Pushing with maximal force off the wall; gliding in optimal streamline; adding narrow, quick dolphin kicks to shoot the swimmer past the flags is a simple sequence of skills.  But, simple is not easy.  Making the skill a strength that supports improved movement through water takes investment, consistent daily investment - time and effort. at every practice and in every push off the wall.  What is easy about this skill is watching swimmers in any tank, racing or training, and you tell instantly who is investing and building a strength.  

Bringing this to the swimmers in the camps like Tech to Best is a way to reach around the Province, to encourage many swimmers and coaches to take what they have learned home,  for swimmers to challenge themselves to perform better and to challenge their teammates to do the same.

Thanks go to Swim NS for supporting this program and to the parents who supported their swimmers, driving them to Greenwood for the day.

Next Gen:

The Dartmouth Crusaders have had 5 swimmers named to the Swim Nova Scotia Next Gen Performance team: Luke Ellis, Idan Arie, Alex Jonsen-Humble, and Niara Smith. Inclusion on this performance team involves swimmers from across Nova Scotia coming together for unique training opportunities. Along with our Crusaders swimmers attending training sessions Coaches Mikayla, Michelle, and Lauren also attended. 

The first training opportunity on April 19th and 20th was an introduction to open water racing with National Distance and Open Water Coach Mark Perry. Athletes experienced an unconventional workout with a focus on developing open water racing skills including: mass starts, sighting and head up swimming, drafting/pack swimming in open water and around buoys. Swimmers had fun with the training and came away with a new understanding of the demands of open water swimming. In addition to two water sessions Mark Perry held two classroom sessions to help introduce open water racing. Coaches also received a dedicated classroom session on developing age group training programs. 

The Crusaders swimmers had a fantastic time and can’t wait to test out their new open water skills this summer. 

The second training opportunity took place on Saturday May 5th following the swim meet. Swimmers worked with Olympic Swimmer and Coach Savannah King. The focus of this training session was back to basics with underwater and stroke rate work. This was a wonderful review of information for swimmers applied in a new context. Following the water sessions Savannah talked with the swimmers about performance anxiety and management. 

Thanks Swim Nova Scotia for putting together these events!