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What Floats Yer Boat? by Coach Emmett Hines — Exercises that will teach you how to find your most effective posture, line and balance for minimum-resistance swimming.

(see our alphabetical list)

Elite-Level Fish-Like Swimming, by Swimmer Agnes Godfrey — Notes of an elite-level swimmer’s road to success.

Houdini Swimming, by Coach Emmett Hines — This short piece draws an interesting parallel between great magicians and great swimmers.

Moving Mountains, by Coach Emmett Hines — A few training thoughts inspired by a Grand Canyon sunset.

Postman Cometh, The; by Coach Emmett Hines — I have a theory: great natural athletes are Lazy. For success in swimming you should aspire to the same ideal.

A Reason to Swim, by Edwige Fortier — A touching letter sent to her coach shortly after losing her father to cancer.

Splash and the XXLg Jockstrap, by Coach Emmett Hines — A few comments on turnover rate vs. DPS as it relates to one notable swimmer in the author’s observational experience.

Steppin' Out, by Coach Emmett Hines — Thoughts on how to make huge improvements in your swimming (or any other aspect of your life) over time.

Swimming—It’s Not Just Conditioning Anymore, by Chantal Pease — How swimming helped speed her recovery from cancer surgery.

You Own Your Attitude, by Coach Emmett Hines — Coach’s pithy comments on your view of the world and why sunglasses are a must on even the cloudiest days.

Alchemy of Transformation, by Coach Emmett Hines — Another suggestion for changing newfound skills into ingrained habits.

Better Kicking, by Coach Emmett Hines — Originally a response to a Swim Magazine coaches poll asking how to improve kicking speed, this short article offers some ideas about moving faster through the water when your arms aren't involved.

Cigarette Break? by Coach Emmett Hines — A non-conformist perspective on the efficacy of simply working harder in the face of fatigue.

Bubble Leech Extinction by Coach Emmett Hines — Help stamp out this vermine common to chlorinated water environments. Read this article to familiarize yourself with the symptoms of infestation so you can be part of the solution.

A Fitness Ruse to Avoid, by Coach Emmett Hines — Should someone do a lot of swimming on his own in order to “get fit” prior to joining a swim workout group or otherwise working with a coach? Good question. Read this for a good answer.

Get a (better) Grip!, by Coach Emmett Hines — This series of 6 articles explores a much misunderstood aspect of swimming - what it means to have a grip on the water (aka "feel for the water") and how one might go about improving same. Offers a progression of drills toward that end.

Part I (Introduction) - Explains what "feel" and "grip" are and defines some terms that are used throughout the series.

Part II (Don't get sucked in) - Foundational concepts and some drills done in shallow water.

Part III (Alice Through the Looking Glass) - Propulsion drills with 2 arms.

Part IV (The Alice Variations) - Propulsion drills with alternating arms.

Part V (This Ain't Your Father's 'S' Shaped Stroke) - Full-stroke swimming.

Addendum (Other Drills) - Additional drills to develop your grip on the water.

H2O Standard PeRP Sets, by Coach Emmett Hines — Explains exactly how we implement the “PeRP” set concept in the H2Ouston Swims program, including how we establish initial PeRPs, how we swim and “score” each repeat, how we record practice performance information and, finally, how swimmers can see improvements over time.

Hops, Whirlpools, Shoulder Thangs and Stretches, by Coach Emmett Hines — Use these tried and true activities to improve skills and prevent shoulder injury.

Postman Cometh, The; by Coach Emmett Hines — I have a theory: great natural athletes are Lazy. For success in swimming you should aspire to the same ideal.

Training the Right Stuff, by Coach Emmett Hines — Introduces the concept of Personal Reference Performance (PeRP) sets that help the swimmer stay focused on making the right choices in the constant trade-off of stroke length vs stroke rate as fatigue sets in.

What Quickens Thine Heart? by Coach Emmett Hines — A few thoughts about using heart rates in your training as you search for easier speed.

