Last night, my faithful group of swimmers were exposed to the focal point of "spearswitch" (aka underswitch).  After reviewing the importance of balanced skate position, we added in the movement of our hands up to the periphery of our goggles.  Elbows and arms stayed on their tracks, of course.  Keeping it simple, we rehearsed while standing in the water, then swimming the focal point.  By the end of our one hour session, they were experimenting with the two-pause spearswitch. 

What were the challenges?  Some resulted from the tendency to revert to former methods when making significant changes, such as rolling shoulders, tracks not wide enough, & head turning.  Once students become aware of this, it is easier to focus on the new drill, and I am able to assist them in successfully reaching their target in the spearswitch.  Therefore, no one is immune to having to retrain earlier lessons.  In fact, reinforcing the fundamentals, will pave the way to establashing memory in the muscles and nervous system.

The spearswitch is the ideal time to teach the new stroke cycle.  Traditional swimming says that the outstretched arm begins to pull, and the other then starts to extend itself, while kicking hard to seek propulsion.  In contrast, TI has the extended hand holding the water in skate, then the drive forward in the switch is generated from the hip.  This was probably the biggest challenge for my swimmers last night, as well as anyone who is learning the TI technique.  I include myself with all those who learn to recognize that the the stroke cycle begins in the hip, spearing first and my "pulling arm" then having a very secondary role.       

 Simple?  Yes.  Easy?  No.  Worth it?  Absolutely.