James E

James E. Counsilman

1. Personal Data

Degrees: B.S. (cum laude), Ohio State University, 1947

M.S., University of Illinois, 1948

Ph.D., State University of Iowa, 1951

Positions elsewhere and years in each:

Graduate Assistant and Assistant Swimming Coach University of Illinois, 1947 to 48;

Instructor, 1948 to 52 and Assistant Professor, 1952 State University of Iowa;

Assistant Professor, 1952 to 54, Associate Professor, 1954 to 57, Professor, 1957 appointment, State University of New York at Cortland

Ranks held at Indiana and years in each:

Assistant Professor, 1957 to 63;

Associate Professor, 1963 to 66;

Professor, 1966 to the present time

Courses taught:

A384 Swimming Techniques

P530 Advanced Theory of Training Athletes

M130 Life Saving

M335 Water Safety Instruction

P740 Research in Physical Education

T790 Thesis in Health, Physical Education & Recreation

2. Publications

Three major books:

The Science of Swimming, Prentice-Hall, Inc., Englewood Cliffs, N.J., copyright 1968. This book has been translated into numerous languages and for many years has been a standard text. It is now in its 19th printing.

Competitive Swimming Manual for Coaches and Swimmers, Counsilman Co., Inc., copyright, 1977. This book is now in nine languages and has a British edition. It is in its fourth printing and has somewhat superceded the 1968 Prentice-Hall book.

One minor book:

Beginning Skin and Scuba Diving, with Barbara Drinkwater, Wadsworth Sports Skills Series, Wadsworth Publishing Company, Inc., Belmont, CA, 1964.

Prior to arrival at Indiana, Dr. Counsilman published twelve articles in such periodicals as Beach and Pool, Swimming Times (British publication), and Athletic Journal. The most significant of these was taken from his doctoral dissertation and was published in the Research Quarterly in 1955 (“Forces in Swimming Two Types of Crawl Stroke”, RQ, Vol. XXVI, pp. 127 to 139).

Another article has an important effect on the thinking of coaches and physical educators concerning training for athletic activities. “Does Weight Training Belong in the Physical Education Program?”, Journal for AAHPER, Vol. 26, No. 1, 1955.

“Theory of the Flutterkick,” Beach and Pool, June, 1949, p. 12

“Recent Developments in Coaching the Crawl Stroke,” YMCA Aquatic News, Vol. II, No. 1, February, 1950, p. 4.

“The Mechanics Involved in Diving,” Swimming Times, December, 1952, Vol. XXIX, No. 12 and Beach & Pool, November, 1952.

“In Defense of Newton,” Swimming Times, Vol. XXX, No. 3, March, 1953.

“The Butterfly-Breaststroke,” Athletic Journal, Vol. XXXIII, No. 6, February, 1953, p. 26 to 31 & 38.

“The Back Crawl Stroke,” Athletic Journal, Vol. XXXIII, No. 8, April, 1953, p. 14 to 16 & 18.

“Does Weight Training Belong in the Physical Education Program?”, Journal for AAHPER, 1954, pp.

“Forces in Swimming Two Types of Crawl Stroke,” Research Quarterly, Vol. XXVI, No. 2, 1955, pp. 127 to 139.

“The Physiological Effects of Training,” Athletic Journal, Vol. XXXV, No. 1, February, 1955.

“Principles of Training,” Athletic Journal, Vol. XXXV, No. 7, March, 1955.

“Fatigue and Staleness,” Athletic Journal, Vol. XXXV, June, 1955.

“The Cortland Swimming Training System,” Beach & Pool, September, 1957.

“Swim for Health, Fitness, Recreation,” prepared for the Indiana Amateur Athletic Union, Indiana State Board of Health and the Indiana State Department of Public Instruction, September, 1958. Five hundred of these 20 page pamphlets were distributed to the service clubs and boards of education of the State of Indiana.

“The Australian’s Swimming Training Techniques,” ASCA Newsletter, 1959.

“Interval Training Applied to Swimming,” Indiana University Newsletter, November, 1960. This article was later reprinted by the Italian Swimming Federation Publication, Nuoto, by Junior Swimmer in 1961, by Athletic Journal in 1962. Reprints have been sent in response to hundreds of requests, since the article first appeared in 1960. It was of great significance in the world of competitive swimming and its precepts continue to be followed by almost all coaches and swimmers in the world today.

