Real-time data are driving the new wave of data-driven transformations in sports. TritonWear metrics analyze a swimmer’s behaviour in the water. This data is used to optimize strengths and identify key areas of improvement. More importantly, real-time data are utilized to track, measure and evaluate your progress to train smarter.
Looking at the individual metrics offers plenty of information. If you want to take it a step further, combining data from different metrics can provide even more insight into improving overall performance.
Tracking your metrics during workouts long-term will help you develop accountability over your performance. There is no getting away with a poor turn and push-off, hoping the coach didn’t see you. Taking ownership of your skill execution will help you start mastering it. The key to achieving any goal is consistency. Having a visual display of your skill execution will have you think twice about slacking during turns. Your inherent desire to excel will push you to outperform yourself.
Observing and analyzing your metrics will offer you great insights into your swimming. You will start seeing patterns in metrics you excel in and identify others you need to improve on. As swimmers, we often overlook our weaknesses and even intentionally try to avoid them. We all have had that swim friend who goes at the end of the lane during the kick sets. Comparing to someone else discourages you from conquering your weaknesses. You feel that you will always be behind, so what’s the point?
The truth is that identifying and mastering your weaknesses can be the best return on investment. All you have to do is track your metrics to outperform yourself every single time; the results will follow.
Taking the time to familiarize yourself with individual metrics and how they fluctuate from practice to practice will help you gain a clear image of your swim profile. To take it a step further, combining data from different metrics can provide even more insight into improving overall performance. This enables fine-tuning of workouts for more targeted training. It also promotes coach and swimmer communication to ensure that personal goals and training are both aligned.
Who said data has to be boring? What if you could compete with your swim friends in any given metric? Challenge any of your swim friends to a metric swim-off, even those that have moved to another club or moved up to another group. You can now add yourself and anyone else you wish into your own ‘’team’’ and finally end the long debate of whose start is better. Who said you couldn’t beat the fastest swimmer in the group in a metric swim-off?
If you are a coach with access to a big screen or TV on deck, get your swimmers engaged with real-time data by running a metric-focused competition during your workout. After all, it is best to yield great skill execution and fast times while making it fun for everyone.
SWOLF practice meet anyone? Choose a metric you want your swimmers to compete in and display it on your screen. Each swimmer’s tile will display their personal metric. Swimmers can see exactly how they perform against themselves and others in the pool. As a coach, you can view everyone’s performance at once. Interpreting your swimmers' individual scores will make it easier and faster for you to deliver personalized feedback.
There are several ways you can engage with real-time data and reap its many benefits. Tracking metrics will help you develop accountability, strengthen the coach and swimmer relationship, train smart and test your competitive edge with metric-focused games. The next step is to learn how to leverage real-time data after practice.