Coach Hawke begins building the start from the basics, with simplified deck-level diving drills that focus on hand position and lining up the body for an optimal angle of entry. On the block drills stress attaining an ideal angle of entry. Hawke shares varying hand positioning drills that assist in finding the style of dive that is best for the individual swimmer. Hawke's "full start" instruction includes a checklist of proper "take your mark" positioning and specific instruction for positioning the feet and hands. Cesar Cielo and Fred Bousquet, 2008 Olympic medalists, perform full starts while Hawke contrasts each start style. Hawke teaches effective breakout strategies and techniques that carry optimal dive speed through the breakout stroke cycle. Quick and Hawke next share Relay Exchange instruction that features demonstration of three different take-off options from simple to complex. In the Finishes segment, Quick and Hawke present technical specifics for quality finishing.

41 minutes. 2008.

David Marsh believes that the most immediate and dramatic time drops a swimmer can achieve lie within the start. In this presentation, Coach Marsh includes instruction for the forward, the back and relay starts. For both the forward and back start instruction, Marsh begins with "agility" drills that will help you put a "jump" into your start to create a stronger "launch" off of the blocks. Marsh also assists you with proper foot placement and body positioning in the start set-up. Marsh follows with instruction that shows you how to get into the water cleanly and hold a strong tight line to optimize carrying entry speed from the dive into the breakout. Included are start demonstrations for all four competitive strokes. Marsh also includes both basic and advanced instruction for relay take-offs and shares the step-up relay start techniques that led his Auburn teams to repeated dominant and record breaking relay performances.

48 minutes. 2007.

Rick Demont begins this presentation teaching the forward start. Demont includes streamline entry drills that are designed to "groove" a swimmers feel of "holding the line" off of the start. On the block, Demont shares a thorough progression of setting up the track start, including placement of the feet, preferred leg angles, hand positioning, the "pull"off of the blocks, the flight, entry and streamline into breakout. Demont identifies some common challenges swimmers face with the forward start and offers insight into drills that will help a swimmer overcome start deficiencies. The use of three different swimmers greatly enhances this start segment. Next, Augie Busch presents a thorough breakdown of how to teach and coach the backstroke start. He includes the set up for the block/wall, the bar release technique, the preferred flight pattern, entry streamline and breakout. Busch uses two highly successful backstrokers in this segment; each of who utilize a different release and flight pattern with the hands/arms that will greatly benefit your coaching! From there the coaches share finish techniques for each of the strokes. In the final segment; Relay Starts, you will see the technique and strategies that Arizona swimmers use for fast, efficient and successful relay exchanges. Frank Busch narrates and critiques a medley relay and a free relay exchange series.

62 minutes. 2006

Coach Quick's start drill sequences are designed have the swimmer enter the entire body through the "hole" in the water and carry that speed into the stroke. Beginning with the forward start, Coach Quick leads his young demonstrators through a series of kneeling drills before moving up to the actual block start position. Quick utilizes the track start that affords maximum stability on the block and allows a quick take off. Quick then shares a lead up sequence for the backstroke start that is designed to get the hips over the water on the start before moving to the full backstroke starts. In the Turns segment of this video, Quick begins with turns for free and backstroke. Starting with the basics of body rotation, Quick progresses through a series of drills that result in teaching a swimmer that the tighter you can tuck the faster you can spin and the faster the turn. Quick also shares free and backstroke breakout strategies that include both a dolphin kick breakout and a flutter kick breakout. Quick then moves into turns for the breaststroke and butterfly. He builds the turn from the basics of teaching body rotation along with mid pool drills that require a tight tuck and fast spin before teaching the full turn at the wall for fly and breast. Quick teaches the basics of the breakouts for fly and the breaststroke and includes detailed instruction on how to do an efficient pullout. Quick then goes through all of the turns for the individual medley.

58 minutes. 2006.