I find that land drill is not used as effectively as it could be. You need to be deliberate in training and planning land drill. In fact you can get real results from land drilling. Land drill should not be easy or an after thought. Land drill can fix synchronization errors, fix patterns and help with execution.

Here are some ways to use land drill to get results.

1. Train small parts. Make sure you are training for perfection. You can approach this a few ways. Set one focus and ONLY correct those things. Or you can focus on everything. If you focus on everything your parts may be even smaller. I suggest whenever an error occurs stop and correct it. The coach can give the correction or the coach can ask questions to find out if the swimmers know the answer.
2. ALWAYS set a focus before the land drill and then correct to the focus.
3. When doing a standing land drill it should be full intensity and with full presentation.
4. Train eggbeater arms properly. In land drill be aware of where the water level would be. Make sure swimmers arms are at the same level.
5. Land drill every day. Even if there is no practise make sure to land drill. Hearing the music everyday will help your synchronization and automation of the routine.
6. Land drilling before bed leaves your routine as the last thing you are thinking about before you sleep and your subconscious can think about it while you sleep. That’s why it is important to land drill perfect.
7. If you make a mistake stop and fix it right away. Or after the full land drill stop and land drill the part until you have done it successfully 5x’s. This can be done with to without the music.
8. Do a good land drill before performing to create a better focus before performing.
9. If you have a new group training together use a good land drilling session to teach and solidify before wasting pool time.
10. Have swimmers each other for team. You find out really quick who knows the routine versus who is watching others.

Coaches please watch your swimmers land drill and give them quality corrections to improve the routine. This is an opportunity for the team to improve. Swimmers land drill daily on your own to improve your routine confidence and to find out what sections you may need more help with.

Happy land drilling. I would love to hear your land drilling ideas. Please share with others.

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Yours in Synchro,

Vanessa Keenan