ASA SER Masters swimmers seminar day held 11/03/2007

Click here for the delegate information pack.

This was the fourth in a series of bespoke courses for Master Swimmers (aged 18 years+) organised by the Sports Science Consultancy department of the Chelsea School (University of Brighton). The days program included an introduction to the ‘Critical Velocity’ (CV) theory to swimming training. Besides the theatre presentation, there were practical sessions in the pool applying the CV concept.

The animator of the inter-ex project, Jeanne Dekerle, first explained the principal of CV training to the some 30 delegates and then determined their individual CV pace (ideally from their recent 100, 200, and 400 m freestyle PB’s). The swimmers were then given the option to participate in one of two training sessions based on their respective CV’s:-

1)    Aerobic/endurance set with speed at or below CV (20 minute pace or longer)

       OR

2)    Anaerobic/sprint set with speed above CV (200 ~ 400 m pace)

This initiation provided the swimmers with an appreciation of how important it is to individualise training intensities according to their physiological potential. It also demonstrated CV is an easy tool to apply in controlling training intensity and regularly assessing performance status throughout the season. The University is hoping to get feedback from the delegates on their experience of using the CV training philosophy.

Rod Miller a member of the SER committee has advised after putting the CV and gym training into practice for 6 weeks and following the nutrition strategies he recorded lifetime long course bests for the 100 and 400 m freestyle at the SER gala held 24th/25th March. After 15 years of Masters competition and at 64 years of age Rod considers the knowledge gained from the course has given him confidence to swim faster.

Read our website news section for more details about the actual program.

For information, the SER Masters committee arranged the seminar in response to the demand indicated by the 2006 National survey of Master swimmers, when over 70% of respondents thought there should be more educational and training courses. Further three of the four subject areas identified in the survey (training for competition, nutrition, and cross training/flexibility) were addressed by the module delivered.