“The Crossover Kick in the Crawl Stroke,” Junior Swimmer, Vol. I, No. 11, November, 1960, p. 6. Also reprinted in Swimming Times (British publication), March, 1961, p. 86.

“Isometric, Isotonic and Intermediary Exercises for Swimmers,” Junior Swimmer / Swimming World, Vol. II, No. 9, September, 1961. Also published in the Annual Report of the Conference for National Cooperation in Aquatics, November, 1961 and Nuoto, Italian Swimming Federation publication, February, 1962.

With Elsworth R. Buskirk, “Special Exercise Problems in Middle Age,” Science and Medicine of Exercise and Sports, a symposium edited by Warren R. Johnson, Harper’s Series in School and Public Education, Harper and Brothers, New York, 1960, pp. 491 to 507.

“Questions and Answers on Isometric Contractions,” Junior Swimmer / Swimming World, Vol. II, No. 12, December, 1961 and Vol. III, No. 1, January, 1962.

“Isometric Exercise to Condition Competitive Swimmers,” Annual Report of the Conference for National Cooperation in Aquatics, November, 1962.

“U.S. Swim Stars Shine in Germany,” Amateur Athlete, Vol. XXXIV, No. 4, April, 1963.

“A Dry Land Exercise Program for Swimmers,” Junior Swimmer / Swimming World, Vol. IV, No. 10, October, 1963.

“Dry Land Exercises During Swimming Season,” American Swim Coaches Association Newsletter, Swimming Technique, June, 1963.

“Isometric Contractions and Isogym,” copyright, Indiana University Foundation, 1963. This pamphlet was the first of four prepared to accompany isometric equipment designed by Dr. Counsilman and manufactured by the Hamlin Metal Products Company, a subsidiary of the McNeil Machine and Engineering Company, Akron, Ohio.

“The Indiana Program for Physical Fitness with New Training Barbells,” second in series, Indiana University Foundation and Hamlin Metal Products Company, 1963.

“The Indiana Physical Fitness Program with New Iso-Cord Set,” third in series, Indiana University Foundation and Hamlin Metal Products Company, 1963.

“The Indiana Program for Physical Fitness with Exercises for New Iso-Bench,” fourth in series, Indiana University Foundation and Hamlin Metal Products Company, 1963.

“The Indiana Physical Fitness Program Muscle Chart,” wall chart designed to be used with isometric equipment, 1963.

“The Indiana Physical Fitness Program Nine Basic Exercises and Specialized Exercises,” wall chart for use with isometric equipment, 1963.

“The Indiana Physical Fitness Program – Iso-Cords, wall chart designed for use with isometric equipment, 1963.

“Harry Gallagher’s Method Training for Dawn Fraser,” Swimming World, Vol. V, No. 7, July, 1964.

“The Use of Isometric Contractions in Conditioning Athletes,” contributing paper read at First International Colloquium of Sports Medicine, Vichy, France, April, 1964.

“How Some Countries are Training for the Olympics,” Swimming World, Vol. V, No. 8, August, 1964.

“The Use of Pulse Rate in Determining Work Load in Training Swimmers,” American Swim Coaches Association Newsletter, April, 1965.

“Conditioning of Competitive Swimmers,” American Medical Association, Proceedings of the Sixth National Conference on the Medical Aspects of Sports, Division of Socio-Economic Activities, November, 1964, (copyrighted in 1965 by the AMA). Also published in the Royal Canadian Legion’s Coaching Review, Legion House, Ottawa, Ont., Vol. III, No. 1, June, 1965.

“Reflections on the 1964 Olympics,” American Medical Association, Proceedings of the Sixth National Conference on the Medical Aspects of Sports, Division of Socio-Economic Activities, November, 1964 (copyrighted in 1965 by the AMA).

“Motivation of Athletes during Practice Sessions,” contributing paper read at International Sports Psychology Congress, April 24, 1964, Rome, Italy.

“Swim for Your Life,” Boy’s Life, July, 1965.

