Cycling and running require a certain amount of skill, but these skills are relatively simple compared with the technique required in swimming.  Because of the complexity of swimming and difficulties in research design, strength training to increase swimming speed may appear to be ineffective.  It has been postulated that the lack of a positive transfer between dry-land strength gains and swimming propulsive force may be due to the specificity requirements of swim training.  In other words, common gym-based training patterns may not be specific enough to actual pool-based swim patterns to result in a notable positive transfer.

Proper Periodization of Strength during the General Adaptation Phase and Maximal Strength Phase and improved Specificity of Training during the Conversion Phase would yield great improvements in swimming speed and endurance for all competitive swimmers, especially for females, juniors, and everyone at the masters level. Continue reading →