The Coach Amy and Coach Liz Show
Promoting a healthy and positive experience for endurance athletes.
Coach Amy Coach Liz Podcast cover art.png

The Coach Amy and Coach Liz Show

Created with endurance athletes in mind

Created with endurance athletes in mind. Coaches Amy and Liz have a combined thirty years of coaching and seven decades of competing in endurance sports. They cover topics relevant to athletes at various levels of participation: those training for a personal challenge to those competing for an age group placement or race qualification.

 

Why is Ankle Mobility Important in Freestyle Kicking?

What is this episode about?

INTRO 0-3:00

Liz taught Step Aerobics!?

Why is Ankle Mobility Important in Freestyle Kick?

Ankle flexibility is a key part of the freestyle kick. It’s necessary because pointing the toes is necessary to finishing the kick and producing power.  There are two things that often limit an athlete's ability to point their toes: Joint mobility (meaning the joint doesn't physically have the required mobility) and muscle cramping (meaning the athlete can physically point their toes but it causes foot and calf cramping).  

These are two different issues. Physical therapists can often help eliminate cramping with strengthening exercises. Depending on the athlete, a PT may also be able to help improve the range of motion in an athlete's ankles.  Addressing both these issues are critical to developing a functional freestyle kick.

The kick for triathlon won't "make your stroke" but it will "break your stroke" if you don't have a functional kick. While this video talks about more than just ankle flexibility, it has good footage of the foot/ankle position while kicking.  Notice the “relaxed point” which allows the feet to work with the hips to produce power as they kick.  

Coach AmyComment