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Individual Medley (IM) The individual medley is one of the most challenging of all swimming events. However, it can also be one of the most fun for the swimmer. The swimmer must change strokes throughout the race using the correct turns and tempo for each of the strokes.   Regardless of the distance of the individual medley event, the swimmer must swim the race using the four competitive strokes in the correct order. The athlete swims each stroke for one-fourth of the race. The swimmer begins the race from a standing or in-water start in the order of: Butterfly Backstroke Breaststroke Freestyle (any other stroke, generally freestyle).   To train for individual medley events, the coach must teach all four strokes and appropriate turns. To better prepare for a race, focus more attention on the athlete's weakest stroke. During the race, the coach will want to make sure the swimmer concentrates on the weakest stroke, not expending all their energy in one particular phase of the race.   Coaching Tips Break down the event by practicing each stroke individually. Practice turns from one stroke to another. Practice two strokes at a time. For example, butterfly to backstroke, backstroke to breaststroke or breaststroke to freestyle. Place more emphasis on practicing the medley swimmer's weakest stroke. Encourage the swimmer to perform turns quickly and correctly. Encourage swimmer not to look around while performing turns. Practice talking through the event with the athlete, checking to be sure he/she remembers the correct stroke order.   Faults & Fixes Chart   Error Correction Drill/Test Reference Swimmer begins to swim incorrect stroke after turn. Practice event during training sessions. Ask athlete to name the correct order of the strokes. Swimmer rolls onto stomach (prone) at turn from butterfly to backstroke. Emphasize that swimmer must be on back after touching wall in butterfly leg of event. Have swimmer swim into wall, butterfly from flags, touch wall with both hands, bring both knees up and feet to wall pushing off wall on back in streamlined position and into backstroke leg of the event. Swimmer does not touch wall with both hands in butterfly and breaststroke turns. Emphasize that swimmer must touch wall with both hands on butterfly and breaststroke turn. Practice swimming into wall, butterfly and breaststroke from the flags and touching with both hands.   Coaches' Tips for Individual Medley — At-A-Glance Tips for Practice Break down event by practicing each stroke individually. Break down event by practicing each swim-leg turn individually. Practice both in-water start and block start in butterfly leg. Practice correct changeover from one stroke to the other on turn. Practice counting strokes from flags to wall in backstroke.   Tips for Competition Encourage swimmer not to look around when performing turn. Encourage swimmer to finish on wall correctly with a two-hand touch in butterfly and breaststroke. Encourage swimmer to finish each stroke on a full stroke onto wall. Encourage swimmer not to turn onto front prone position when turning from butterfly to backstroke. Encourage swimmer to make turns fast and as streamlined as possible.

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