Starts - Clean Up the Feet

Most of the time when we work on starts, we focus on the take-off.  Here's a short focal point that starts with the end... the feet.

 - Watch Kevin Clements demonstrate his great starts!

Why Do It:
While how we leave the blocks is very important, minimizing the resistance we create with our entire body upon entry is equally important.  Making sure we don't create turbulence with the legs and feet means we'll have a cleaner entry.

How to Do It:
1.  Practice your starts as usual, only now...
2.  Focus all your attention on keeping your legs tight and straight as they follow your body into the water.
3.  Point your toes and, in the case of our swimmer, overlap them to create an even tighter line.

How to Do It Really Well (the Fine Points):
Practice this until you feel comfortable with your legs staying straight.  You may have to adjust where you enter the water, so it's just a bit closer to the blocks than you think.  By moving your entry point in just a bit, you'll have less time to allow your legs to flop around.