Building a Better Freestyle Clinic

by Bob Ouellette, NELMSC Coaches Chair

On February 1, twenty-four of our member athletes were treated to an outstanding “Building a Better Freestyle Clinic” put on by USMS Level 4 coach extraordinaire, Bill Meier.

The clinic focused on the basic components of an effective freestyle stroke, including: balance, body alignment, kicking technique and propulsion. The clinic was attended by swimmers of a wide range of experience and ability, but breaking down the stroke into manageable components resulted in a more efficient stroke for all participants!

Following the drill work, Bill utilized underwater video to film each swimmer’s stroke and provided a detailed analysis which we reviewed as a group. This process enabled all attendees to better understand the components of an efficient stroke while also utilizing Bill’s feedback to improve individual freestyle technique.

Without question, Bill’s expertise enabled each athlete to come away with a better understanding of their stroke as well as the areas needing improvement.