Category Archives: Swimming

HOW TO BUY A SWIMMING PACE CLOCK

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While swimming involves some of the biggest equipment in the team sports industry, mainly the pool, there is still some smaller equipment that is needed to have swim meets and practice.  One piece of equipment you will need is a pace clock.  There are several models to choose from and this article will go over some of the options.

There are a few manufacturers of pace clocks and all of them have been in the swimming industry for many years.  The Competitor Swimming and Maric Timing pace clocks tend to be the most popular although the new models offered by Finis certainly offer the latest technology.  Sometimes I guess the models that are tried and true are hard to beat. 

When deciding on a pace clock one of the first decisions you’ll need to make is how you are going to power the unit.  Of course swimming being a water sport many people gravitate quickly to battery operated models to reduce any risk of electricity and water mixing.  Plug in electric models can be more convenient however as replacing batteries in the middle of a swim meet or practice will not be an issue.   I think this is the reason that plug in models are most popular.

The next decision to make is what size to purchase.  Swimming pace clocks come in a few different sizes.  The square models from Maric are available in 3 sizes.  The largest is 30 inches, then a 20 inch model and finally a 15 inch model.  The octagonal shape models by Competitor Swimming come in your choice of a 15 inch size or a 31 inch size.  Obviously the larger the clock the easier it is to read so my suggestion is that you purchase the largest model your budget will allow.  The smaller pace clocks are usually used for less competitive activities like water aerobics or personal training.  Some smaller models are only available in battery powered designs.

While swimming pace clocks do not feature the most high tech of modern technologies different models do offer different features.  The Competitor pace clocks feature a real Plexiglas® lens for durability and protection from splashing and weather.  The minute and second hands are made of a new alloy to resist warping.  The Maric pace clocks offer  a built in stand, shatter resistant acrylic lens and a vented design that lets the heat out of the clock to keep the hands and face from going out of shape.  Competitor pace clocks offer durable plastic cases designed for all weather use while Maric pace clocks use a rugged weather proof aluminum case that has been powder coated for durability. 

As you can see both of these manufacturers have completely different designs.  That being said both designs have functioned for years and become the most popular pace clocks for swimming.  No matter which of these designs you go with you know you will have trouble free operation.  You will find a complete line up of Competitor and Maric swimming pace clocks along with digital pace clocks and lap counters at www.morleyathletic.com.  While you’re there shop our entire selection of swimming equipment, supplies and swim suits for competitive swimmers and find out why Morley Athletic has been “A Family Tradition Since 1931!”.

Practice Like a Warrior

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Soldiers in every country train for battles.  Sports players practice for games.  What they do is very different but the reason they do it is not.  There are psychological and physical benefits to practicing for situations of high stress like battles and games.  Psychologically we train to build confidence under pressure.  We also train so that we become offensive and head into battle rather than shrink from it.  While sports are less life threatening than battles the same principles apply.  A football scrimmage with other team mates will help you mentally prepare for a game with an opposing team. 

But the real benefit of practicing is the physical side.  You can have all the confidence in the world but if you can’t get the ball in the goal you do not have a chance.  Muscle memory is where the big advantages come in.  Doing a task a few thousand times will help get it ingrained into your muscle and into your brain. Shoot a layup 2000 times and you will be able to do it like clockwork.  The greats of the greats like Michael Jordan spent a lot of extra time on the basketball court practicing.  He was out on the court after everybody left and this simple fact made him possibly the greatest basketball player of all time.  Once you do something enough it almost becomes an instinct.  Soldiers practice shooting, rushing bunkers, and jumping out of planes.  They do this so that when they go to battle they will have that instinct and the edge over the enemy.

The more you practice the better off you will be.  You do want to make sure that you train or practice the correct way as well because if you do it wrong 2000 times you will not have the advantage but a great disadvantage.

I would suggest checking out some coaching videos that will help you learn how to practice the right way.  You can find hundreds of them at www.morleyathletic.com.  There are videos on baseball, basketball, field hockey, football, lacrosse, soccer, softball, swimming, tennis, track & field, volleyball, water polo and wrestling.

Morelyathletic.com also has the equipment you need to practice with.  Get the gear and the info and start practicing like a warrior today.

Get In Shape For Summer Sports!

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If you play sports all year long you may be in pretty good shape but you may not be in shirtless shape.  Are you in shape for the shirts against skins games?  Who knows who will be watching from the sidelines!  If not it’s time to start working on that as the summer is about to heat up. 

When it comes to finding the right ways to lose that extra chub all it takes is a little extra effort.  An effective way of exercising is interval training.  This is pretty much a period of hard exercise followed by a period of rest.  There are many other articles out there that will get you the specifics on interval training.  I just want to give you some ideas on the exercise equipment that will help you get it done.

