Physiologically, the ages of 12 - 14 is critical time in a persons aerobic development, as it is said to be one of the easiest times to develop aerobic base. Before this period of a young persons growth the aerobic base may not be developed, but just stays as is, but can be pushed without a lot of growth in the aerobic development. This age range I mentioned can be as young as 11 for some girls and as old as 15 for some boys.
So, the Advanced Age-Group Level is a primary spot to do aerobic development, and it bleeds over into a pre-senior level as well.
I always look at what I am doing with my groups. I have a plan, but I admit I go away from it at times, but I am always evaluating what I am doing. I felt like my group lacked some stroke development, so the beginning of this season I made that an emphasis. Their strokes are for the most part better. There are some concepts still that some swimmers haven't grasped yet.
Now comes the point where I am going to pump up the aerobic and I watch and I want to stop them sometimes, and fix their strokes, but at the same time I don't want to disturb a aerobic set, which would kill the purpose of the set. I let them go and swim and get the aerobic set done, and they did a decent job at it. It is just those little stroke things that they aren't grasping, or having difficulty making a change.
I know that the aerobic set is good for them, and they need to begin to get more of it into their workout, but I am always wanting to fix their strokes. This is still part of my coaching I have to catch myself.
This also creates the problem when kids come to us at ages 13 - 14 years old with major stroke flaws. I want to fix them, but I also know I need to get that work in for their future development physiologically. I still do stroke development days when we have a rest day to allow the body recovery from hard work, but I just want to fix them right away.
In my development as a coach, I have to get to the point that I can let something go until the time is correct to fix things, and not only worry about the strokes, but worry about the physical development of the swimmer for the long term goals as well.
Monday, April 30, 2012
Friday, April 27, 2012
Bringing back a favorite post
So I have now done 126 posts on this blog and there has been over 11,500 page views. I have had a lot of readers join lately as the numbers have climbed and the constant is way more than before. So what was the first post that got more than 50 page views? It was "Grit". So, I wanted to re-post this one for those who don't go back back really far in this blog due to the large number of posts. Here is "Grit" posted on June 18th of 2011.
Grit
Just read through the new ASCA Newsletter. They reprinted one of my favorite articles titled, "Nation of Wimps." Re-read it, and enjoyed just as much, even though the article is now about 7 years old. I think it still applies, and actually think that it may be getting worse. (Check out Nation of Wimps HERE)
The article I really enjoyed was titled, "True Grit." I had an idea of what Grit meant, but in the article it defined it, and I think that it may be my new favorite word because of the articles definition. From the article, "...grit - defined as endurance in pursuit of long term goals and an ability to persist in the face of adversity - is a key part of what makes people successful."The article continues with, "In a culture that values quick results - this quarters numbers, this week's weight loss, this month's clickthroughs - grit can be an underappreciated secret weapon."
Anyone who has gone through a swimming career can relate, and understands what grit is. Swimmers at the highest of levels have gone through those times that nothing is improving, and there is a point of possibly even getting worse. But as swimmers continue their career as swimmers, they believe that the work they do is going to pay of and continue to persist, and continue to try to train harder. Those who have stuck through with it have reaped the rewards, and came out the other end better than they were as a swimmer, but as this article eludes to, the person has actually come out as a better person, as they understand grit, and can then apply it to life situations as they try to succeed in other avenues of life.
The purpose of the article was to "explain why some of the biggest victories are won an inch at a time," as the article states. The article refers to how people in our society are looking for the big moment, and want a big moment all the time, but in reality most success is gained through grit. It is tough to go through it, but one step at a time could very well get you farther along than taking one big step and stopping there.
I also enjoyed the analogy in the article. (I am going to include the whole paragraph) "Grit is not synonymous with hard work. It involves a certain single mindedness. An ungritty prison inmate will formulate a new plan of escape every month, but a gritty prison inmate will tunnel his way out one spoonful of concrete at a time." My guess is that the gritty inmate slowly but eventually accomplishes his goal, where the ungritty inmate, although comes up with some great plans, never really accomplishes his goal.
Grit is the probably the best word for any swimmer who is going to be successful. I have seen so many talented swimmers achieve success early, and once the success is over and there becomes obstacles in the way, they choose to bow out rather than persist to see their full potential. Grit is also a great way to see an age-groupers career, as they must see there growth as progress an inch at a time, and that every swim is not going to be the big moment.
End on this note, GRIT!
