Building The Key Skills
Volume I
Propulsion
You can only yell “hold more water” so many times before it stops meaning anything.
You’ve seen it:
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Some swimmers try to pull harder and don’t go any faster.
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Some get shorter and choppier the moment they get tired.
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Some have no idea what good propulsive skills even feel like.
You can build all the fitness you want.
If they’re not consistently creating more propulsion with every stroke and kick, their performance will be limited.
The problem isn’t effort.
The problem is that most attempts are improving propulsion are:
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Vague (“better catch”)
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Impossible to scale beyond a couple of swimmers in a lane
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Bolted on as “drill time” instead of integrated into the real work
Building The Key Skills – Volume I: Propulsion shows you how to turn propulsion into a trainable skill that fits inside the sets you already write.
When you get Building The Key Skills – Volume I: Propulsion, you’ll receive a digital manual (PDF) plus video walk‑throughs for all example sets.
I’ve spent the last 20+ years coaching swimmers from beginners to Olympians and building skill development systems for clubs around the world. This book is the exact process I use to help teams build more pull and kick without sacrificing real training.
If you already know propulsion is a limiter for your group, you can get instant access here:
What This Resource Covers
1. The Key Principles of Propulsion
You’ll learn:
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The core principles that govern how swimmers actually move water backward.
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How those principles show up in freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke, butterfly, and underwater kicking.
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Why focusing on “big levers” like surface area, duration, limb acceleration, and powering the stroke simplifies everything else.
Instead of micromanaging joint angles, you’ll know exactly what to look for and what to ignore. That makes it easier to spot opportunities for improvement as swimmers move through practice.
2. Propulsion-Building Skill Development Strategies
You’ll see how to use:
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Performance strategies (speed, stroke count, stroke rate, and combinations) to force change.
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Sensory strategies (resistance, overspeed, hand postures, isolation, and drills) to target change.
We go through:
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Each performance strategy in detail
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Each sensory strategy in detail
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How to combine them so swimmers improve propulsion while training hard, not just when they’re fresh and thinking about it
All of this is designed for large groups and real training loads, so you can get rid of two of the biggest problems in skill development: engagement and transfer to racing.
3. Set Design Framework
Strategies only matter if they show up in sets your swimmers actually do.
You’ll get a simple framework to:
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Decide what propulsive skill you want to improve (upper vs lower body, surface area, duration, limb speed, etc.)
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Choose the right training context (skill, endurance, race training, or speed)
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Pick the right tools (which performance and sensory strategies to combine)
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Match it to what your swimmers are actually ready for
Then we walk through:
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How to write the set
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How to implement it
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How to adjust it on the fly and over time
So you’re not guessing. You’re running a process.
Ready to start building more propulsion into tomorrow’s practice?
Bonus: The Propulsion Implementation Pack
To make sure you can put all of this to work immediately, you also get:
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70+ example sets that show how to build propulsion principles into:
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Speed training
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Endurance training
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Race training
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Skill training
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Across all five strokes
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Video walk-throughs for every example set
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What each component is doing
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Why it’s there
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What swimmers should be focused on
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4 set-writing checklists
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Different starting points and angles for creating propulsion-focused sets
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So you always have a next option when something stops working
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You’re not just getting ideas. You’re getting finished, pressure-tested examples and the thinking behind them.
Ready to plug these sets and checklists straight into your season plan?
Who This Is For
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Age-group coaches who want to build better pulls and kicks without giving up training time.
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Senior and college coaches who already talk about “holding water” but want a system to build it across the whole team.
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Any coach who knows propulsion is the key limiter for a lot of swimmers but feels stuck between theory and what actually fits in practice.
If you’re writing sets and you want your swimmers to create more propulsion – not just get more tired – this is for you.
Price, Guarantee, and How To Get It
Price: $69
This product has a lifetime guarantee. If you’re not 100% satisfied with your investment, email me and I’ll refund your money quickly. No questions asked.
If you’re on the fence, you might as well see if Building The Key Skills – Volume I: Propulsion is right for you. There’s no risk. If it’s not helpful, you get your money back.
Prefer PayPal?
Open a new tab and go to www.paypal.me/masteringflowLLC.
Include your name, email, and “Building The Key Skills Volume I Propulsion” in the notes, and I’ll connect with you.
Keep it simple…
Andrew
FAQS
What topics are covered?
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I describe the key principles of how swimmers create propulsion.
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I show you what those principles look like in action.
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Then I cover ALL the strategies you can use to help swimmers learn to create more propulsion.
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I demonstrate the different ways these strategies can be used.
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I provide you with a simple framework for writing sets using these strategies.
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I provide dozens of examples of sets that you can use to learn from, implement directly in your workouts, or modify for your swimmers.
Are stroke specific strategies discussed?
Fortunately, the principles of propulsion are foundational and apply to all strokes. Since the strategies are based upon the principles, the strategies apply equally to all strokes. Drills are one of the strategies, so stroke specific drills are suggested. The remaining strategies are all effective independent of which stroke a set is designed to improve. You may find that you prefer using different strategies for different strokes, or you prefer to use the strategies in different ways for different strokes.
Are videos included?
Yes, the principles will be described and explained in written text. They will then be shown via videos of elite swimmers performing all the strokes. The goal is to provide a comprehensive understanding of what swimmers need to do to create as much propulsion as possible.
Will the example sets be explained?
While seeing example sets is helpful, understanding the reasoning behind those sets is even more helpful. For each set, I’ve included a short video where I walk through the components of the set, why they’re included, and what swimmers should be focused on. When you understand the why behind the set, it’s easier to then modify existing sets or create your own. Sets for all the strategies are included.
What if I’m not sure how to put this into practice?
This is a practical manual, not a theoretical one. While I certainly explain the why behind everything, the goal is to help you USE these ideas. There are clear strategies and clear progressions. There are a LOT of examples that you can either use right away or use as inspiration for designing your own sets. The purpose of this information is specifically to show you how to put it into practice.
Can this information be used in a large group setting?
Absolutely. It is specifically designed for large group setting where it can be difficult to develop skills. One of the main objectives of this manual is to outline strategies that are effective in large groups.
Will these strategies lead to skill improvements during races?
While there are no guarantees, most of the skill development work will take place with speed challenges, fatigue challenges, or endurance challenges. If swimmers can learn to execute their skills under pressure in training, they stand the best chance of making it happen in competition.
I don't want to give up training time. Will I be able to use this information?
These strategies are not intended to replace training time. They are intended to be used DURING training. The idea is to take what you're already doing and make slight modifications to enhance skill development WITHOUT changing your training.
I struggle to get engagement with my swimmers. Is this information appropriate for my situation?
The strategies included in this manual set clear goals for swimmers and they provide clear feedback to swimmers. Clear goals and clear feedback are the best way to help facilitate engagement in swimmers, especially when they can see their progress.
My swimmers don't understand how to balance stroke rate and stroke length. Will this help them?
Yes. Part of the process of creating propulsion is learning how to use stroke length and stroke rate to create speed. Targeted strategies are used to help build this skill set.
