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Are we the best swim coaches/instructors in Scotland?**

This comes across as a very arrogant claim but read on and find out how our training and how we teach is so different to anything else you'll find in Scotland.

How can I make this claim? Well I have taught swimming conventionally (STA equivalent), coached in a swim club and now use the Swim Mastery methodology.

Here's the main differences between Swim Mastery (SM) coaching and methodology and the mainstream.


Conventional ie STA, Triathlon Scotland, Scottish Swimming

Swim Mastery @ Blue Sky Swim Studio

Air exchange not taught as standard- focus mainly on the intake of air.

Good air exchange ensured first to ensure the nervous system is in a calm, parasympathetic state and sufficient oxygen uptake using diaphragmatic breathing.

Limb Propulsion based stroke, forward movement created by arm pull and kicking legs

Whole body connection- main propulsion created by the weight/momentum of recovery arm. Propulsion also created due to connected leg flutter and catch.

Unsafe biomechanics -swimmers taught to go behind the scapula plane in front crawl and butterfly, tense/incorrect head position during swim and during breathing. Training with pull buoys, floats and paddles (all put parts of the body into unsafe movement patterns or static position e.g. raised head when using float).

Safe Biomechanics- this the number 1 rule as a Swim Mastery coach. Every movement taught and swum must be safe for the body. Arms stay in front of the scapula plane in front crawl and butterfly. Pull buoys, floats and paddles are never used.

Streamline disrupting movements- arms, legs and head position (Front Crawl and Backstroke). This causes disconnection at the ribs and pelvis ie body doesn't move through the water as one unit and significantly increases drag.

Streamline position maintained throughout the whole stroke (Front Crawl and Backstroke) resulting in a high/at the surface connected body position and low drag profile.

Disruptive head movement during the intake of breath. This causes whole body disconnection and can significantly interrupt forward momentum.

Integrated breath- head is turned to the air with rotation of the whole body- minimum disruption to the stroke and forward momentum.

Body stays near the surface due to constant movement of the arms and legs.

Swimmers learn how the water supports the whole body and the main function of arm/leg movements is to create forward propulsion.

No regular video analysis for intermediate/advanced swimmers. If you can't see yourself swim how do you know what you're really doing in the water?

Video analysis used throughout all adult improvers and club/masters sessions. . Quickest way for swimmers to understand how they're moving and how improvements can be made.

Coaches do not have to personally swim well to pass their training. Little to no CPD or support after training.

Swim Mastery trainees must have attended sessions with an SM coach and submit a swim video prior to being accepted onto Fundamentals training course. Continual CPD expected including own swim technique improvement. Access to trainers for feedback, advice and information.


Elite swimmers generally swim as described in the RH column. What is astounding and frankly very frustrating is the grass roots swimming community and training companies have not changed how swimming is taught for decades and are still firmly in the LH column mode of teaching. When I coach competitive swimmers I'm just amazed they are still being coached how I was as a club swimmer over 35 year ago!!! Thankfully due to Swim Mastery coaching my stroke is now safe

Michael Phelps

(no more shoulder/neck pain) and very efficient.

How can that be? What other sport is there where training bodies are not continually reviewing and updating their training based on how the upper echelons of the sport are coaching and getting results? Why when I watch a childrens' swim class in my local council pool does my heart sink knowing this could be done so much safer and with much better results?

We have over 85 children coming to the Blue Sky Swim Studio for weekly lessons. All are taught the Swim Mastery way with no (gasp) floatation devices at all. It can take a bit longer to see a whole stroke develop compared with a 'dog in the water' head up stroke (which we always see when we get children who have been to other companies/council lessons). However when they can maintain a streamline position and do a correct arm recovery the whole stroke seamlessly comes together. We have taught children in just over a year whole stroke front crawl with integrated breathing who were non swimmers.

Adults Swimmers improve quickly and with confidence we find using the SM methodology. Use of video analysis, dry land rehearsals and self practice leads to results in swim speed, efficiency and safe joint mechanics.

Adult Learn to Swim is such a calm process due to initially focusing on breathe management and floating first/gaining control of the body in the water before any stroke is taught.

The RH column is not a secret- many elite swimmers including Michael Phelps, Katie Ledecky and Leon Marchand all exhibit great stroke technique and the results that can lead to.

My question is when will the grass roots level start to follow their and our lead???

** TBH this headline was to get attention! Two other Swim Mastery Coaches work in Scotland as well as myself, Jacquie Donoghue and my husband/business partner Craig. They are Robert Milne in Peebles and Emma Levy in Dunkeld. Our Members — swimmastery Buy the book


Katie Ledecky

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