COLORADO SPRINGS, Colorado, October 23. THIS year, USA Swimming held its National Select Camps at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo., from Oct. 11-14. Have you ever wondered exactly what goes on during these types of camps held at the inner-sanctum of USA Swimming?
Well, SwimmingWorldMagazine.com was there in the form of Jason Bradbury, coach of the Yucaipa Swim Team, along with his selected swimmer Trevor Hoyt. Bradbury provided us with a detailed account of his schedule while at the Select Camp so that interested readers would know what goes on during these camps.
To earn a spot on the National Select Camp rosters, according to USA Swimming:
1. Girls must be age 14 and under at the time of performance boys must be age 16 and under at the time of performance.
2. The fastest two eligible swimmers in each event are selected along with four additional athletes selected based on IMX scores, for a total of 30 swimmers at each camp. (Hoyt earned his spot as an IMX performer.)
Here is Coach Bradbury's recollection of his time in Colorado Springs:
Thursday, Oct. 11
5 a.m. – Leave for airport
11:30 a.m. – Arrive at Colorado Springs
We were transported to the Olympic Training Center to check in our dorm rooms (3 coaches or swimmers in each) and then we ate at the cafeteria.
2 p.m. – Orientation and introductions by Sport Performance Consultant Dan McCarthy: He explained the expectations of the camp.
3 p.m. – Senior schedule from now until 2012 mapped out.
5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. – Topic of starts discussed with Biomechanics Coordinator Russell Mark: Russell was a very good speaker that involved the coaches with opinions and ideas. He went over the objective of the start, body position, and mechanics of the start. He had many clips of the fastest starts in the world.
Dinner at the cafeteria followed with the unofficial coaches meeting. Both were great opportunities to meet and talk with other great coaches.
Friday, Oct. 12
8 a.m. – Great talk from Dr. Regina Lewis. She talked about swimmers leading by example. This talk was only the coaches at this time. The female athletes were later, followed by the male athletes. All the information gathered by Dr. Lewis was then given to the coaches.
9 a.m. to 10:40 a.m. – Russell again to talk, this time it was on breaststroke. This was like the starts talk.
10:45 a.m. to Noon – Coaching Coordinator Mariejo Pasion-Rojas went into detail on how the people she works with and herself do the race analysis and explained how to read it.
Lunch
3 p.m. to 4 p.m. – Doping control and education
I had the opportunity to attend the boys workout at the 10 lane 50 meter pool. The swimmers did a 200m time trial swim with a race analysis. After the workout, I ate dinner at the cafeteria followed with another unofficial coaches meeting.
Saturday, Oct. 13
8 a.m. to 9 a.m. – National Team member Tim Liebhold talked to all the boys and their coaches on his personal experiences.
9 a.m. to 10 a.m. – Field Services Director Ira Klein talked to the coaches about the Club Development Division of USA Swimming, which is a program to help clubs inside or outside the water at their home clubs.
10 a.m. to 11 a.m. – Sport Performance Consultant Scott Colby had a talk on growth and development. Caitlin Leverenz also talked about her swim experiences.
Lunch
1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. – Russell talked backstroke to the coaches. This is my weakest stroke to coach, so I tried to learn as much as I could.
2:30 p.m. to 4:15 p.m. – Sport Science Director Genadijus Sokolovas talked to the coaches about a Seasonal Plan Designer program.
4:15 p.m. to 5:15 p.m. – Russell added an extra talk that was not on the schedule; backstroke starts and freestyle were the topics.
That was the end of the classes. I went to the pool again to watch the finish of the last workout for all the swimmers, ate dinner, and went to the last of the unofficial coaches meetings.
Sunday, Oct. 14
I had a nice breakfast at the cafeteria, and then went on a full bus to the airport for a 10 a.m. flight home. I dropped Trevor off at his house and went to the local swim meet; I got home at 6 p.m. and spent the rest of the night enjoying my family.
Talks that made an impression: All four from Russell, Dr. Lewis, and both National Team Members (Tim and Caitlin).
Special thanks to Coach Jason Bradbury for taking the time to jot down his thoughts on the National Select Camp experience.