Get it right, then get fast

Big Arms!

The concept of slowing down showed up again last weekend when our boys had a private swim lesson. Athletics are a great place to embrace this concept, even though it seems counterintuitive when many sports are scored on speed alone. Performing a specific movement incorrectly may be faster and easier initially, but over time can lead to inefficiency, exhaustion, and even injury.

My younger son is working on his butterfly and initially had arms and legs flying every which way, until he slowed down and performed the movements correctly. (Sidenote - if you want to see something adorable, check out a group of 5-7 year olds learning butterfly, it resembles a bunch of tadpoles flopping and splashing around in a puddle!)

Stretch!

My older son has a bad habit of not using his long limbs to his advantage and doesn’t reach the way he should on his freestyle. One thing the coach said that seemed to finally sink in was “I want you to slow down and stretch those arms. If it feels normal, it’s wrong!” Once he slowed down, those elbows straightened out and he was able to stretch! Now it’s a matter of continuing to practice correctly until that position becomes the norm.

This is elementary age swim team, not Olympic trials, but if you are going to compete in a sport, learn how to do it correctly. A 6 year old’s butterfly doesn’t have to be fast, but learning the correct movements and position will allow him to develop strength and speed over time. As the arms get stretched out, it feels weird, but eventually that will become normal, and will progressively become faster and more efficient.

What is something you could slow down that might be uncomfortable at first, but will eventually save time and energy?