My 10 Favorite Drills of 2010

In reviewing the year, I decided to pick the 10 drills that meant the most to my own swimming or coaching this past year.  

After doing this for over eight years now, I still feel that there is so much to learn and so much to discover, but the overriding theme continues to be athletes taking responsibility for their own careers.  It's one of the reasons we do what we do, so that athletes look to coaches and teachers for advice and guidance, for training and workouts, for race strategy and technical advice... but to not depend on someone else completely.

With that said, here are my Top 10 Drills for 2010.

10) - Freestyle - Bent-Arm Extension - because not everyone is physically capable of being perfect.
9) - Backstroke - Opposite Shoulder Single Arm - because I can't believe I finally added a backstroke drill.  I need help here!
8) - Breaststroke - Breath Control - because being able to do this drill isn't as easy as it looks... and I was happy I could do it. :)
7) - All-Strokes - Shadow Play - because sitting here surrounded by snow, this reminds me of the great time I had at Pine Crest this past summer.
6) - Breaststroke - Separation Drill - because people shouldn't swim breaststroke like we did 30 years ago anymore.
5) - Freestyle - Single-Arm Trailing - because even watching Cullen Jones do a drill is a treat.
4) - Eric Shanteau Back - Breast Crossover Turn - because it drummed up some controversy and because everybody wants to master this one.
3) - Breaststroke - Narrow Kick with Roque Santos - because if you want to improve, why not learn from the best?
2) - Freestyle - Single Paddle - because Fran shows technique with extreme precision.
1) - Freestyle - Single-Arm Breath - because watching Fran swim will be something I plan on doing for years.

What were your favorites, and what are we still missing?  We've got plans to clean up and redo some classic drills, as we have MANY that aren't accessible right now.  We hope we've helped you learn a thing or two this year, or at the very least, inspired you to continue to think while you swim.

Have a Happy and Safe New Year, and remember to... Go Swim! ;)