Just finished our summer league meet. I like this league this year as it is just the novice programs of some of the close by USA Swim Teams. It is fun to see our young swimmers, and our new swimmers who are starting out in swimming, and we give them an opportunity to do some short course in the summer time and not be intimidated by Long Course while being in the water for only 2 to 3 weeks. I like to see the kids who may end up joining our team and those that may swim for me in the next 2 - 5 years.
Our meet began late due to entry mess ups. We started close to 5:25pm. The meet ended at 7:40pm. Wow, how different it is from what I grew up with for summer league and what I did for years as a coach of summer league. Every Tuesday and Thursday night for 3 to 4 weeks we'd be out there to 10:00pm or possibly as late as 11:00pm. Working adults, young children, and those coming to watch. It was just the way it was for the league. Dual Meets of only two teams of 20 from the league going at it for these late meets.
I guess I am spoiled now. It got past 7:30pm and I was thinking about how late it was. Ha! we weren't even done with the backstrokes (still with IM's, Fly, Brst, and relays left to go) by 7:30pm.
No matter how it is run though, it is great to offer a summer program where kids can be introduced to the sport. A few will go on to try to reach for higher goals, and join the club team. I think the connection is little closer with the teams being USA Swim Teams here, which is more pro-high achieving than my previous league. The CVRSL is a great tool though. A little too serious, but it does provide that introduction.
I can't wait to see how many of these swimmers decide to join us in the fall.
Friday, June 29, 2012
Thursday, June 28, 2012
Working the Body Position
I talk about body position a lot, but today's workout is definitely focused on the neutral position. Earlier in the week we have done streamlines out of the water where they concentrate on tight streamlines, pressing the chest forward and keeping the head and shoulders back. (I feel like I have a lot on hunchback swimmers in the water, so I have actually included a little bit of this in every workout this week so far).
Today, doing kick sets in streamline or superman (depending on the kick they are doing) and making the focus being the arm position, head position, and chest position. Backstroke kick with Chest level with the face (I say higher to get it across). Keeping the chin off the chest to allow for the chest to be pressed upward. Fly kick on back starting the kick from the chest press and flowing the wave through the body. Freestyle Kick with the chest pressed, but also keeping the back of the head above the surface to make sure that they aren't digging their head when they push their chest.
Doing some longer, less intense swims. Aerobic swims with a focus in the body positions. Morning group did good, and made some good adjustments. Can't wait to see how the afternoon group does with this workout and focus.
Today, doing kick sets in streamline or superman (depending on the kick they are doing) and making the focus being the arm position, head position, and chest position. Backstroke kick with Chest level with the face (I say higher to get it across). Keeping the chin off the chest to allow for the chest to be pressed upward. Fly kick on back starting the kick from the chest press and flowing the wave through the body. Freestyle Kick with the chest pressed, but also keeping the back of the head above the surface to make sure that they aren't digging their head when they push their chest.
Doing some longer, less intense swims. Aerobic swims with a focus in the body positions. Morning group did good, and made some good adjustments. Can't wait to see how the afternoon group does with this workout and focus.
Tuesday, June 26, 2012
From my experience with races
I think back, and I remember being disappointed with bad swims. I remember being young and not really caring that much either (this might have been longer than I'd like to admit). It's funny, when I began to get faster at swimming is when I remember getting upset with bad times. Before becoming fast at swimming, I don't even remember what I felt towards my races, as I only saw it as a race.
I also remember beginning to train more and work harder at workouts. It happened later than many good swimmers, but I remember when I did begin to put forth more towards swimming. My mentality actually changed, and after awhile I learned a new feeling about some of my swims. I began to not get upset about bad times, but I remember really getting mad over races that when I finished the race, I knew I had more to give.
