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UCLA swim and dive utilize film to analyze, improve technique

Senior diver Haley McNamara said that the team relies on slowing down footage to analyze dives immediately after they occur.

By Nathaniel Liebes

Jan. 23, 2014 1:36 a.m.

The iPad has traveled out of UCLA lecture halls into UCLA swim and dive practice.

Lately, the team has been using these devices to view film at practice to help refine technique.

Technique is something that the women and coaching staff feel is crucial, and the team has been using film viewed on the iPads to work hard to perfect it.

Junior freestyle swimmer Ally Loper, for one, sees flaws in her form.

Loper is trying to keep her head down to avoid looking at the wall. This will help her reduce drag and shave time.

“Our coach (Cyndi Gallagher) has really been pushing stroke technique and not looking at the time as long as you are practicing the right things,” Loper said.

To correct these technical flaws, Loper has been using film to analyze her stroke. Freshman freestyle swimmer Michaela Merlihan said viewing film contributes to the success of the team.

Merlihan said that the team watches video after meets, allowing them to make changes in technique for future meets.

Merlihan said she’s noticed in tape that she sometimes drifts right or left rather than swimming in a straight line, causing her to swim greater distances and costing her time.

The divers use film on every dive in practice and meets. Senior diver Haley McNamara said that in addition to a camera, the team uses a remote and a TiVo machine to slow down dives and analyze them immediately after they happen and later on.

Individually, McNamara said she is trying to get her more difficult dives back. McNamara has been limited by a recent injury, but said she feels as if she is “almost there.”

The feeling of being “almost there” is present throughout the team. The team members notably Merlihan have been happy with their progress and look to carry it to the next meet.

“I think the team is progressing really well, we are doing a really good job of taking each meet one step at a time,” Merlihan said.

The first of three upcoming competitive meets will be against Stanford on Friday, Jan. 31, at the Spieker Aquatics Center.

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Nathaniel Liebes
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