«excellent»
This book is great and informative even for a beginner swimmer like me. I especially like the chapter 3 on "develop your water sense" that really helped me overcome the fear of water. The step by step teaching method makes it easy to understand and to practice. I now join a local master swimming program as the book suggested. I soon plan to compete in a local triathlon.
[Friday, August 21, 2009]
|
«An excellent read for the lifelong athlete»
This is a very complete book on swimming for anyone wishing to improve at each training session, regardless of the age. It is very comprehensive as it covers topics such as stretching, weight training and the recently popular conditioning methods such as Pilates.
[Saturday, December 13, 2008]
|
«A fabulous resource»
Several decades elapsed between my brief high school competitive swimming experience and my foray into masters swimming, and I find myself amazed all over again at the way having a good coach motivates me and improves my performance. Why does a phrase or two of technical advice or encouragement cause me to work harder and feel better about myself? Why is it that I'm willing to push myself to exhaustion just because somebody is watching?
There's something about the relationship between coach and athlete that transcends what the athlete can accomplish on his or her own. It's in that ineffable realm that the value of this book is found. I'm only halfway through it and already I've learned - and implemented - three things that have helped me improve my stroke. It's great to try something in the pool, then go back to the book and reread what the coach said and compare it to how it felt in the water.
Not only does Montgomery know how to swim - he's a triple Olympic gold medal winner, fer cryin' out loud! - but he's supremely able to TEACH people how to swim. I'd be willing to bet that if there were a waterproof edition of this book, a rank beginner could get in the pool with book in hand and learn how to swim from scratch.
I don't pretend to have much swimming expertise, but I'd also be willing to bet that these two coaches' explanation of the science of swimming represents the current state of the art worldwide. I recommend this book for anyone who's remotely interested in swimming. It's straightforward and well-written, and its techniques and teaching methods work.
[Wednesday, November 19, 2008]
|
m