“The Effect of Altitude Upon Swimming Performance,” paper read at International Symposium on the Effects of Altitude on Physical Performance, sponsored by the U.S.O.C. and Lovelace Foundation of Medical Education and Research, University of New Mexico, March 3 to 6, 1966. Also published in Swimming World, Vol. VI, No. 11, November, 1.965.

“Programa de Efercicios en Tierra Fara Nadadores,” Articulo Distribuido por la Asociacion de Natacion del D.F., 1964 (Mexican Swimming Federation).

“Martha Randall’s Crawl Stroke,” Swimming World, Vol. VII, No. 10, October, 1966.

“Larry Schulhof’s Butterfly,” Swimming World, Vol. VII, No. 11, November, 1966.

“Dr. James Counsilman Speaks Out on Training,” Swimming Technique, Vol. IV, No. 3, October, 1967. (Reprinted from a talk to the Illinois Swim Coaches Association Clinic).

“University Pool Designed for Competition,” Park Maintenance - Annual Swimming Pool and Beach Issue, Vol. 20, No. 3, March, 1967.

“Problems - DIRT in Interval Training,” Swimming Technique, Vol. 3, No. 4, January, 1967.

“Chet Jastremski’s Breaststroke,” Swimming World, Vol. VIII, No. 1, January, 1967.

“The Backstroke of Charles Hickcox,” Swimming World, Vol. VIII, No. 9, September, 1967.

NATACION DE COMPETENCIA, 90 page manual in Spanish, prepared for the Mexican Olympic Committee, 1968.

“The Racing Start - Steve Clark,” Swimming World, Vol. IX, No. 4, April, 1968.

Rewrote unit on swimming for Encyclopedia Americana, 1969.

“Isokinetics: A New Form of Exercise,” Swimming World, Vol. X, No. 11, November, 1969.

“Specificity in Dry Land Exercises,” Swimming World, Vol. X, No. 10, October, 1969.

“The Role of Sculling Movements in the Arm Pull,” Swimming World, Vol. X, No. 12, December, 1969.

“As Easy as Taking a Stroll,” Sports Illustrated, Vol., 33, No. 3, July 20, 1970, pp. 38 to 43.

“The Application of Bernoulli’s Principle to Human Propulsion in Water,” published by the Indiana University Foundation, designed and edited by I.U. Publications, presented at the First Symposium of Biomechanics in Swimming, Brussels, Belgium, September, 1970 and published in the Proceedings, Swimming I, University Park Press, Baltimore, MD (edited by Lewillie and Clarys . This publication ultimately received selection as the most significant paper of the decade for biomechanics research in any sport.

“The X Factor,” American Swim Coaches Clinic Yearbook, 1971, pp. 69 to 74.

“Competitive Swimming Stroke Charts, prepared for and published by Phillips Petroleum Company. 300,000 of these charts were distributed to coaches and swimmers throughout the world. The drawings were taken from The Science of Swimming (Counsilman) by permission of Prentice-Hall, Inc.

“Isokinetic Exercise,” Athletic Journal, Vo1. 52, No. 6, February, 1972.

“Controlling the Swimmers’ Environment,” ASCA Clinic Yearbook, 1975.

“Hypoxic and Other Methods of Training Evaluated”, ASCA Clinic Yearbook, 1974.

“The Search for a Philosophy of Coaching,” ASCA Clinic Yearbook, 1975.

“The Importance of Power,” ASCA Clinic Yearbook, 1975.

“Mechanical Principles Involved in Swimming,” Biomechanics of Sport, Thomas P. Martin, ed., SUNY at Brockport Print Shop, Brockport, NY, 1975.

“Speed: The Third Dimension in Exercise?” ASCA World Clinic Yearbook, 1976.

“The Importance of Speed in Exercise,” Athletic Journal, Vol. 56, No. 9, May, 1976, pp. 59 to 60.

“Stroke Analysis,” ASCA World Clinic Yearbook, 1976.

“What the Coach Wants in a Competitive Pool,” Proceedings of the Fourth National Swimming Pool Seminar for Architects and Designers, April 1977.

“Marathon Swimming for Masters Swimmers,” Swim Swim, 1979?

“Life’s Challenges Can be Overcome at Every Age,” Views of Sport, New York Times, Sunday, July 1, 1979.

