The Third 50

The Third 50

By Glenn Mills & Wayne GoldsmithSportsSwimming
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The Third 50 episodes

  • The Third 50 - S1 E4 - Drills Drills Drills

    Welcome to The Third 50!

    The Fourth Episode...DRILLS DRILLS DRILLS and more DRILLS!!!

    Download Wayne's chart here:  

    Swimming coaches collect drills like kids collect candy! There are tens of thousands of swimming drills: there's a drill for every swimming occasion. 

    However, how can drills be used optimally to develop an efficient and effective swimming technique for individual swimmers? 

    In this Episode of The Third 50, Wayne and Glenn look at swimming drills and try to answer the questions:

    • What are “great" drills?
    • Why do you use drills?
    • When do you use drills?
    • How do you best use drills?

      • We also talk about the best ways to integrate drills into practice sessions and workouts and the difference between Stroke DEVELOPMENT Drills and Stroke CORRECTION Drills.

      If you're a coach, a competitive swimmer, a triathlete, a surf-athlete or a fitness-swimmer - and you use drills in your swimming - then this is a must listen podcast for you!

      Three Takeaways:

      1. Drills are an important element of the "tool-kit" of every coach. However, as it is with using any tool, the key is choosing the right tool for the right situation and - knowing how to use it.
      2. There is no perfect drill! Copying the drills of the world's best coaches and swimmers does not mean you've found the secret to success. Drills are just one part of the art of coaching swimmers successfully.
      3. Rather than collecting more and more drills, just start with a few then learn how to evolve them through the systematic introduction of speed, fatigue and pressure situations in practice. 


        4. Why The Third 50?

        Because it's the third 50 of a 200 that matters. (We could have called this The Third 100 because it's the same principle!)

        The 1st 50 is fast because you're fresh and fired up, ready to race.

        The 2nd 50 flows because you're trying to relax and keep it smooth.

        The 4th 50 is about fighting and staying strong to the finish.

        But the 3rd 50 is where the magic happens. It's where the integration of your mind and body, your skills and technique, your stroke mechanics and your hard training all come together.

        The 3rd 50 is the "championship" lap, where the great swimmers take control of themselves and the race and power away to victory.

        We want to share our almost 80 years of experience with coaches, swimming teachers, swimmers, triathletes, and people who love being in and around the water worldwide.

        Who Are Wayne and Glenn?

        Wayne Goldsmith is an Australian coach, mentor, writer, speaker, and presenter. He's worked in swimming for more than 30 years and is an internationally respected sports performance professional. He's been recognized for his contribution to the sport of swimming with the Outstanding Contribution to Swimming in Australia Award and been recently received the Al Schoenfield award from the International Swimming Hall of Fame.

        Glenn Mills is an American coach, writer, and video producer.  He's been involved in swimming for over 55 years.  He's competed at every level of the sport, from winning the US Olympic Trials and NCAA Championships and even setting a few Masters World Records.  For over 25 years, he's produced swimming technique content as the Co-Founder of GoSwim.tv, the Official Technique Partner with USA Swimming.  He has also won the Paragon Award from the International Swimming Hall of Fame for his contribution to competitive swimming.

        Send in your video for a chance to have it analyzed on our podcast:  https://goswim.wetransfer.com

        1 hr 3 min
      4. The Third 50 - S1 E3 - Developing the Technical Eye

        Welcome to The Third 50!

        This is the third episode in season one and it's an incredibly important topic - Developing the Technical Eye!

        Every coach needs to develop their "Technical Eye" - their ability to look at a swimmer and determine how to improve and enhance the swimmer's ability to move efficiently through water.

        Some coaches have a "technical eye" which is mostly intuitive - almost instinctive - and they can practically "feel" technique as a result of years and years and years of watching swimmers train and race.  

        But , Wayne and Glenn present ways for all coaches to learn - and master their Technical Eye!