It became disappointing to myself, as I had made the decision to put more of time and effort into my training, and to go to a meet and not give everything I had for race; made me mad at myself. The 50 Freestyle became frustrating, as I began finishing every race feeling like I still had some more to go. This led to my improvement in many events. I might have swam some events wrong, but I knew I was going to put forth everything. I knew for 100's that if I wanted to be really fast I had to give myself a chance by being out fast. Learned that from Scott Jett; you can only go so fast if you start the race at certain speed, so if you really want to go faster you have to sprint the first 50 and use heart and desire on that final lap. Yes, that strategy hurts a lot, but the pain never bothered me at the end of a race. The feeling that I still had something did.
My advice to swimmers. Every race, practice giving everything you have. Forget the time, practice finishing with absolutely nothing left. Have that become your habit. Use the X-Factor to become better at racing. The X-Factor being the heart and pride that you gave it your all. Let training make you better physiologically, but the willingness to give your all and swimming with heart and pride; these are the things that you can't develop swimming laps. You have to train yourself to mentally be able to race like that.
My opinion, worst feeling in the world at the end of a race: Feeling like I didn't it my all. It is way worse than seeing I got a bad time.
I also remember beginning to train more and work harder at workouts. It happened later than many good swimmers, but I remember when I did begin to put forth more towards swimming. My mentality actually changed, and after awhile I learned a new feeling about some of my swims. I began to not get upset about bad times, but I remember really getting mad over races that when I finished the race, I knew I had more to give.
It became disappointing to myself, as I had made the decision to put more of time and effort into my training, and to go to a meet and not give everything I had for race; made me mad at myself. The 50 Freestyle became frustrating, as I began finishing every race feeling like I still had some more to go. This led to my improvement in many events. I might have swam some events wrong, but I knew I was going to put forth everything. I knew for 100's that if I wanted to be really fast I had to give myself a chance by being out fast. Learned that from Scott Jett; you can only go so fast if you start the race at certain speed, so if you really want to go faster you have to sprint the first 50 and use heart and desire on that final lap. Yes, that strategy hurts a lot, but the pain never bothered me at the end of a race. The feeling that I still had something did.
My advice to swimmers. Every race, practice giving everything you have. Forget the time, practice finishing with absolutely nothing left. Have that become your habit. Use the X-Factor to become better at racing. The X-Factor being the heart and pride that you gave it your all. Let training make you better physiologically, but the willingness to give your all and swimming with heart and pride; these are the things that you can't develop swimming laps. You have to train yourself to mentally be able to race like that.
My opinion, worst feeling in the world at the end of a race: Feeling like I didn't it my all. It is way worse than seeing I got a bad time.
Monday, June 18, 2012
Dangerously Loving Parent: Parent Ed
I called it the Dangerously Loving Parent in a research paper I wrote in college. It is eye catching, and it describes the situation ok, it isn't that it is completely dangerous, but a hyperbolic statement can catch the eye of potential readers better.
It was the look at parents and their behavior with youth sports. There are plenty of examples of people who go over board, and are not excusable, but my view was on the more minor issues that parents don't realize until years later, that what they did might have been a bad move on their part.
I began at animal instinct because deep down we as humans still have animal instinct, and it was the approach of philosophers like Plato and Aristotle to begin at the origin. So that was my approach. You realize that in human nature the parent wants to protect and do what's best for their children. If you look at many issues that arise it stems from this concept. I then observed parent complaints and how parents treated their athletes in a way that I thought was wrong, and then look at it from their side. All they really are doing is trying to do the best thing for their child. It makes me as a swim coach more sympathetic, despite not ever having a child of my own, so empathy can't really be felt.
Most parents don't know how to be a parent, we observe others and learn. Some may read a book, but we basically learn from observation and trust our instincts. Ah ha, back to the instincts. This is where most issues come into play.
So what can we as coaches do? We definitely can't teach people how to parent. We must provide parent education on what we know about our sport, and the different things that may come up. Our information is normally dated though. Either it is from when we swam, or it is from a past experience with a swimmer. Times are changing, and there are new and different issues now. This parent education doesn't necessarily have to tell a parent exactly how to be a parent, but provide some information that can prepare them for what may come up. What they can do to help the team survive, and maybe how coaches deal with some situations.
