Colette Crabbe with some hands-on instruction at the YMCA.
Oregon Masters Swimming, along with USMS, sponsored two stroke development clinics which were held on consecutive weekends at the beginning of January. The events took place at the Clark County YMCA in Vancouver and were hosted by Colette Crabbe, an Olympian and the current OMS Fitness Chair. Stroke development clinics are for swimmers of all abilities who would like to improve their stroke technique.
The format involved one hour of classroom instruction and two hours of personalized coaching in the water. Assisting Colette in the backstroke/freestyle clinic were Karen Andrus Hughes, Valerie Jenkins, Dan Kirkland, and Tom Phipps. In the breaststroke/butterfly clinic assistants were Karen Andrus-Hughes, Arlene Delmage, Rick Howell, and Dan Kirkland. Drills were taught that enabled participants to continue the refinement of their strokes. At their request, participants were also filmed allowing for further evaluation and feedback.
Colette Crabbe during the classroom instruction portion of the clinic.
Both sessions proved to be very popular with each one selling out. Participants came from as far away as Sunriver, Klamath Falls, and Lincoln City. Participants from the north came from Puget Sound and Olympia. Both the attendees and the volunteer coaches enjoyed the sessions and learned a lot. It was nice to have classroom sessions where it was much easier to hear, ask questions and mingle with one another.
Colette Crabbe and assistant Rick Howell at the Clark County YMCA.
Common feedback from attendees was that more stroke development clinics are needed in a variety of locations throughout Oregon. Some would also love to have a turns and dive clinic. If anyone is interested in hosting a clinic at their local pool please send an email to Colettecrabbe@hotmail.com and she will help you set it up. Also, if you would like to help as a volunteer instructor send an email to Colette and she will let you know when there is an opportunity. The goal is to have a clinic at least 3 or 4 times a year.
Here is an example of a feedback received through emails:
From: Tom, Puget Sound Swimming:
Colette,
Let me say this stroke clinic was absolutely great. Thanks to you & all your instructors. The lightbulb has turned on in many of my movements. You had me at “swim in a rectangular box and kick in a bucket.” Brilliant. Look forward to seeing you around the pool. I may surprise you w/a video clip of my practice.
A Bientot,
Tom