Regular column, “Ask Doc”, Swim Swim, (four issues a year, from 1978 to the present time).

“Fitness through Swimming,” Family Magazine, July 1979.

“Biokinetics - the Ultimate Exercise,” ASCA Clinic Yearbook, 1979.

“Fluid Mechanics of the Four Competitive Strokes,” ASCA Clinic Yearbook, 1979.

“The Ten Greatest Men and Ten Greatest Women Swimmers,” The Book of Sports List, #2, Pinnacle Books, 1980. Editors: Phil Pepe and Zander Hollander.

“Hand Speed and Acceleration,” Swimming Technique, Vol. XVIII, No. 1, May/July, 1981, pp. 22 to 26 & 28. Also read at Biomechanics Symposium, Indiana University, 1980.

“Hand Speed and Hand Acceleration Patterns in Swimming Strokes,” with John M. Wasilak, ASCA Clinic Yearbook, 1981.

“A Philosophy of Motivating Athletes,” Football Coaching, ed. Richard Herbert, The American Football Coaching Association, Charles Scribner’s Sons, New York, 1981.

“Advice to Rough Water Swimmers,” Rough Water Swimming Handbook, Summer, 1981, pp. 4 to 8.

“Flutter Kick Mechanics,” Swim Swim, Vol. III, No. 4, Fall, 1981, pp. 14 to 17.

All papers listed under publications as being published by the ASCA were first presented at the American Swim Coaches Association World Clinic for that year and were later published in the yearbook.

Conducted the Olympic Development Swimming Clinic at Indiana University November 24 to 27, 1966 (Thanksgiving Vacation). Sixty top-level swimmers from the mid-west area and some coaches attended. Sponsored by USOC.

3. Invited Papers

“Effects of Training for Swimming upon the Age Group Swimmer,” National AAHPER Convention, Anaheim, California, March, 1974.

“Effect of Fast and Slow Exercise on Muscle Fibers,” American College of Sports Medicine, Washington, D.C., April, 1978.

“Training the Olympic Athlete,” Texas Medical Association Meeting, San Antonio, Texas, 1978.

“Biomechanics of Swimming and Conditioning of Swimmers,” tandem presentation with Dr. David Costill, Human Performance Lab., Ball State University, at the French Sports Institute, Paris, France, 1978.

“Training for Marathon Swimming,” AIAW Conference of Swimming Coaches, Palm Beach, Florida, 1978.

Other invited papers are listed under publications: #13, 17, 19, 31, 34, 35, 38, 43, 47, 49, 54, 62, 66, 73, & 74.

4. Training Equipment Developed by Dr. Counsilman

1959 - Counsilman Pace Clock. First developed and marketed by Dr. Counsilman to accompany his introduction of the concepts of controlled and timed effort to swim training. From 1959, when three clocks were made and sold, the use of these clocks proliferated until, in the last year of manufacture here in Bloomington, over 900 were constructed in 1971. At that time the rights to the clock were turned over to the Kiefer-McNeil Corporation, which still manufactures the leader of the line. Approximately a half dozen other companies also manufacture a similar clock, but Dr. Counsilman had the initial idea.

Kiefer-McNeil Corporation also manufactures a lane divider that was originally Dr. Counsilman’s idea for controlling water turbulence in swimming pools. The Kiefer-McNeil lane line is sold all over the world and has been adopted by the USOC for use in the 1984 Olympic Games.

1965 - Isometric equipment developed in conjunction with the Kiefer-McNeil Corporation, Akron, Ohio. Instruction booklets and wall charts for use with the equipment are listed under publications; items 23 through 29.

1969 - Isometric exercise evolved into isokinetic exercise and Dr. Counsilman helped in the development of a line of equipment, manufactured by Mini-Gym, Inc. It utilized the concept of accommodating exercise through the full range of motion and Dr. Counsilman also introduced the concept of specificity of exercise through isokinetics. The equipment utilized a friction breaking system, making possible an inexpensive mechanical device that could be available to every swimmer.

