Swim Solutions For All Personal Programme

PERSONAL COACHING PROGRAMME

The personal coaching programme is ideal because you can agree your own goals and the programme will be designed with these goals specifically to be met. So be it to complete the one of the 'Great Swims', complete a sponsored swim or perform at your highest potential in a triathlon this summer why not look at the details below and see how some of the swimmers has benefitted recently from the programme, then simply contact Karl to find out more details if needed and get yourself started on the road to improvement..........

What is it?

The Personal Coaching Programme is exactly that - a personalised programme designed specifically to meet the indivdual's needs and achieve their goals.

More specifically, the programme is designed in agreement with the swimmer to achieve whatever goals are agreed in the set time. These goals could range from completing 400m continuously through to qualification for the World Triathlon or Master's Championships.

Initially, you will benefit from an hour's one to one coaching session with Karl consisting of a timed swim if relevant and stroke assessment and any immediate instruction on drills or stroke efficiency needed. Karl will sit down with you and gain as much information as needed including how much time is available for training, other limiting factors like family commitments or other sports etc so as to try and work in achievable goals int he time available - obviously if you only have three one hour sessions available for training per week, a goal would not be agreed to qualify for London 2012!!!

Once the initial session has been completed a training programme is devised taking into account the length of time agreed to achieve your goals. Each week your sessions are sent by email to you for you to complete and feedback where necessary.

Do I just get my sessions or do I get any personal instruction?

This depends on the needs of the individual as deemed by Karl. Many of the swimmers currently using the programme receive in person instruction from Karl on a weekly basis (although this does not necessarily mean one to one) to help with stroke form, to understand any drills placed in the session and assist motivation. If you would like a more intense and regular individual session these are available at discounted rates.

Do I have to sign up for a minimum term?

Not at all. Some people just need a boost to develop their progress and push past a plateau in their performance or achieve a short term goal. Significant gains can be made from just one month's personal coaching as proved below.

What kind of improvements can I expect?

This of course depends on many factors but here is one example of one swimmer's progress over just one month.

Albert Pimm -

Pre-Programme Post-Programme Difference

400m Free 7.31 7.18 - 13 secs

200 Medley 4.33 4.02 - 31 secs

IM Splits -

Fly 1.07.57 57.22 - 10.35 secs

BK 1.13.89 1.05.48 - 8.41 secs

BR 1.14.90 1.07.80 - 7.10 secs

Free 57.09 51.55 - 5.54 secs

Albert and Karl agreed on goals over the month to be a) reduce time of 400m from 7.31 by as much as possible and b) reduce 200 IM time aiming for 4.00 to 4.10. As you can see both goals were achieved.

Here is what Albert had to say after his first month on the personal coaching programme:

'I thought to improve as a swimmer you had to do more lengths. But since doing a months One to Ones and benefiting from the Personal Coaching Programme I now realise its about quality not quantity.

After an initial consultation which focused on my goals for the month and a look

at my stroke technique, Karl devised swimming sessions for me to follow concentrating

on technique in all strokes, fitness and strength work. The end product was great improvement in all four strokes resulting in 13 seconds quicker for 400m freestyle and a whopping 31 seconds of my 200IM.

I now believe that for all round improvement the One to One sessions are a must.'

Following a month of returning to his own sessions, Albert decided to return to the Personal Programme with a view to once again maximising his potential over both the 400m Free and the 200IM but also with a view to improving his speed for the 100m Free. At the end of the month Albert improved his 100m Free time by 8 seconds, his 400m Free time by 12 seconds and 200IM by a massive 16 seconds. Here is a comparison over the month:

Event: Previous Best: Recent Time: Improvement:

100m Free 1.33 1.25 8 secs

400m Free 7.18 7.06 12 secs

200m IM 4.02 3.45 17 secs

Since writing the above, Albert has continued with the personal programme and reduced his 100m Free to 1.16.2 and 400m time to 6.57.

Do I have to train at Faringdon?

No. Whilst there is more ease of availability at Faringdon, swimmers currently on the programme use a number of facilities across Oxfordshire and Berkshire but attendance in person by Karl is subject to individual circumstances.