FEATURE: S & C IN SWIMMING UNFOLLOWING THE ‘TRENDS’ As a result of this facilitate a much more constructive ethos, Scott takes a discussion between athletes and more holistic view to coaches. training, believing that swimmers need to have a Additionally, Scott is responsible for combination of coordination, range methods to improve strength and power.helping develop a national pathway for of movement, mobility, stability and In other cases, Pilates or yoga influencedphysical development to ensure that strength. How much of these qualities movements will be used where there there is a streamlined approach for are required will depend on multiple is a focus on improving range of motion.developing athletes throughout the factors including the stroke, distance system. There are many aspects that and ultimately technical execution of These methods are all based on new the field of strength and conditioning their skills. approach to strength and conditioning can assist with in the competition which has become more specialised andenvironment— from the development For example, a 50m sprint freestyle anchored on the individual athlete and of appropriate and progressive warm-up swimmer requires more strength and their unique needs. strategies, to the execution of specific power than a 400m individual medley skills such as starts and turns. (IM) swimmer, whilst a 1500m “There will undoubtedly be a swimmer would require a greater continued trend towards the utilization “In the past I have used a squat jump (SJ), aerobic component. of technology in training. If this is a counter movement jump (CMJ) and a implemented in an intelligent and horizontal jump for distance as dryland “Every swimmer will benefit from each strategic manner, I believe that this measures of lower body power. quality, but the key is getting the mix rightcan provide a benefit within most for the specific athlete,” Dickinson training situations,” Dickinson said. “I have also used a squat test to evaluate explained. lower body strength. For upper body Having said that, some of the advances measurements, I have used chin ups Getting this balance right means that in technology around diagnostic testing,(strength and velocity), bench press Dickinson will use varying methods to velocity-based training and performanceand bench rows as a general measure help each unique swimmer reach their feedback, have been useful tools for of upper body strength.” end goal of improving their ability to strength and conditioning coaches in the swim fast. field. Given that athletes are seeking The objective of such testing is to direct feedback more than ever, being have a much more comprehensive In some cases, this means the use of able to objectively quantify training and understanding of the transfer of these Olympic lifts or other resistance training competition performances helps types of movements to swimming 22 VOLUME 36 • ISSUE 3 2018