As a swim coach it pains me to say: No triathlon was ever won in the swim leg. But a triathlon can be ruined by a bad swim. If you feel like your swim mechanics are a performance limiter, start working on your swimming mechanics now rather than in the spring. …
On Social Media last week, I opened up the floor to friends and followers to ask any swimming question. I did my best job to answer each one, but there were some answers that were beyond the scope of a comment. One friend posted the following question: When I swim,…
The Balance-Streamline-Propel (BSP) Pyramid is about as a close to a unifying icon that the Total Immersion school of swim coaching has in its repertoire. Terry Laughlin, the founder of Total Immersion Swimming, referred to the elements of the pyramid for over 30 years. When he created the icon several…
By Anna Petit-Bruner, Editor, Chicago Blog Dolphin It’s a cold December day in Chicago, but I’m sweating in the waiting room of Chicago Blue Dolphins. Why? Because I’m only minutes away from sitting down with a legend — nay an icon — a very pillar of the swimming world. I’m…
“Coach Fitz, how long will it take me to learn to swim?” I get that question from prospective adult clients at Chicago Blue Dolphins over and over again. Most adults get their minds set on a far off end goal of swimming a mile of freestyle with rhythmic breathing over…
Last week, I had to clean up and drain the pools for two “poopy” accidents. Because of the time and class disruption that came with this cleanup, I wanted to answer a common question from parents of non-potty trained infants and toddlers: “Why does my child need to wear two…
Second in a Series: Kids Swim Lessons “Chicago Blue Dolphins creates an environment of encouragement and understanding from the moment you first make contact…”— Kathryn Day, Chicago Private Swim Lessons Create Watershed Moments for Son In Australia where Kathryn Day grew up, swimming is a way of life and kids…
Dear Coach Fitz: I’d like to sign up for swim lessons in the new year and have been debating whether to take group classes or private lessons. How would you advise deciding between the two? Sincerely, Suzie Splash Dear Suzie, That’s a great question, and the answer depends on what’s…
We love our Endless Pools at the Swim Studio because they give our coaches so many advantages and tools that we simply don’t have when we go to larger, conventional pools. Because it’s easy to focus on the actual 15’ x 15’ size of the pools—and none of the advantages—we…
First in a Series: Kids Swimming Lessons “Lessons were all about making the babies and the parents comfortable by playing games, gentle splashing, and getting used to being immersed in the water. We learned about water safety and how to safely play with our child in the water.” —Haydee Lopez, Chicago,…