Grit
Just read through the new ASCA Newsletter. They reprinted one of my favorite articles titled, "Nation of Wimps." Re-read it, and enjoyed just as much, even though the article is now about 7 years old. I think it still applies, and actually think that it may be getting worse. (Check out Nation of Wimps HERE)
The article I really enjoyed was titled, "True Grit." I had an idea of what Grit meant, but in the article it defined it, and I think that it may be my new favorite word because of the articles definition. From the article, "...grit - defined as endurance in pursuit of long term goals and an ability to persist in the face of adversity - is a key part of what makes people successful."The article continues with, "In a culture that values quick results - this quarters numbers, this week's weight loss, this month's clickthroughs - grit can be an underappreciated secret weapon."
Anyone who has gone through a swimming career can relate, and understands what grit is. Swimmers at the highest of levels have gone through those times that nothing is improving, and there is a point of possibly even getting worse. But as swimmers continue their career as swimmers, they believe that the work they do is going to pay of and continue to persist, and continue to try to train harder. Those who have stuck through with it have reaped the rewards, and came out the other end better than they were as a swimmer, but as this article eludes to, the person has actually come out as a better person, as they understand grit, and can then apply it to life situations as they try to succeed in other avenues of life.
The purpose of the article was to "explain why some of the biggest victories are won an inch at a time," as the article states. The article refers to how people in our society are looking for the big moment, and want a big moment all the time, but in reality most success is gained through grit. It is tough to go through it, but one step at a time could very well get you farther along than taking one big step and stopping there.
I also enjoyed the analogy in the article. (I am going to include the whole paragraph) "Grit is not synonymous with hard work. It involves a certain single mindedness. An ungritty prison inmate will formulate a new plan of escape every month, but a gritty prison inmate will tunnel his way out one spoonful of concrete at a time." My guess is that the gritty inmate slowly but eventually accomplishes his goal, where the ungritty inmate, although comes up with some great plans, never really accomplishes his goal.
Grit is the probably the best word for any swimmer who is going to be successful. I have seen so many talented swimmers achieve success early, and once the success is over and there becomes obstacles in the way, they choose to bow out rather than persist to see their full potential. Grit is also a great way to see an age-groupers career, as they must see there growth as progress an inch at a time, and that every swim is not going to be the big moment.
End on this note, GRIT!
Thursday, April 26, 2012
Novice Swimming
I think this is where we miss the boat the most in USA Swimming. When is the time that most people are thinking about swimming? It is the summer time. Most teams should be getting new kids interested in joining their team in the summer. What season are we in though at this time? Long Course Season. So, if our newbies want to compete, they go and get intimidated by this huge pool.
Many Summer Leagues are successful because of how our system is set up. I am sure there are some LSC's that are already ahead of the game and offer a series of Short Course Meets, but SoCal we are just beginning. I am excited to help bring this to our area, and excited that we are looking to develop senior swimming; develop age-group swimming; but also understand that we need a grassroots system as well.
It is still a work in progress, but it is getting there. We still have some kids who attend these meets who should not be these meets doing their best events. My feeling is that once you have achieved around that National BB time you are ready to doing some Long Course Meets. Leave the short course meets in the summer to those swimmers who are new to the sport, or who don't normally have success at regular short course meets in the fall.
I really think that small local meets that have slower or newer swimmers that are short course can help develop the developing swimmer enjoy the sport, and possibly become a swimmer for the next level of competition. We have to think about all levels, and this is one that is very important.
Many Summer Leagues are successful because of how our system is set up. I am sure there are some LSC's that are already ahead of the game and offer a series of Short Course Meets, but SoCal we are just beginning. I am excited to help bring this to our area, and excited that we are looking to develop senior swimming; develop age-group swimming; but also understand that we need a grassroots system as well.
It is still a work in progress, but it is getting there. We still have some kids who attend these meets who should not be these meets doing their best events. My feeling is that once you have achieved around that National BB time you are ready to doing some Long Course Meets. Leave the short course meets in the summer to those swimmers who are new to the sport, or who don't normally have success at regular short course meets in the fall.
I really think that small local meets that have slower or newer swimmers that are short course can help develop the developing swimmer enjoy the sport, and possibly become a swimmer for the next level of competition. We have to think about all levels, and this is one that is very important.
Speed, Power, and Flexibility
It became a motto for our group for a few years. It was the focus to everything we did at RCA in the senior group.