Bottom Up Swimming, by Coach Emmett Hines — This 3-part series explores the proper use of your legs to initiate core body rotation, and how to transition from fundamental drilling to high speed swimming while keeping your strokes connected to your core rotations:

Part 1: Let Your Legs Drive Your Long Axis Strokes — Shows how to find your most effective core rotational muscles and get them connected to your strokes. Part 2: Your Swimming Machine — Uses your car's drive train as a model for your swimming drive train. Part 3: The Spin Doctor's Prescription — Explains how to rev up your swimming machine's engine and shift into high gear.

Breathe How Often? by Coach Emmett Hines — Coach’s thoughts on how often you should breathe while swimming.

Get a (better) Grip!, by Coach Emmett Hines — This series of 6 articles explores a much misunderstood aspect of swimming - what it means to have a grip on the water (aka "feel for the water") and how one might go about improving same. Offers a progression of drills toward that end.

Part I (Introduction) - Explains what "feel" and "grip" are and defines some terms that are used throughout the series. Part II (Don't get sucked in) - Foundational concepts and some drills done in shallow water. Part III (Alice Through the Looking Glass) - Propulsion drills with 2 arms. Part IV (The Alice Variations) - Propulsion drills with alternating arms. Part V (This Ain't Your Father's 'S' Shaped Stroke) - Full-stroke swimming.Addendum (Other Drills) - Additional drills to develop your grip on the water.

Go Postal, by Rob Rollins — Rob describes the surprising results of his experimentation with various stroke counts during the One Hour Swim—how he went faster with less effort. With added comments from Coach Emmett Hines

In Search of the Dreaded Dropped Elbow, by Coach Emmett Hines — Stalking and killing this loathsome but common creature is easier than you may think.

New Year’s Day Swim—The Aftermath, by Rob Rollins — Sent to his coach the day after the H2O 1999 New Year’s Day Swim. Rob talks about how he avoided practicing bad technique for 9900 yards—and the surprising results.

Questionable Stroke Counting, by Coach Emmett Hines — Answering the oft-asked question of WHY one might choose to swim at stroke counts lower than one would use in competitions.

Resistance and Submission, by Emmett Hines — Various techniques to combat (or, more accurately, avoid) the unrelenting forces of Nature.

Slip-Slid’n’ Away, by Coach Emmett Hines — An explanation of Short Axis Pulse (SAP), the fundamental movement of excellent breaststroke and excellent butterfly, and the primary skill drill that developes the ability to execute this motion with efficiency and flow.

Splash and the XXLg Jockstrap, by Coach Emmett Hines — A few comments on turnover rate vs. DPS as it relates to one notable swimmer in the author’s observational experience.

Surfing Monkeys in a Parallel Universe, by Coach Emmett Hines — Shows how lots of swimmers make their workouts (not to mention their races) tougher than necessary, toward no good end.

Swimming in Circles, by Coach Emmett Hines — Explains the why’s and how’s of front quadrant swimming for more efficient freestyle.

Tricks of Mother Nature, by Coach Emmett Hines — Pound for pound, the most effective training/technique aids in your swim bag are probably the most under-utilized (if you even have them at all).

Vive le Papillon! by Coach Emmett Hines — A simple but effective way to extend your range for meaningful butterfly way past the first length. Use the enclosed method and strategy to avoid doing ButterStruggle while easily training for ButterFly of almost any distance.

Waiting to Inhale, by Coach Emmett Hines — Explains the most common error in breathing (I nearly guarantee YOU do it) and how to correct the problem.

Wherefore Art Thou Kicking? by Coach Emmett Hines — There are three (3) common uses of kicking in swimming — not all of equal value. Why are you kicking?

Whose Side are You On, Anyway?, by Emmett Hines — Admonitions and rationalizations about git'n' off yer stomach for faster swimming.

"Yer Middle Name Ain’t ‘Gumby’" by Coach Emmett Hines — Exploring some of the factors that might make you rethink the placement of your arms as they enter the water and extend out in front of you in freestyle.