        Three Takeaways:

        1. Every coach needs to develop a TECHNICAL EYE - the ability to see technique and to identify where technique is working and where it’s not working;
        2. Coaches will talk sets and reps and volume and equipment - but the importance of developing a TECHNICAL “EYE” can not be over-stated;
        3.  A simple way to learn the Technical Eye is to walk with a swimmer and progressively, systematically and methodically see what's happening from the tips of their fingers to the tips of their toes. 


          4. Why The Third 50?

          Because it's the third 50 of a 200 that matters. (We could have called this The Third 100 because it's the same principle!)

          The 1st 50 is fast because you're fresh and fired up, ready to race.

          The 2nd 50 flows because you're trying to relax and keep it smooth.

          The 4th 50 is about fighting and staying strong to the finish.

          But the 3rd 50 is where the magic happens. It's where the integration of your mind and body, your skills and technique, your stroke mechanics and your hard training all come together.

          The 3rd 50 is the "championship" lap, where the great swimmers take control of themselves and the race and power away to victory.

          We want to share our almost 80 years of experience with coaches, swimming teachers, swimmers, triathletes, and people who love being in and around the water worldwide.


          Who Are Wayne and Glenn?

          Wayne Goldsmith is an Australian coach, mentor, writer, speaker, and presenter. He's worked in swimming for more than 30 years and is an internationally respected sports performance professional. He's been recognized for his contribution to the sport of swimming with the Outstanding Contribution to Swimming in Australia Award and been recently received the Al Schoenfield award from the International Swimming Hall of Fame.

          Glenn Mills is an American coach, writer, and video producer.  He's been involved in swimming for over 55 years.  He's competed at every level of the sport, from winning the US Olympic Trials and NCAA Championships and even setting a few Masters World Records.  For over 25 years, he's produced swimming technique content as the Co-Founder of GoSwim.tv, the Official Technique Partner with USA Swimming.  He has also won the Paragon Award from the International Swimming Hall of Fame for his contribution to competitive swimming.

          Send in your video for a chance to have it analyzed on our podcast:  https://goswim.wetransfer.com

          1 hr 6 min
        4. The Third 50 - Ep 2 Season 1: Underwater Dolphins

          Welcome to The Third 50!

          In this Second Episode, Wayne and Glenn discuss the importance of underwater kicking! Under-water kicking - "Dolphins" are vital - they are essential for fast swimming. The question is - how can you coach swimmers to develop a "deadly" Dolphin????? We look at some outstanding examples of underwater kickers and talk about training and coaching techniques to integrate super fast "dolphins" into your practices.

          Three Takeaways:

          1. Learning and mastering underwater kicking - "Underwater-Dolphins"- is so important that it is rightly referred to as the "FIFTH STROKE". Thinking of it as the fifth stroke elevates its importance in your coaching program to the same level as butterfly, backstroke, breaststroke and freestyle.
          2. There's no "one-size-fits-all" model when it comes to underwater kicking. The golden rule here is "It's faster if it's faster." Swimmers should stay underwater and doing their "dolphins" IF - they are faster underwater than they are when they are swimming on the surface.
          3. Remember the TEACH, TRAIN, TEST process for underwater kicking. Teach the skill. Train the skill. Then importantly, Test the skill under competition conditions. Teach swimmers to kick efficiently and effectively underwater. Train them to perform their underwater kicking at target race speed. Then find a Meet where you can test and assess their ability to perform their underwater kick when and where it matters....in competition.  

            4. Why The Third 50?

            Because it's the third 50 of a 200 that matters. (We could have called this The Third 100 because it's the same principle!)

            The 1st 50 is fast because you're fresh and fired up, ready to race.

            The 2nd 50 flows because you're trying to relax and keep it smooth.

            The 4th 50 is about fighting and staying strong to the finish.

            But the 3rd 50 is where the magic happens. It's where the integration of your mind and body, your skills and technique, your stroke mechanics and your hard training all come together.

            The 3rd 50 is the "championship" lap, where the great swimmers take control of themselves and the race and power away to victory.