A basic item that has been used for years in training boxers and martial artists is the jump rope.  You’re laughing…?  When was the last time you tried jumping rope?  It is a simple cheap device that can get your heart pumping to the max.  Do a 5-10 minute interval training exercise with the jump rope and you will begin to respect it.  You can also get weighted jump ropes to help work out your arms.

Another basic item for interval training and working abs is the medicine ball.  The medicine ball has many variations these days but they all serve the same purpose.  They allow you to use a lot of the small stabilizer muscles in your body.  This will help tighten your abs and the rest of your body while making you more agile on the field.  Medicine balls are also great to use with a partner!

You can also use an agility ladder in your interval training program.  Your sports program may already use this but working it into an interval training program will get you results.  It will help your agility and increase your fat burning capacity.

One item that is required with any interval training is a stopwatch.  You can get a regular stopwatch, a table timer, or the jumbo wrist stopwatch.  The jumbo wrist stopwatch comes with a wrist strap, a lanyard, and a clipboard clip.  I would recommend the jumbo wrist stopwatch just because of its versatility.

So whether your in shape for the shirtless games or not it would be a good idea to try some interval training.  Summer is right around the corner and you don’t want to be one of the players with a shirt on when its 100 degrees out.

For more information and pricing on fitness items that will help you lose some flab go to www.morelyathletic.com.

How To Order Swimming Pool Lane Lines

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Every competition swimming pool has lane lines and once and a while they need to be replaced.  Then there are all the new swimming pools and cases when a complete set of lane lines is needed.  Many equipment managers are not swimming specific so information required when ordering lane lines is not common knowledge although it is very simple.

First let’s take a look at some of the available models.  The main choice is the diameter of the discs.  The usual options are 4” or 6”.  Both sizes are made in a similar fashion.  Their design features fins on either side of the individual discs that assist to calm the surface of the water.  The round discs are threaded on a stainless steel line that is stretched down the length of the pool and attached to either end. 

So the first and most important piece of information you’re going to need to place your order is the length required.  Once you’ve got that measured you can get down to the particulars.  Start by picking your colors.  Most customers order alternating colors for the main length of the lane line.  The standard is to alternate colors every 12” of lane line.   The last 15 feet of the lane lines is a solid color. SO let’s say your center colors are royal and gold alternating you should select either royal or gold for the last 15 feet of each end.  There is one more color choice you need to make and that is for the 15 meter markers or backstroke markers.  These 2 discs are set at 15 meters from the end of the line and must be completely different color such as red in our scenario.  These discs assist backstroke swimmers in judging the distance they have left to swim before they turn.  We wouldn’t want anyone bumping their heads at the end of the pool.

High quality lane lines such as the Gold Medal Lane Lines will feature quality materials like stainless steel cables, brackets and hooks so there is no chance or rusting.  Shipping can be quite expensive on lane lines but one quick tip is to buy a few at a time if possible.  That will divide the shipping charge up more making the per piece cost much lower and can save you hundreds of dollars over ordering 1 lane line per year to replace existing lines.  If this is your first lane line purchase you should also purchase enough storage reels to hold your lanes lines.  Storage reels make it easy to transport your lines and assist in keeping them in good condition.  A storage reel cover should also be purchase, especially if your lane lines will be stored outdoors.  This will protect them from the sun as well as the other elements.

You will find a complete selection of high quality lane lines at www.morleyathletic.com along with all of your other swimming needs.

Stopwatch or Transformer?

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Do you have problems seeing your stopwatch?  Do you have trouble figuring out what each button is because they are so small?  Do you wish your stopwatch had bigger digits and was easier to read?  How about versatility, do you wish it could go on your wrist, be held on your hand, or even be clipped to a clip board? 

Well there is a solution to your problems; it is the Referee Jumbo Wrist Stopwatch.  This stopwatch offers a big digit display. Each number measures ½” high by ¼” wide.  It is great for sports like football, soccer, wrestling, basketball, lacrosse or any game and fitness timing.  Referees and coaches alike are just raving about it.

The Referee Jumbo Wrist Stopwatch features: 1/100 second precision, maximum count up 9 hours, 59 minutes, and 59 seconds.  It also counts down making this timer very versatile.  It counts down from maximum 23 hours, 59 minutes and 59 seconds.  It has 3 count down modes:  count down and repeat count down from preset, count down and then up from zero, and count down and stop at zero.

It has standard 12/24 hour format and a daily alarm with hourly chime.  Also when it gets a little darker out The Referee Jumbo Wrist Watch has electro-luminescent black lighting.

It also comes with a wrist lanyard so you can hold it in your hand.  Last but not least it comes with a clipboard clip which allows you to attaché the timer to a clipboard, your belt, or your clothing.

Also I should mention it is water resistant which means that if it gets a few raindrops on it there is no need to worry.  It doesn’t mean that you can go swimming with it. 

Check out the video review at www.morleyathletic.com  Order yours Today!