Anonymous wrote:Just in case this is in reference to diving and not swimming. Dry land practices involve trampolines, boards, foam pits, belts/harnasses, etc. Focus is on form and timing. It’s a great way to learn a new dive without smacking the water a time or two.

+1 dryland is hugely beneficial for diving. Where my DD started diving (not in DMV), her team required 2 days diving and 2 days water. The dryland is helpful for some of the scary skills.

Just in case this is in reference to diving and not swimming. Dry land practices involve trampolines, boards, foam pits, belts/harnasses, etc. Focus is on form and timing. Its a great way to learn a new dive without smacking the water a time or two.

There are definitely benefits if done right, and doing other “land” sports is not necessarily the same because the goals are different. Cross training can be good but I wouldn’t expect an MS or HS team sport (for example) to help with swimming as much as targeted dry land training by a certified trainer who is tailoring workouts to swimmers.

PP from above-DC has moved to a team with dry land led by a trainer and says it’s more effective

Depends on the team/group

Some places go to a gym and do agility, core, and light weights

Other teams go things by the pool (jump rope, medicine ball etc)

Rarely is it optional

My DC had dry land with her coach at the pool and it was a joke but he wouldn’t let them skip

DC moved teams and has dry land at a gym led by a trainer (not coach) they says it’s much more effective

Anonymous wrote:Can someone explain to me what dry land is? Our club offers it for 13 & Over. My DC is not old enough yet, but I’d like to know what to expect when DC ages up soon. Is dry land needed? If DC plays other sports, too can those sports replace doing dry land workouts?

At our club the dryland workouts are either right before or right after practice so there isn’t an option to skip the dryland portion.

Not needed and of course other sports could fill the same role -- it's just cross-training.

The one potential advantage of doing it through the club is if the coaches really understand your DC's specific strengths and weaknesses and what they are working towards, the workouts could be tailored toward specific swimming goals. But this won't automatically happen (you need invested coaches and a certain approach to training that may or may not be present) and in any case, your DC doesn't need to go to this specific training class to get that kind of feedback or training suggestions. They could get them coaches during swim practice or from any private coaching you engage.

Stretching, jogging, etc.

Can someone explain to me what dry land is? Our club offers it for 13 & Over. My DC is not old enough yet, but I’d like to know what to expect when DC ages up soon. Is dry land needed? If DC plays other sports, too can those sports replace doing dry land workouts?