Cold Water, Percussion, and a Reality Check

World Aquatics updated the backstroke finish rule (SW 6.3) so that once a swimmer’s head passes the 5 m mark before the wall, they’re allowed to fully submerge—which means they can potentially dolphin kick underwater into the finish instead of staying on the surface for a “classic” touch.

Pre-cooling boosts work in the heat. Internal/external precooling can enhance intermittent and endurance performance—slushies, ice towels, cool rooms.

Technique scoping review. Groundstrokes/serves: sequencing and EMG timing themes guide cueing and camera-based feedback.

80/20 (or pyramidal) isn’t dogma—use event specificity. Blend polarized foundations with race-specific threshold/CP work in the final meso.

HIIT still works for trained folks—dose wisely. Meta-analyses show performance gains in trained athletes; >8-week blocks favor strength outcomes too.

Vertical & horizontal FV profiling. Use CMJ/sprint profiling to locate deficits and predict change in jump/sprint with targeted work.

Max-strength vs. plyo vs. endurance for starts. Head-to-head comparisons show program choice changes block time & flight; periodize across the season.

HRV-guided meso design. Let HRV “earn” intensity days; keep volume with low-strain fillers when amber/red.

Serve kinematics map the big rocks. Meta-analysis identifies trunk/shoulder–hip separation, toss location, and knee/ankle work as key serve markers.