Our hope is that the parents will listen, and be able to try to do some as we advise. In parent education articles, there things they say a good swim parent does, that can be very tough because they may ask you to not go with your instincts, like don't be critical of bad swims. If you are critical of your swimmers swims with them, try not doing it, and just be positive. It is hard, as you just want to say, "why were you doing this like that." There are other things that are hard to follow, but we ask that the parents do their best. We try to provide information; some is taken well, and some not so well. All we can do is try.
So, it is not that the parents are dangerous, but the instinctual nature of our competitive selves can be detrimental to the long term success of an athlete, so please coaches continue to try to educate parents despite the fight you may get. Some do listen. Parents please allow us to educate you about the development of young athletes in this sport. We are all in it for the long term success of our athletes.
It was the look at parents and their behavior with youth sports. There are plenty of examples of people who go over board, and are not excusable, but my view was on the more minor issues that parents don't realize until years later, that what they did might have been a bad move on their part.
I began at animal instinct because deep down we as humans still have animal instinct, and it was the approach of philosophers like Plato and Aristotle to begin at the origin. So that was my approach. You realize that in human nature the parent wants to protect and do what's best for their children. If you look at many issues that arise it stems from this concept. I then observed parent complaints and how parents treated their athletes in a way that I thought was wrong, and then look at it from their side. All they really are doing is trying to do the best thing for their child. It makes me as a swim coach more sympathetic, despite not ever having a child of my own, so empathy can't really be felt.
Most parents don't know how to be a parent, we observe others and learn. Some may read a book, but we basically learn from observation and trust our instincts. Ah ha, back to the instincts. This is where most issues come into play.
So what can we as coaches do? We definitely can't teach people how to parent. We must provide parent education on what we know about our sport, and the different things that may come up. Our information is normally dated though. Either it is from when we swam, or it is from a past experience with a swimmer. Times are changing, and there are new and different issues now. This parent education doesn't necessarily have to tell a parent exactly how to be a parent, but provide some information that can prepare them for what may come up. What they can do to help the team survive, and maybe how coaches deal with some situations.
Our hope is that the parents will listen, and be able to try to do some as we advise. In parent education articles, there things they say a good swim parent does, that can be very tough because they may ask you to not go with your instincts, like don't be critical of bad swims. If you are critical of your swimmers swims with them, try not doing it, and just be positive. It is hard, as you just want to say, "why were you doing this like that." There are other things that are hard to follow, but we ask that the parents do their best. We try to provide information; some is taken well, and some not so well. All we can do is try.
So, it is not that the parents are dangerous, but the instinctual nature of our competitive selves can be detrimental to the long term success of an athlete, so please coaches continue to try to educate parents despite the fight you may get. Some do listen. Parents please allow us to educate you about the development of young athletes in this sport. We are all in it for the long term success of our athletes.
Sunday, June 10, 2012
Swim Meet Routine
This becomes important as a swimmer. It is establishing the routine during the early years, so that they learn what is expected as they get older. This routine needs to become the responsibility of the swimmer. If guided and walked through all the time they never take ownership of their own preparation, and become dependent on parents or coaches to be prepared. Discipline to abide by the rules and routine creates discipline in other aspects such as practice and their own training.
My son/daughter is too young to do it on their own. I have had 8 year olds check their own heat and lane assignments, check in with their coach, warm-up, show up to their block, race, cool down, and report to the coach again all on their without the assistance of a parent. These kids did get meet experience at age 7, where the parent did help them, but 2 - 3 meets in they began to do part of the routine without the parent, and then 3 - 5 meets they are able to do it on their own. Yes, early on they may miss a race, but it becomes a learning experience when dealt with properly. (Not getting mad about them missing the race, but more disappointed that they missed an opportunity to swim).