Speed: 25's for time became one of our groups favorite things. We raced 2 - 4 at a time. Just raw speed. Our sets were not all speed based, but we did a lot of speed as a concentration. We all knew our 25 times, and we knew where we wanted to be at any given point of a season.
Power: Many would think weights, but our senior group did no organized weight program. Some of us would go screw around at the gym everyone once in awhile, but it wasn't a true weight program, and most of the time it was a social thing. We did do a lot of body weight exercises, stretch cordz, medicine ball, resistance bands, and power rack. We had sets that were brutal that were power based as well. Oh how I remember the 20 x 50 Fly with every end was 30 pulls with the stretch cordz with a feet first entry directly to the next 50 fly.
Flexibility: Our stretching was always on our own. We sat around and talked to each other and stretched. It was so familiar to us, I remember sitting at meets between events and doing a stretch here and there. Even warm-up had times that most of us knew it was a good time to stretch. It was also cool to go to a meet like Grand Challenge and watch the Berkeley guys stretch at the meet, it reinforced that it was always important to stretch, and not just to be loose, but stretch to improve flexibility, even at the highest level.
Was it the key to our success? Not sure, but we knew that it was the focus. We were told that those three aspects were the solid foundation to athleticism, and that high level swimmers need to be great athletes.
Speed: 25's for time became one of our groups favorite things. We raced 2 - 4 at a time. Just raw speed. Our sets were not all speed based, but we did a lot of speed as a concentration. We all knew our 25 times, and we knew where we wanted to be at any given point of a season.
Power: Many would think weights, but our senior group did no organized weight program. Some of us would go screw around at the gym everyone once in awhile, but it wasn't a true weight program, and most of the time it was a social thing. We did do a lot of body weight exercises, stretch cordz, medicine ball, resistance bands, and power rack. We had sets that were brutal that were power based as well. Oh how I remember the 20 x 50 Fly with every end was 30 pulls with the stretch cordz with a feet first entry directly to the next 50 fly.
Flexibility: Our stretching was always on our own. We sat around and talked to each other and stretched. It was so familiar to us, I remember sitting at meets between events and doing a stretch here and there. Even warm-up had times that most of us knew it was a good time to stretch. It was also cool to go to a meet like Grand Challenge and watch the Berkeley guys stretch at the meet, it reinforced that it was always important to stretch, and not just to be loose, but stretch to improve flexibility, even at the highest level.
Was it the key to our success? Not sure, but we knew that it was the focus. We were told that those three aspects were the solid foundation to athleticism, and that high level swimmers need to be great athletes.
Tuesday, April 24, 2012
Out of water Swimming
Took some time today to do some out of water butterfly with my group. It was like fish out of water. They felt so silly and had trouble with this exercise. I think that I need to do more of this on occasion. I was able to point out some flaws, as they were to go slow motion, and I tried to pause them at moments on flaws. The big one I knew for some of them. I have some who still have a hard time timing out the butterfly breathe. This is one of those repetition things. Some of the swimmers know when they are supposed to breathe, and they still can't make the change, or have made the change until they get back to a race.
The other big thing was how many dropped their elbows and brought them into the body to finish the pull. I moved their elbows to a more powerful position and had them continue through the stroke motion. Then I had them repeat a few times trying to not drop the elbows.
In Water, we continue to repeat this message of not dropping the elbows. On land, I showed them what it looks like and how I want them to do it. In water I could see some of the swimmers make improvements, but we need more repetition of the position of power. As the practice went on, many reverted back, and I continued to remind them about those pesky elbows. I sound like a broken record sometimes at practice, as I repeat myself over and over and over again, hoping that they caught it one of those many times that I said it.
Out of water swimming, is part of my new goal of trying to improve our underwater pulls to create more propulsion, and less time on stroke and recoveries that is a smaller importance to overall speed of swimming. If you all you watch is over the water, then you are missing the real important part of swimming fast.
The other big thing was how many dropped their elbows and brought them into the body to finish the pull. I moved their elbows to a more powerful position and had them continue through the stroke motion. Then I had them repeat a few times trying to not drop the elbows.
In Water, we continue to repeat this message of not dropping the elbows. On land, I showed them what it looks like and how I want them to do it. In water I could see some of the swimmers make improvements, but we need more repetition of the position of power. As the practice went on, many reverted back, and I continued to remind them about those pesky elbows. I sound like a broken record sometimes at practice, as I repeat myself over and over and over again, hoping that they caught it one of those many times that I said it.
