Journal article
CURRENT WARM-UP PRACTICES AND CONTEMPORARY ISSUES FACED BY ELITE SWIMMING COACHES
Journal of strength and conditioning research, Vol.30(12), pp.3471-3480
01/12/2016
PMID: 27097379
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Source: InCites
Abstract
A better understanding of current swimming warm-up strategies is needed to improve their effectiveness. The purpose of this study was to describe current precompetition warm-up practices and identify contemporary issues faced by elite swimming coaches during competition. Forty-six state-international level swimming coaches provided information through a questionnaire on their prescription of volume, intensity, and recovery within their pool and dryland-based competition warm-ups, and challenges faced during the final stages of event preparation. Coaches identified four key objectives of the precompetition warm-up: physiological (elevate body temperature and increase muscle activation), kinesthetic (tactile preparation, increase "feel" of the water), tactical (race-pace rehearsal), and mental (improve focus, reduce anxiety). Pool warm-up volume ranged from similar to 1300 to 2100 m, beginning with 400-1000 m of continuous, low-intensity (similar to 50-70% of perceived maximal exertion) swimming, followed by 200-600 m of stroke drills and 1-2 sets (100-400 m in length) of increasing intensity (similar to 60-90%) swimming, concluding with 3-4 race or near racepace efforts (25-100 m; similar to 90-100%) and 100-400 m easy swimming. Dryland-based warm-up exercises, involving stretch cords and skipping, were also commonly prescribed. Coaches preferred swimmers complete their warm-up 20-30 minutes before race start. Lengthy marshalling periods (15-20+ minutes) and the time required to don racing suits (. 10 minutes) were identified as complicating issues. Coaches believed that the pool warm-up affords athletes the opportunity to gain a tactile feel for the water and surrounding pool environment. The combination of dryland-based activation exercises followed by pool-based warm-up routines seems to be the preferred approach taken by elite swimming coaches preparing their athletes for competition.
Details
- Title
- CURRENT WARM-UP PRACTICES AND CONTEMPORARY ISSUES FACED BY ELITE SWIMMING COACHES
- Creators
- Courtney J. Mcgowan - Australian Institute of SportDavid B. Pyne - University of CanberraJohn S. Raglin - Australian Institute of SportKevin G. Thompson - Indiana University BloomingtonBen Rattray - Univ Canberra, Fac Hlth, UCRISE, Canberra, ACT, Australia
- Publication Details
- Journal of strength and conditioning research, Vol.30(12), pp.3471-3480
- Publisher
- Lippincott Williams & Wilkins
- Number of pages
- 10
- Identifiers
- 991013065340402368
- Copyright
- © 2016 National Strength and Conditioning Association
- Academic Unit
- Human Sciences; Faculty of Health
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Journal article