Early Morning warm-ups. Do young kids actually need to warm-up early in the morning to be ready to swim fast? No. But what we are doing is creating a routine. If you allow them to show up late, you create a mentality that warm-up is not important, and it becomes a battle to teach them when it does become important. We develop team by warming up together. No one is special, and special treatment is not given to any swimmer despite what time their first event is. This in theory is the way it should be. We bend on this last part because we want to appease parents, but it is not in the best interest of the swimmer in the long run. It's about routine and not believing in special treatment.
Swim Meet Routine is different for coaches. I like to go over swim meet routine in September, but I do go over it once in awhile throughout the year. Why check in before the race? To let the coach know heat and lane. We try to organize our time based on knowing heat and lane. We have a lot of swimmers, and we can't watch every time a heat goes up, as we may need to talk to a few swimmers who have been patiently waiting. I give quick notes, similar to my quick notes in the middle of sets. Repeated phrases that hopefully mean something to the swimmer as they are repeated at practice as well. Check in after races for constructive criticism. The coach will be critical, but typically they will add a positive aspect to any swim as long as the swimmer put forth visible effort. We will be critical and sometimes mean if it becomes too redundant. Due to this critical analysis from the coach; this is why there should not be critical analysis from the parent. The swimmer doesn't need to be attacked from both sides of the triangle of communication. Swim Analysis from coach only helps with the emphasis from the coach and no confusion on who to listen to (especially younger swimmers as they tend to listen to their parents more than the coach if criticism comes from both sides).
Just as a side note: Ever wonder why coaches stay in one place at meets most of the time? We have to watch so many races, and talk to so many kids. Staying in one place allows the swimmer to easily find the coach, and the communication for the routine can go by fast, as they know exactly where the coach will be (Please excuse the coach though, sometimes restroom breaks and walks to grab a snack or drink are needed for a long meet.) Coaches will typically set up shop on the edge of the pool as we need quick access to the officials, as we are the only ones that are supposed to address an official, and so that we can view every race where the swimmer is expecting some kind of feedback. Do we miss races? Yes, but if everyone follows the routine, it becomes less likely that a coach misses a swimmers race, but it does happen.
Discipline and responsibility are developed through our swim meet routine. It is important to emphasize to your swimmer the importance of these processes, as it does benefit them later in their career as they have learned these skills before they get to the age of adolescence where it is very hard to develop in them.
Exception to this: If you are in a meet where events are very close to each other, a swimmer may skip a check-in for post race analysis, but should try to let the coach know with a quick walk by that they aren't avoiding them. There is no good time not to talk to the coach; good race or bad.
My son/daughter is too young to do it on their own. I have had 8 year olds check their own heat and lane assignments, check in with their coach, warm-up, show up to their block, race, cool down, and report to the coach again all on their without the assistance of a parent. These kids did get meet experience at age 7, where the parent did help them, but 2 - 3 meets in they began to do part of the routine without the parent, and then 3 - 5 meets they are able to do it on their own. Yes, early on they may miss a race, but it becomes a learning experience when dealt with properly. (Not getting mad about them missing the race, but more disappointed that they missed an opportunity to swim).
Early Morning warm-ups. Do young kids actually need to warm-up early in the morning to be ready to swim fast? No. But what we are doing is creating a routine. If you allow them to show up late, you create a mentality that warm-up is not important, and it becomes a battle to teach them when it does become important. We develop team by warming up together. No one is special, and special treatment is not given to any swimmer despite what time their first event is. This in theory is the way it should be. We bend on this last part because we want to appease parents, but it is not in the best interest of the swimmer in the long run. It's about routine and not believing in special treatment.
