What can I expect from the 8-week TriDot Pool School program?
TriDot Pool School (TPS) is a simple yet highly effective program for people who want to develop or improve their freestyle swim form. TPS uses a hybrid instructional approach consisting of (1) a multi-week period of dryland drills done at home guided by video instruction followed by (2) an in-person weekend workshop in the pool with a 1:4 coach-to-athlete ratio and (3) supplemented by online support and video critiques.
Is TPS suitable for athletes of various swim abilities?
Yes! The step-by-step teaching process used at TPS (1) allows beginners build a solid swim stroke from the ground up and (2) helps stronger swimmers enhance their efficiency and correct the root issues that currently block them from reaching their full potential
How is the TPS curriculum different from other swim instruction programs?
During the TPS program, you will be taught Functional Freestyle™ developed by our team of elite instructors that is highly efficient and flaw resistant. We use plain language (not technical swim lingo) and teach in a simple, easy-to-follow manner. Functional Freestyle builds your swim form from the foundation up, unlike other programs that focus on fixing isolated stroke flaws (symptoms) rather than the root causes. We’ll work together to develop and fortify your swim form to help ensure you maintain it and prevent future bad habits from creeping in.
What is the premise behind the hybrid instructional method of Functional Freestyle™?
A foundational instructional element of Functional Freestyle™ is a muscle memory sequence called the Miyagi Method™ developed by our elite instructor team. The innovative approach employs the Miyagi Method to develop muscle memory required to correctly perform the essential swim movements prior to attending the in-person pool sessions. It’s similar to how Mr. Miyagi in The Karate Kid teaches Daniel-san karate by first having him do several days of household chores like painting the fence, sanding the floor, and waxing cars. This approach allows you to build muscle memory for several aspects of your stroke simultaneously and makes the in-pool sessions highly productive. You will improve more in a few weeks than you would in many months using traditional approaches.
Are there any prerequisites to registering for TPS?
Prior to attending TPS, participants must already have basic swim ability or capable of swimming with their face in the water and completing a lap of a 25-meter pool kicking with fins in 30 seconds or less. This ensures that all participants have the basic ability to perform the drills necessary to complete the program. For those who do not already have basic swim ability, we encourage them to contact one of our coaches for individual one-on-one instruction.
What equipment is required for TPS?
There are a few items of equipment you will need for TPS (for training leading up to the in-person workshop and during the workshop) in addition to a swimsuit and goggles. This equipment is found in the links below:
- Long Blade Swim Fins for Lap Swimming(~$27)
- Swim bands($30)
- Snorkel for Lap Swimming ($30)
- Kickboard ($25)
What is required for a registrant in the weeks leading up to the two-day in person workshop?
You will be asked to complete a series of “Prep Work” in the weeks leading up to the in-person workshop. As soon as you register for TPS, you can login to the TPS portal and start watching your Prep Work videos, doing the drills, and building your muscle memory. You can post videos for critique and comments on form.
What if I have questions during the Prep Work phase of the TPS Program?
Throughout the learning process, you’ll have direct access to the TPS Community Forum where you can ask questions, discuss equipment and other TPS topics, and post videos for critique. You will also be introduced to your lane instructors two weeks in advance of your in-person workshop. We encourage you to ask your instructor any questions you have leading up the workshop. The TriDot Pool School Instructors are passionate about engaging with you and helping you improve and succeed throughout the TPS experience.
What can I expect at my TPS weekend workshop?
Your weekend workshop will be a fun and highly engaging blend of instruction, demonstrations, and drills in and out of the water with frequent breaks to rest and reflect. You will be grouped with swimmers of similar ability and taught step-by-step how to turn your muscle memory into full-stroke swimming that’s smooth and fast. If you are like all the other TPS alumni, you’ll be amazed at your improvement and confidence! In addition to thorough and effective swim instruction, you will have the opportunity to socialize and meet other TPS attendees from all over the U.S. and abroad. Our registrants enjoy two group dinners during the weekend. We also plan and encourage registrants to participate in an informal group workout Saturday morning. The TPS weekend is concluded with a fun instructor/athlete lunch Sunday after the pool session.
What can I expect after attending the in-person two-day TPS workshop?
After your workshop, you will receive a personalized progress report from your lane instructors with their feedback, determination of your completed grade level, and instructions on incorporating TPS drills into your swim workouts. After you are a TPS alumni, you will be added to the TPS Alumni FB network where you can ask additional questions, upload videos for feedback, and “pay it forward” by offering your feedback and encouragement to others as they begin the process.
How do I continue my development after TPS?
As a TPS alumni after completing the weekend workshop, you will have access through the TPS portal to a series of stroke development video lessons that will reinforce what was learned during your workshop and continue your stroke improvement process. You will be able to progress through these lessons at your own pace and in your local pool. You will have access to these for a full three months following your workshop.
How do I find out where and when TriDot Pool Schools are being held?
You can find and register for specific TPS workshops in various locations at www.tridotpoolschool.com.
What is the policy on refunds and transfers?
Registrations are non-refundable but may be rescheduled up to four weeks prior to the first day of the TPS weekend workshop. Because lane space is limited, venue and instructional commitments have already been confirmed, and new registrants would need multiple weeks to complete the Prep Work, we are not able to reschedule after this time. Up to four weeks prior to the first day of the TPS workshop, registrations can be transferred to any open (not FULL) TPS workshop listed on the TPS website.
If I live in a larger U.S. metro, when can I expect a TPS event to be scheduled near me?
The TPS staff is working diligently to build instructor teams in near all major U.S. cities. We are certifying TPS instructors daily and launching TPS events in cities across the U.S. weekly. Please check the TPS website often to see new TPS workshops opening daily for registration!
Why can’t the TPS curriculum be taught virtually?
There are countless sources of virtual content related to improving your swim. Most of them lead to further frustration and futility. TPS is committed to actually transforming performance not merely transferring knowledge. To ensure your performance improvement, instructors must observe, evaluate, and provide feedback to you in person and in the moment both on dryland and in the pool. Our TPS instructors provide verbal and physical feedback thru hands-on instruction and demonstration while you master your swim stroke. Quite often, the critical element for understanding and/or behavioral change is very subtle or nuanced and requires the instructor working with you face to face to recognize and resolve it. Instructors provide you with feedback with every length of the pool to tighten the learning curve and eliminate wasteful, and possibly harmful, laps of you swimming improperly without knowing it thus reinforcing bad muscle memory and hindering progression.