            We want to share our almost 80 years of experience with coaches, swimming teachers, swimmers, triathletes, and people who love being in and around the water worldwide.


            Who Are Wayne and Glenn?

            Wayne Goldsmith is an Australian coach, mentor, writer, speaker, and presenter. He's worked in swimming for more than 30 years and is an internationally respected sports performance professional. He's been recognized for his contribution to the sport of swimming with the Outstanding Contribution to Swimming in Australia Award and been recently received the Al Schoenfield award from the International Swimming Hall of Fame.

            Glenn Mills is an American coach, writer, and video producer.  He's been involved in swimming for over 55 years.  He's competed at every level of the sport, from winning the US Olympic Trials and NCAA Championships and even setting a few Masters World Records.  For over 25 years, he's produced swimming technique content as the Co-Founder of GoSwim.tv, the Official Technique Partner with USA Swimming.  He has also won the Paragon Award from the International Swimming Hall of Fame for his contribution to competitive swimming.

            Video links:

            • 1988 Olympics - https://youtu.be/hnjAfDaVkmY
            • 50 meter underwater - https://youtu.be/QxrYJf48s-4
            • Misty Hyman Race - https://youtu.be/oKAM0zyXYq4
            • Misty Hyman Clinic - https://youtu.be/-fJ2Wcj5P0c
              • 1 hr 2 min
            • The Third 50 - Ep. 1 Season 1: Every Swimmer is Unique - Every Technique is Unique.

              Welcome to The Third 50!

              In this first Episode, Wayne and Glenn discuss how coaches can help and inspire their swimmers to realize their full potential and share their thoughts on swimming technique.


              Three Takeaways:

              1. Every swimmer is unique: every technique is unique. How do you develop and enhance the technique and skills of individual swimmers?
              2. Some principles apply to all swimmers, e.g. head and hips positions, small head movements, soft hands, loose feet, but the name of the game is to develop "their" stroke - a stroke that works for the one specific, unique individual.
              3. There is no one "text-book perfect" swimming technique that applies to all swimmers. The only swimmer who is "text-book perfect" is the swimmer whose picture is in the textbook. For everyone else, it's about finding out what's efficient and effective in maximizing propulsion WHILE minimizing resistance.


                4. Why The Third 50?

                Because it's the third 50 of a 200 that really matters. (We could have called this The Third 100 because it's the same principle!)

                The 1st 50 is fast because you're fresh and fired up, ready to race.
                The 2nd 50 is flowing because you're trying to relax and keep it smooth.
                The 4th 50 is about fighting and staying strong to the finish.

                But the 3rd 50 is where the magic happens. It's where the integration of your mind and body, your skills and technique, your stroke mechanics and your hard training all come together.

                The 3rd 50 is the "championship" lap, where the great swimmers take control of themselves and the race and power away to victory.
                We want to share our almost 80 years of experience with coaches, swimming teachers, swimmers, triathletes, and people who love being in and around the water worldwide.

                Who Are Wayne and Glenn?


                Wayne Goldsmith is an Australian coach, mentor, writer, speaker, and presenter. He's worked in swimming for more than 30 years and is an internationally respected sports performance professional. He's been recognized for his contribution to the sport of swimming with the Outstanding Contribution to Swimming in Australia Award and been recently received the Al Schoenfield award from the International Swimming Hall of Fame.

                Glenn Mills is an American coach, writer, and video producer.  He's been involved in swimming for over 55 years.  He's competed at every level of the sport, from winning the US Olympic Trials and NCAA Championships and even setting a few Masters World Records.  For over 25 years, he's produced swimming technique content as the Co-Founder of GoSwim.tv, the Official Technique Partner with USA Swimming.  He has also won the Paragon Award from the International Swimming Hall of Fame for his contribution to competitive swimming.

                55 min

              About The Third 50

              From the publisher's feed

              The Third 50 is that pivotal time in a 200 race. It demands physical and mental toughness to finish the race.