Swim Meet Routine is different for coaches. I like to go over swim meet routine in September, but I do go over it once in awhile throughout the year. Why check in before the race? To let the coach know heat and lane. We try to organize our time based on knowing heat and lane. We have a lot of swimmers, and we can't watch every time a heat goes up, as we may need to talk to a few swimmers who have been patiently waiting. I give quick notes, similar to my quick notes in the middle of sets. Repeated phrases that hopefully mean something to the swimmer as they are repeated at practice as well. Check in after races for constructive criticism. The coach will be critical, but typically they will add a positive aspect to any swim as long as the swimmer put forth visible effort. We will be critical and sometimes mean if it becomes too redundant. Due to this critical analysis from the coach; this is why there should not be critical analysis from the parent. The swimmer doesn't need to be attacked from both sides of the triangle of communication. Swim Analysis from coach only helps with the emphasis from the coach and no confusion on who to listen to (especially younger swimmers as they tend to listen to their parents more than the coach if criticism comes from both sides).
Just as a side note: Ever wonder why coaches stay in one place at meets most of the time? We have to watch so many races, and talk to so many kids. Staying in one place allows the swimmer to easily find the coach, and the communication for the routine can go by fast, as they know exactly where the coach will be (Please excuse the coach though, sometimes restroom breaks and walks to grab a snack or drink are needed for a long meet.) Coaches will typically set up shop on the edge of the pool as we need quick access to the officials, as we are the only ones that are supposed to address an official, and so that we can view every race where the swimmer is expecting some kind of feedback. Do we miss races? Yes, but if everyone follows the routine, it becomes less likely that a coach misses a swimmers race, but it does happen.
Discipline and responsibility are developed through our swim meet routine. It is important to emphasize to your swimmer the importance of these processes, as it does benefit them later in their career as they have learned these skills before they get to the age of adolescence where it is very hard to develop in them.
Exception to this: If you are in a meet where events are very close to each other, a swimmer may skip a check-in for post race analysis, but should try to let the coach know with a quick walk by that they aren't avoiding them. There is no good time not to talk to the coach; good race or bad.
Saturday, June 9, 2012
Swim lessons
Sorry for the break from posts. I have been doing private Learn to Swim Lessons this last week for 6 to 7 hours back to back 30 minutes at a time. It is exhausting, but once started in with the lessons it is a lot of fun. I am teaching kids that range from 11 months old to 7 years old. The levels are all below what could make our bottom group, except one is just about ready. It is all basics, it is coming up with tricks to get the kids to do what seem so easy to do. Having designed a Swim School Curriculum this may come a little easier as I have thought about tricks to accomplish certain basics.
The 7 year old is about at the level that she could join our team if she so desired. It is fun as I was able to get it across to her that relaxing is a key aspect to swimming. She had basics down, and now it is learning the strokes. We are starting with her by relaxing and going to positions that you want a swimmer to be comfortable with and be able to float in. Once I got the swimmer to completely relax learning skills became much easier, and now learning is happening fast. No need for speed. everything is methodical. There is no reason to rush as there is no expectation of racing yet.
I really hope she does join the team because I'd be curious to see how she then does with stroke instruction with the foundation of relaxation. I am sure there are other swim programs that emphasize relaxing, but here I'd know where she began, and how the development goes.
Again, I emphasize the relaxation aspect. I think learning it early makes it easier later on. Once the skills are in place then the emphasis to sprinting should be applied, and then strength (body weight), and then finally endurance.
The 7 year old is about at the level that she could join our team if she so desired. It is fun as I was able to get it across to her that relaxing is a key aspect to swimming. She had basics down, and now it is learning the strokes. We are starting with her by relaxing and going to positions that you want a swimmer to be comfortable with and be able to float in. Once I got the swimmer to completely relax learning skills became much easier, and now learning is happening fast. No need for speed. everything is methodical. There is no reason to rush as there is no expectation of racing yet.
I really hope she does join the team because I'd be curious to see how she then does with stroke instruction with the foundation of relaxation. I am sure there are other swim programs that emphasize relaxing, but here I'd know where she began, and how the development goes.
Again, I emphasize the relaxation aspect. I think learning it early makes it easier later on. Once the skills are in place then the emphasis to sprinting should be applied, and then strength (body weight), and then finally endurance.
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