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Give them a place to
put their hands . . .
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Corrects Flailing Arms
Over-used, out of control hands and arms is a very common problem with beginning level flippers and if a single need had to be identified that mothered the development of FlipTrain, this would be it . . . a way to keep the hands and arms positioned properly as the hips and legs flip over toward the wall. Many believe this is the most difficult aspect of the turn to teach and to learn.
FlipTrain solves the problem simply by providing solid tangible surfaces for swimmers to place their hands on as they tuck and flip. No confusing verbal cues to misinterpret. Just keep your hands on the platforms as you tuck and flip. As hips and legs flip over and fall back into the water, the hands will be over their heads where you want them to be for an immediate streamlined push off. Swimmers also learn to enter the turn palms down enabling the hands to assist with body position and/or speed of rotation.
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| Flailing |
Under Control |
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Proper hand and arm positioning is counter intuitive for most swimmers and often leads to a hands on teaching proposition for coaches. Before FlipTrain, coaches who wanted to be certain hands and arms stayed in the right place, got in the water and held them there. Not always the best way to go when 1) hands-on teaching can over-support to the point where the swimmer relies to heavily on the person supporting them, and 2) coaches usually prefer to work from the deck where they can remain postured over the entire group.
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With FlipTrain, swimmers are not over-supported and coaches can teach from the deck. Swimmers learn to outwardly rotate their hands for a palms down entrance into the turn and they learn to tuck, pivot around their shoulders and move through it on their own.
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Spatially Orients
It's no fun being lost in space, but many beginning level flippers become spatially disoriented the moment they tuck their head. They don't know where they or their body parts are relative to the space they're in. They lose their spatial compass because they have no point of reference. They're spinning in the water and for many they may as well be in outer space. Which way is up, which way is down, and more importantly . . . where is the wall?
With FlipTrain, swimmers remain oriented because they have a spatial reference point where each hand makes contact with the hand platforms. Just as touching an object in a darkened room instantly places you, such is the advantage provided by FlipTrain to the beginning level flipper. They're grounded. They know where they are relative to the wall and the space they're in. As a result, they learn the turn faster and feel more confident and more at ease with the entire experience of learning the flip turn.
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Streamlining
Of course one of the most important aspects of a proper flip turn is a good streamlined push off. It doesn't matter how good the rest of the turn is prior to the push off, if the swimmer creates a lot of drag coming off of the wall, all of the effort that went into the rest of the turn will be wasted. FlipTrain encourages and effectively develops good streamlining in 3 distinct ways. 1) hand placement on the platforms keeps the shoulders square which supports a straight over, in-line rotation or as some coaches refer to it . . . a flat rotation . . . such that the swimmer is on their back the moment their feet plant to the wall. Many beginning and intermediate level swimmers do not keep their head, hips and feet in line as they flip. Many will drop one shoulder or the other and end up in a less than desirable position for the streamlined push off. 2) hand placement on the platforms keeps the hands positioned so that they are overhead as the hips and legs fall toward the wall 3) If the swimmer pushes off crooked or out of line, they will brush or bump into one of the platforms which sends immediate tactile feedback to the swimmer.
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Keeps shoulders square for an in-line rotation
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FlipTrain hand platforms provide an obvious narrow path leading to and from the wall. Swimmers must streamline.
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| A Path That's Clear... Straight in and Straight Out |
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Facilitates Tactile and Visual Learning
Tactile and visual learning methods are those by which the greatest percentage of kids and people in general learn most effectively. If we can see it and/or feel it, an accurate understanding of what it is or how it's done can be immediate.
 Traditionally, the flip turn has been a skill taught with verbal cues and trial and error leaving many swimmers to struggle for months, sometimes years before finally mastering the skill.
Fliptrain taps into the way we learn most effectively by providing a tactile and visual learning experience.
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Training apparatus come in all
forms to help move through a skill prior
to learning it . . .
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| FlipTraining means practicing properly |
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Develops Muscle Memory
FlipTrain allows beginning level flippers to practice properly. That's the catch to acquiring a new skill and developing muscle memory. They must be practicing properly. That means significant feedback from the start or they and their coaches will be working overtime to un-memorize and improperly learned skill down the road. FlipTrain provides the tool and the feedback needed to perform the turn correctly from the beginning . . . developing muscle memory of the correct mechanics. From the very first drill sequence, FlipTrain begins to imprint the correct mechanics of the flip turn into each swimmer.
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It's Fun!
Is there a better way to secure your beginning level swimmers than by bringing more fun to their practice sessions? Swimmers LOVE to practice with the FlipTrain Station because it is FUN. They'll cheer when it's time to work on flip turns! The drill progression is simple and easy to understand. The success they experience will come early and what was commonly a frustrating learning experience in the past will now become one of their most fun and successful times at swim practice!
"My kids love to use it and I am very happy with it. I have kids that are as young as 5 using it and for them it is like playing and learning at the same time!" Coach Kay Gonsalves, Developmental Coach Paramaribo, Suriname
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