Grand Master Ken at it again…we think…!

We raced at the Terrapin’s Senior Trials and Finals meet this last weekend. It is the first really meaningful meet of the fall season and a good indicator of things to come in December. All of our swimmers got what they needed. The ones who are all in, got confirmation that they are on track for some seriously fast December races. Those who are a bit on the fringes of reality got the feedback they needed as well; mainly get on track or get left behind this training block.

As we watch the races and give feedback to our swimmers, now and then a piece of wisdom emerges and we capture it for its value in explaining the phenomenon known as seriously fast swimming.

This is from Ken: “You can never win a race in the first 50 but you can lose a race in the first 50.”

This sounded like a theory to us so we checked our knowledge from decades ago about theories and what makes them valid. What follows is the generally accepted version of what is needed for a theory to be valid. Based upon these explanations, we will go out on a limb and say that Ken is indeed a Grand Master as his statement is indeed a theory.

Hope this is fun and helps you with your swimmers!

A scientific theory is a well-substantiated explanation of some aspect of the natural world, based on knowledge that has been repeatedly confirmed through observation and experimentation.^[1][2] Scientists create scientific theories from hypotheses that have been corroborated through the scientific method, then gather evidence to test their accuracy. As with all forms of scientific knowledge, scientific theories are inductive in nature and aim for predictive and explanatory force.^[3][4]

The strength of a scientific theory is related to the diversity of phenomena it can explain, which is measured by its ability to make falsifiable predictions with respect to those phenomena. Theories are improved as more evidence is gathered, so that accuracy in prediction improves over time. Scientists use theories as a foundation to gain further scientific knowledge, as well as to accomplish goals such as inventing technology or curing disease. (- or swimming faster).

Scientific theories are the most reliable, rigorous, and comprehensive form of scientific knowledge.^[3] This is significantly different from the word "theory" in common usage, which implies that something is unsubstantiated or speculative.^[5]

• It must match the evidence.
  It should predict.
  Its statements must be able to be independently verified.

·       For a scientific theory to be valid, it must allow you to test it. There must be ways to validate or invalidate the theory either through observation or experimentation. Predictions are often presented with the theory. After this, the theory is tested to check and see which predictions hold up or are true and which are false.