Passing the Oafs, by Coach Emmett Hines — More detail about how to capitalize on your pushoffs than you will ever really want to know.

Rowdyness and Ignominy, by Coach Emmett Hines — Some specific drills and activities to help you leave the oafs behind on turns (as well as another pool toy you can add to your bag of aquatic tricks).

Slim & Darrel, by Coach Emmett Hines — There are reasons why your flip turns are not yielding the same results that the Olympians are getting from theirs. Slim and Darrel are ready to show you a better way!

Better Kicking, by Coach Emmett Hines — Originally a response to a Swim Magazine coaches poll asking how to improve kicking speed, this short article offers some ideas about moving faster through the water when your arms aren't involved.

Claim Your Lollipop, by Coach Emmett Hines — How tall can you stretch yourself out to be on land and how do you do it? Do you swim that tall or do you swim schlumpy instead?

Critical Mass in the Twilight Zone by Coach Emmett Hines — A whole different way to think of balance, body line and posture in swimming. If you think Pilates and similar methodologies are good stuff (or even if you don't) check this out.

Of Air and Gravity, by Coach Emmett Hines — Learn why your hips and legs are lower in the water than your head and shoulders, why this is a no-no and how to solve the problem without wasting precious energy “kicking” them to the surface. Are you a pull-buoy addict? Start your rehab here!

Pilates and Swimming by Andrew Bruce - An H2O swimmer has some insightful feedback after following Coach's suggestion that, in his search for aquatic nirvana, he eschew weight training in favor of Pilates.

Question of Balance, A; by Coach Emmett Hines — An exploration of true meaning of “balance” in the water and the dire consequences of not having this essential skill firmly seated at the core of your swimming habits.

Fiber Aquatics, by Henry Mecredy — Explains a neat phenomenon you may have experienced in the pool but not really understood.

Houdini Swimming, by Coach Emmett Hines — This short piece draws an interesting parallel between great magicians and great swimmers.

Swimming Into The Future, by Coach Emmett Hines — The author stretches the limit of imagination with regard to information technology, athletic competition and a possible replacement for your leaky goggles.

Keeping Track, by Coach Emmett Hines - A tool to move you off the frustrating “learning rollercoaster” and onto the much more satisfying “learning curve.”

Seeding Policy Woes, by Henry Mecredy — An insightful discussion addressing seeding methods used in Masters swimming.

Swimming the Straight and Narrow, by Coach Emmett Hines — A simple strategy for swimming straighter without looking for the stupid buoys so often.

Goggles of the Future, by Coach Emmett Hines — Coach’s crystal ball shows what goggles might mean to us in the near—or maybe distant—future.

Keeping Your Perfect Goggles Perfect, by Coach Emmett Hines — Helpful hints on lengthening the useful life of your goggles.

Mo Bettah Goggles, by Coach Emmett Hines — Helpful hints on selecting the goggles just right for you.

Tricks of Mother Nature, by Coach Emmett Hines — Pound for pound, the most effective training/technique aids in your swim bag are probably the most under-utilized (if you even have them at all).

Be Part of Your Personal Coaching Team by Coach Emmett Hines — Coach Hines explores ways his swimmers are expected to take an active role in their own coaching.

Dividends, Guts & Grease, by Coach Emmett Hines — Explores the Coach/Swimmer relationship and gives valuable hints about how to get more out of that relationship.

“Head” Coaches Wanted, by Coach Rob Rollins — The initiation rites of the Secret Stroke Society as administered (under the guise of cutting edge stroke instruction) by a technique enthusiast.

On Becoming an Orchestra Coach, by Swimmer Penny Meitz — How she applies her experiences as a relative newbie in our program to her “real life” job.

We’re All Grasshoppers on This Bus, by Coach Emmett Hines — Compares and contrasts the states of the arts of swim coaching and martial arts coaching. Swim coaching has got a LONG way to go to catch up.

What’s Under Funk & Wagnall’s Porch? by Coach Emmett Hines — Introspection on the evolution of the author’s coaching philosophy.