Tim Manley's blog

Today I recieved an envelope from USA Swimming with a stamp on it reading "Important Documents Enclosed."  This is the newly adopted guidelines which must be followed by clubs in their hiring process of coaches for child protection.  I own my own team and apparently I am grandfathered in until I leave my program and start a new coaching job.  Although if I decide to hire an employee not only do they have to take the "Foundations of Coaching" test within the first year, complete all safety training, cpr and first aid certifications, but now I have to run a full past (atleast 3

I believe that maintaining velocity in swimming has to be one of the best ways to maintain efficiency.  Have someone time your turn speed it's done easily, start the stopwatch on start of your last pull then have them stop the stop watch once your feet leave the wall!  I have athletes that can do this in :00.66 seconds consistently!  I think shooting for being faster than 1 second would be a great start!

In 2004 I had the opportunity to watch the World Short Course Championships in Indianapolis from the Indiana University Suite (my alma mater)!  One thing that I really noticed from watching way above the pool was the amazing 5th stroke as "coined" by Milt Nelms and the late Richard Quick.  Underwater Swimming!

This morning I had my feet proped up on the coffee table with my laptop in hand then my phone rings.... foot's asleep, ouch, pins and needles, limping to the phone, dragging one leg, hopping to the phone!  Last night I was watching the Jason Lezak and Michael Phelps battle in the 200 IM on my DVR and was watching the gallop stroke from both Lezak and Phelps in the last 15 meters!  Much like the lack of balance with my foot asleep were their strokes!

I would have to believe that anyone reading the blogs and articles on this site are interested in going fast or atleast faster than they're currently going!

Think Speed First!  Dr. Joel Stager from Indiana University once quoted a phrase to me when we were talking about my 500 Freestyler at the time!  "You can't go under 5:00 in the 500 if you can't go under :50 in the 100 Free!"

Most triathletes are training to swim 1500 meters.  71% of all individual USA Swimming Senior National events are 200 meters or less!  Prior to writing up your next workout, think about the race you’re training for!

Swimming isn’t rocket science, but using simple science and some common sense coaches and athletes can make great advances.  Body position in the water is the most important aspect of any stroke.  Body position manipulates your line of travel.  If your line of travel is not straight then you’re swimming farther than someone with a straight line of travel.  You can work on pull strength, kicking power and endurance all you want, but without proper body position your eventual peak performance has been limited.  I’ve had the opportunity to witness the training of a wor