cross-training sessions for swimmers recovering from shoulder pain

I’m often asked how to taper for a local meet without arriving rusty or flat. Two weeks is a common length for club swimmers and masters who can’t afford long tapers — and when done right, it’s perfectly possible to be both rested and sharp. Below I share my practical, experience-based two-week taper plan, variations for sprinters and distance swimmers, and the non-pool details that make the difference: warm-ups, dryland, sleep,...

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Setting measurable goals for a novice swimmer is one of my favourite parts of coaching — it’s where hope meets structure, and small changes turn into real progress. Over the years at Bishopsworth Swimming Club I’ve seen how a clear, measurable plan transforms nervous beginners into confident swimmers who turn up to their first race ready to perform. Below I share the approach I use with new swimmers and parents, answers to common...

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I want to share a recent case study from our Masters squad that taught me a lot about patience, structure, and the power of small, consistent habits. Last season we had a swimmer—I'll call him Mark—who took nearly a year away from structured training. Between work pressures, a minor surgery, and the temptation to "rest," he disappeared from the pool. When he returned, he wanted to get his speed back fast. This is the story of how he did it,...

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Giving feedback is part of coaching — and yet it’s one of the trickiest skills to get right. I’ve been a swimmer, coach, and club editor long enough to know that the same words can lift one athlete and deflate another. Over the years I’ve developed a toolbox of conversation starters that help me give precise, actionable feedback without denting confidence. Below I share those phrases, the thinking behind them, and practical ways to use...

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Exam season is one of the trickiest periods in a youth programme — and if you coach or run a club like I do at Bishopsworth, you know how easily attendance, motivation, and even retention can dip. Over the years I’ve helped dozens of teen swimmers balance school pressures with training, and I’ve learned that the clubs that survive — and even grow — during exam time are the ones that plan with empathy, communicate clearly, and offer...

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I love watching a swimmer’s whole race back on a tablet at poolside — the little details you miss in real time suddenly leap out. Over the years I’ve learned that short, specific cues derived from video feedback are the fastest way to improve turns. Below I share simple, repeatable poolside video cues you can use immediately to tighten flip turns and open turns. These are the ones I hand to my squad and masters swimmers when we have five...

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One of the most enjoyable headaches of coaching club swimming is setting a relay order. Get it right and the team looks like a well-oiled machine; get it wrong and you can lose more than a few tenths — sometimes the race. Over the years with Bishopsworth squads, I’ve tested plenty of orders, argued with parents and swimmers, and learned a few reliable rules that I now use every time I pick a four-person relay.Why relay order matters (more...

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I still remember my first coaching block of early-morning practices: groggy parents, sleepy teenagers, and a group of masters swimmers who arrived with unwavering determination — and often with questions about what to eat before the session. Over the years I’ve learned that the right pre-morning-fuel makes the difference between a productive session and a slog. Here’s what I tell the youth swimmers and masters at Bishopsworth Swimming Club...

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I run time trial days at Bishopsworth Swimming Club because they’re an incredibly useful tool: we get honest data on where swimmers are, coaches can plan training blocks, and athletes get a low-pressure opportunity to test race pace. Over the years I’ve learned how to structure a time trial so results are reliable and stress is kept to a minimum. Below I share the practical plan I use, the roles I assign, and the little details that make a...

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Putting on a club open meet can feel like juggling a dozen lane ropes at once — exciting, chaotic, and utterly rewarding when everything clicks. Over the years at Bishopsworth Swimming Club, I've run multiple open meets using free meet management tools and simple volunteer checklists that turn nervous volunteers into a calm, efficient team. In this piece I’ll walk you through the practical steps I’ve learned: choosing the right free...

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