Does USRPT Work?

As most know I have been working with a number of swimmers at Ashhurst Pool using the USRPT method of training since May 2015 and the results over the last 12 months have been remarkable. Against the advice of other coaches and parents that rubbished USRPT we consciously changed the training system to 100% USRPT and the swimmers have benefited in:
1 - Swimming utilising the Principal of Specificity
2 - No more garbage yardage. No more long kilometers of struggle sessions, no land-based training or using weights or pool equipment.
3 - Shorter and more effective training concentrating on technique, psychology and conditioning with personal goal setting.
4 - Personal best times for most swimmers occurring just after a month of training (some only training as little as 3 times per week)

There are many more reasons and examples I can give, and for those parents, or current swimmers that feel they are going nowhere, are looking for something different but effective and fun, come to the pool for a trial and see if you like the change.

Let's have a look at some statistics since we commenced this type of training. We currently have 27 athletes swimming regular meets at present. All have received instruction in USRPT. Not pretend USRPT like many coaches do - but 100% USRPT.

Collectively there has been 472 swims with a total of 390 best times. That is an astounding result. For the squad as a whole, that is an average of 87%. In other words, most swimmers when they enter a competition will get a best time every 8 - 9 swims. Of the 82 swims that did not register as a best time, 58 of them were between .02s and 0.35s off the target. From a fingernail to an elbow off their times.

Is there a swimming group in New Zealand that can compare? An analysis of other clubs throughout the country has the best going at 39% and in the Manawatu no club exceeds 28%.

And they say USRPT doesn't work!!! Yeah right!

Yours in swimming

Kevin Hill
Director of Coaching
Ashhurst Aquatic Centre
The home of Ashhurst swimming

Unchain your Fastest 2 (April 26th 2016)

Unchain your Fastest!!

Race Night - another fabulous turn out!! New swimmers and once more plenty of support! Thank you again for your participation in Unchain your Fastest 2. It is fun and exciting. Great to see most swimmers bettering their previous times, and those that didn't only just missed out. Next Race Night is Tuesday, 31st May.

Swimmers, keep practicing and still try and better yourself come May race night.

Huge thanks to all of our timekeepers and a special thanks to Natasha who arrived unexpectedly and provided the marshalling for the evening.

See you at the main event in May.

Looking forward to next month everyone!!

Race Night - Here we Come!!!

If you are an Ashhurst Aquatic Centre swimmer who can swim 25m in any stroke, then Race Nights might be for you. 

(even if you can't swim 25m yet, you might want to come and have a look)

Ashhurst Aquatic Centre will be holding our first Race Night on Tuesday 29th April, in the evening after regular lessons. Race nights are a wonderful opportunity for new and existing swimmers to test their newly learned skills.

The environment strives to be supportive, fun and friendly with a hint of competition. It is also an opportunity for parents to learn some timekeeping skills and to see how their children are progressing.

HOW DOES IT WORK?

Competitive races will be held in the 4 strokes. The list of events will be available at reception or published on the website for download. Choose the races you wish to enter - and hand in your registration to reception 5 days before the event. We will compile the events and post the draw on the website 2 days before the event. No late entries will be accepted, so get your registration in asap!!

There are 25m, 50m, 100m, and relay races that you can enter. All races are timed so this is a good place to challenge your times and test your performance against other swimmers in a friendly, fun atmosphere. Timings are recorded for future seedings.

NOTE 

  • All swimmers must be able to swim 25 metres without stopping. (in the 4 main strokes).
  • When a swimmer has competed in a 50 metre race 3 times, in a particular stroke, they are unable to swim in any beginners race of 25 metres in that stroke. (In other words if you can do the 50 metre race 3 times - you are too good for the beginners 25 metre race).
  • Timekeepers for the swimmers nights would be appreciated. This can be shared by parents and competitive swimmers.
  • We just ask that everyone assists in tidying the pool after swimmers nights and the parents and senior swimmers are asked to assist the junior swimmers when ever possible.

Pool Safe

Ashhurst Pool is now PoolSafe!!!! 

The PoolSafe Quality Management Scheme (PoolSafe) is an independent assessment of public pools to ensure that their operations and facilities are safe. There are currently 214 public pools in New Zealand and over 140 (141 now), of those are members of the PoolSafe scheme.


Jointly developed in 2001 by the New Zealand Recreation Association (NZRA) and Water Safety New Zealand (WSNZ), PoolSafe is an industry led, voluntary management system designed by industry for industry to peer assess and moderate their delivery of public aquatic facilities services, with the direct intent to limit serious harm to their communities.

Part of PoolSafe is the Pool Alone policy - 

POOL ALONE POLICY

The Pool Alone Policy was developed in 1997 (revised in 2002) to provide a code of practice and policy on child safety to provide national consistency within facilities. The policy states:

Children under 8 must be actively supervised by a caregiver 16 or over (actively supervised means watching your child at all time; Able to provide immediate assistance).