In 1978, he disassociated from M-G to pursue a more sophisticated braking concept, utilizing the shunted generator. Counsilman Co., Inc. of Albany, California how produces the Biokinetic Bench, the expression of this idea, and hopes to incorporate the concept in devices for other activities. Dr. Counsilman’s engineer-partner, Evan Flavell, operates the enterprise.

1977 - The drag suit and drag belt were conceived by Dr. Counsilman to provide additional resistance for the competitive swimmer to work against in order to strengthen the specific muscles and muscle groups used in swimming. A failure when it was originally developed, Dr. Counsilman tested and modified it and wrote the instructional booklet to organize its use.

5. Films Produced

1959 - Two half hour, 16 mm sound, b/w films entitled “Training for Competitive Swimming” and “Swimming Stroke Mechanics” as part of the Fun and Fitness series. The films were produced by the I.U. Radio-Television Department. The films were reproduced and marketed from 1959 to 1966, when two new films superceded them.

1963 - Stroke Analysis, 16 mm, silent, b/w.

1965 - Swimming Starts and Turns, 16 mm, silent, b/w.

These films were marketed until 1972, when they were withdrawn for replacement by a new set.

1967 - Set of loop films in 16 mm, footage of Indiana University swimmers demonstrating stroke mechanics in accordance with Dr. Counsilman’s concepts.

1970 - Produced in conjunction with Mini-Gym, Inc., this 16 mm film depicts the role of isokinetic exercise in producing-specific strength gains for swimming.

1972 - “Science of Swimming”, a set of four films designed to complement Dr. Counsilman’s book of the same title published by Prentice-Hall. The films were available in Super 8 and 16 mm and over 7000 were sold from 1972 to 1982, when they were withdrawn from the market and replaced by a new set.

1982 - Counsilman’s Stroke Analysis Films, a set of five films in 16 mm and Super 8, in full color and with sound. These films depict world‑class swimmers and promulgate Dr. Counsilman’s theories of the source of propulsion in swimming, including the role of lift and the role of acceleration and hand speed in effective swimming.

1982 - “Rowdy and Doc”, a documentary produced by Buddy Gaines, father of world record hold, Rowdy Gaines. Dr. Counsilman was the first to recognize the importance of photography of sports’ analysis. In 1948, in the course of work for his Master’s Degree, he began the development of skills in cinematography with an underwater study of the breaststroke. At the present time, he continues to exploit that skill doing his own photography. With the help of the I.U. Audio-Visual Department, he has produced the outstanding cinematographic studies of swimming skills in the world.

6. Professional Activities

Fellow, American College of Sports Medicine.

Member, President’s Council on Physical Fitness (Nixon’s Adm.).

Member, President’s Council on Olympic Sports (Ford’s Adm.).

Founding President, International Swimming Hall of Fame, 1963 to 1970, then Chairman of the Board, 1970 to 1977.

Member, National YMCA Aquatic Committee, 1955 to 1967 Indiana YMCA Aquatic Committee.

Member, Board of Directors, Sports International. Conducted through the Department of State and the Federations of foreign countries, all selections of coaches for foreign assignment were approved by Dr. Counsilman through Nicholas Rodis, Special Assistant to the President of the U.S., 1963 thru 1968.

President and Member of Board of Directors, American Swimming Coaches Association, 1963 to 1972.

Member, American Association of Health, Physical Education & Recreation. Selected for the Association Hall of Fame, 1980.

Member, College Swimming Coaches Association, 1960 to present.

Member, American Medical Association Sports Medicine Committee.

Member, U.S. Olympic Committee and Member of USOC Technical Committee.

Board of Directors, International Underwater Divers Society.

Board of Directors, Marathon Swimmers Association.

Member, American Society of Sports Psychology.

Member, NCAA Rules Committee (1977 to 1981).

Member, National Board of Directors, Boy Scouts of America.

Member, National Swimming Pool Institute.

Member, National Facilities Conference Committee, Athletic Institute.

Member, Re-evaluation Committee, American Red Cross.

7. Honors

Honoree, International Swimming Hall of Fame.

Leather Medal, Sigma Delta Chi Journalism Fraternity, Indiana University, 1963.

National AAU Swimming Award and Outstanding Coach of the Year, 1963.

Twice U.S. Men’s Olympic Coach, 1964 and 1976.

