Advanced Swimming: Steps to Success (Steps to Success Activity Series) (Paperback)

~ David Thomas (Author) "Since this book is a second-level text, some knowledge of a rudimentary crawl stroke is assumed..." (more)
Key Phrases: back crawl armstroke, prone float position, overarm sidestroke, Success Goal, Detecting Errors, Execution Phase (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Now that you've mastered the basics of swimming, continue your steps to success with Advanced Swimming: Steps to Success. This second-level swimming book combines the knowledge and experience of master teacher David Thomas with the latest research on learning and teaching swimming.

Advanced Swimming: Steps to Success is a breakthrough in sport skill instruction through its development of complete learning progressions--the steps to success. These 18 steps

• take you through the evolution of various swimming strokes,

• review and improve your crawl and breaststroke,

• introduce the new competitive back and butterfly strokes,

• present the competitive turns, and

• introduce you to the nontraditional world of "watermanship"--mastery of the aquatic element.

Like its predecessor, Swimming: Steps to Success, each step

• explains why the concept or skill is important,

• identifies the keys to proper technique,

• helps you correct common errors,

• explains how to practice each skill in realistic ways,

• lists specific performance goals for each drill,

• gives you a summary checklist for evaluating proper technique, and

• lets you proceed at your own pace.

With Advanced Swimming: Steps to Success, you will bring your strokes up to competitive standards as well as prepare yourself for a lifetime of swimming enjoyment.

From the Publisher

"If you're a recreational swimmer and would like to become more proficient, or a runner turned triathlete and you'd like to improve your swimming, Advanced Swimming can help. . . . This is a very 'concentrated' book. There are no surplus words or sentences. It sticks to the point all the time, and there is plenty of explanation to justify the author's advice. The style is clear and easy to read. If you are anxious to improve the efficienty of your swimming, or to improve your times in competition, this book and some hours of practice may be just what you're looking for. You'd better keep it in a plastic bag, because you'll want it right beside you at the water's edge!"

Running and Fitness News

"Advanced Swimming: Steps to Success provides an in-depth structured resource for the advanced swimmer."

Jane Katz, EdD Professor of Physical Education and author of FitnessWorks!TM

". . . Dave Thomas' text can lead to more than raising the level of proficiency in general watermanship. He brings the swimmer into an experience which yields personal satisfaction, delight, excitement, exhilaration, enjoyment, and pleasure from the aquatic world."

Edward J. Shea Professor Emeritus Southern Illinois University-Carbondale

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 168 pages
• Publisher: Human Kinetics (November 18, 1991)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0880113898
• ISBN-13: 978-0880113892
• Product Dimensions: 10.9 x 8.3 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #684,226 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

27 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Poorly illustrated. Not very helpful., April 1, 2000

By	Ned Ryerson (California, USA) - See all my reviews

I bought this book to improve my crawl stroke and to learn butterfly. This book does not help me.

The book, 8.5x11, 159 pages, has 18 chapters ("steps"). Just to give an example, the butterfly stroke occupies 4 chapters (the dolphin kick, the arm pull, the coordination, and the turn). In all these chapters there isn't a single series of complete illustration. All the figures only show this or that segment of the whole process.

What's more, the drawings in the butterfly section don't even match the cover photo. The same poor quality illustration is all over the book.

If you need a book to tell you how to swim like a professional, I would recommend one with actual photos (instead of drawings) of both frontal and side view. "Competitive Swimming" (from Sports Illustrated) is a better book in this sense. If you are already a pro, the final chaptor "whatermanship" may interest you. It shows how do do a few fun water games, like, forming a multiperson centipede...

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good diagramatic approach book, August 14, 1999

By A Customer

A good book if this is you are looking for a simple to understand basic book. Frankly like many other sports, you cannot just swim by looking at the pictures. I wish the book has more step-by-step pictures.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Good efficient program,improved my speed and stamina., November 30, 1998

By A Customer

Good pictures, good directions, good systems of instructions. It corrected my bad habits. IT IS WORTH IT.