Selected in top twenty in the nation in contribution toward advancement of medical knowledge, 1965.

Awarded outstanding contributor to the sport of swimming in 1966, Swimming Pool Age Magazine.

College Coach of the Year, 1968, 1969, 1970.

Sagamore of the Wabash, by Governor Whitcomb, 1971.

Recommendation and Commendation, by Governor Bowen, 1977.

Coach of the Decade, Quarterback Club, Columbus, OH, 1970.

Certificate of Excellence, American Swim Coaches Association, 1979.

Record Breaker Award, Indiana Association of the AAU, 1979.

Honorary Life Membership, AAU of the US, 1979.

Oldest person to successfully swim the English Channel, 1979.

Distinguished Service Award, I.U. Foundation, 1980.

Federation International Natation Association Award, 1980.

Ritter Award, Outstanding Contributor to Competitive Swimming, 1980.

Who’s Who in America, 1981.

International Service Award, U.S. Sports Academy, 1982.

National Hall of Fame, U.S. Achievement Academy, 1982.

Dr. Counsilman has held clinics and lectured in hundreds of cities in the United States and around the world. In the fall of 1981, for example, he lectured in Taiwan, Hong Kong and Japan. In 1983 he is scheduled to lecture to English and Scottish coaches in Leicester and Stirling University (near Edinburgh). In addition, many coaches throughout the world have traveled to Bloomington to observe training of the Indiana University swim team. For example, in August, 1980, twenty-two coaches from Taiwan spent a week in Bloomington. The Japanese gold medal winner in the 1972 Olympic Games, Nobutaka Taguchi, spent two years (1980 and 1981) in Bloomington for the purpose of observing training methods.

Over the past twenty-five years coaches from the following countries have come to Bloomington to study under Dr. Counsilman’s direction: Russia (three separate delegations in 1966, 1974 and 1975), Germany, Poland, Italy (along with a delegation of swimmers), Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Ireland, Sweden, South Africa, Chile, Brazil, England, Argentina, Peru, Ecuador, China, Republic of China, Japan, Canada, France, Thailand, India, Yugoslavia, Israel, Greece, Spain, Portugal, Nigeria, New Zealand, Australia, Mexico, Costa Rico, Nicaragua, Honduras, Switzerland, Austria, Philippines.

In the course of the same period of twenty-five years, Dr. Counsilman has traveled to the following countries to lecture and conduct swimming clinics: Australia, New Zealand, Mexico, Chile, Brazil, Argentina, Colombia, Italy, France, Spain, East Germany, Russia, Yugoslavia, West Germany, Belgium, Switzerland, South Africa, Japan; Hong Kong, Thailand, Denmark, England, the Republic of China and Canada.

8. Public Service

Board of Directors, Milwaukee Family YMCA, Schroeder Aquatic Center, 1976 to 1980.

Board of Directors, Boys Life.

Board of Directors, Boy Scouts of America.

Consultant, Peace Corps, 1965 to 1972.

Consultant, President’s Council for Physical Fitness, 1960 to 1980.

Chairman, Indiana Cancer Crusade, 1974.

Honorary Chairman, Mental Health Association, 1980 to 81.

Honorary Chairman, Dental Health Week, 1981.

9. Coaching Record

In his 23 years at Indiana University, Counsilman’s teams have won 230 dual meets and lost 11. They have won 20 consecutive Big Ten Championships, 6 NCAA Championships and 12 National AAU team titles. They have won 72 individual NCAA titles, 272 Big Ten Individual Titles, 15 Pan American Individual Titles, and 47 Olympic medals (27 Gold). His swimmers have set 82 World records and 221 American records. He was twice Coach of the USA Olympic Team, 1964 and 1976. These were the most successful of all Olympic men’s swimming teams. The 1976 men’s team won 12 of 13 possible gold medals and over two-thirds of all possible medals. He has served 5 times as national coach for the USA swimming team.

Counsilman introduced several training techniques into swimming that are the basis of all modern training methods used throughout the world:

1. Interval training

2. The use of strength exercises

3. Hypoxic training

4. The use of isokinetic and biokinetic exercises

Through his publications (The Science of Swimming is translated into over 20 languages), he has affected the training of swimmers worldwide.