Out of water swimming, is part of my new goal of trying to improve our underwater pulls to create more propulsion, and less time on stroke and recoveries that is a smaller importance to overall speed of swimming. If you all you watch is over the water, then you are missing the real important part of swimming fast.
Sunday, April 22, 2012
Swimmers strive with a sense of purpose rather than focusing on themselves
First thing to realize is that this concept is not easy in our sport. It is by nature a individual sport, but we strive to create a team sport to get the best results. I believe most swimmers don't get over the hump into senior swimming because they focus too much on themselves and their swimming. Swimmers, coaches, and parents alike misstep and allow the athlete to concentrate on themselves too much. Hear is a part of an article by Dana Vollmer which can be found on the USA Swimming Website:
Swimmers tend to do this. The focus on themselves, as it is only there times and improvements that they worry about, and they lose that fire to continue to work. Many articles indicate that most of those who go on to achieve their goals, have an instance where they begin to focus on how they help their whole team at meets and at practices. This fire to help others can be much stronger than the fire to improve oneself.
Swimmers, it is hard because of the pure nature of the sport, but it is very helpful for the fire and desire to strive in the sport.
Last summer we had many of our swimmers help out at summer league swim practices and summer league swim meets. To give back to the sport, and help other young swimmers get excited about the sport. In turn, we hope it helps build the fire in them, as they see newer swimmers get excited about the sport. I hope that this continues, so we can allow our swimmers not only think about themselves, but to think about helping their teammates and those new people to the sport.
... I have wanted to be a positive influence and a role model for young kids; I have wanted to make a difference in other people's lives through athletic success, just as he did for me. Unfortunately, for too long, I thought only multi-gold medalists and numerous record holders could make a difference. I failed to recognize that my ambition, in and of itself, could also serve as a platform for becoming a positive influence on others. After failing to make the Olympic team in 2008 I felt that I had failed at life—and would never be able to have the positive influence I desired.
This apparent failure served as a wakeup call. With the help of some very special people, I eventually realized that I wasn’t lacking swimming talent. I was lacking a sense of purpose. The best way to do that, I found out, was to focus less on myself. I strived to become the best teammate, friend and role model that I could. And that, in turn, began to reignite a spark inside me. As I gained motivation, my success in the pool began to return. I was now swimming not just for myself, but also for the sake of others, and this made all the difference.A Testimonial of a well-established swimmer who hit one of the hardest times for a swimmer; the time that they feel like they have failed at life and there was no improvement on the horizon.
Swimmers tend to do this. The focus on themselves, as it is only there times and improvements that they worry about, and they lose that fire to continue to work. Many articles indicate that most of those who go on to achieve their goals, have an instance where they begin to focus on how they help their whole team at meets and at practices. This fire to help others can be much stronger than the fire to improve oneself.
Swimmers, it is hard because of the pure nature of the sport, but it is very helpful for the fire and desire to strive in the sport.
Last summer we had many of our swimmers help out at summer league swim practices and summer league swim meets. To give back to the sport, and help other young swimmers get excited about the sport. In turn, we hope it helps build the fire in them, as they see newer swimmers get excited about the sport. I hope that this continues, so we can allow our swimmers not only think about themselves, but to think about helping their teammates and those new people to the sport.
Saturday, April 21, 2012
"I accept the Challenge"
I don't admit all that I was when I was younger; how I acted, what my strengths were, what my flaws were, or the things that I did wrong along the way, but believe me we all have them. I was reminded though from reading an article from a USA Swimming Magazine of one of the most significant turning points in my life. This was not a 360 degree turn when I went from bad to good, but it was the point that my life perception changed, which led me to the changes in my life that brought me to the way I live my life. The article first:
16 years old. I was pretty much an idiot, but I thought I was a genius. I guess the term sophomore was perfect for my sophomore year, as I was quite sophomoric. Things went bad that year, and it was the first time I remember sitting back and thinking who I was as a person. I looked at myself and didn't really like what I saw. At this time, everyone wanted to help me out become better, but the thing was was it was all for not, had I not taken action myself.
I was lucky though, I had a great family and an amazing circle of friends. Most of these people have no idea what a help they were during this time in my life that I was going to change. It wasn't their words saying how smart I was, How much potential I had, or any other words of encouragement. I had heard those my whole life. It was the fact that they were there, and that when I took on this new look on life, they were going to be behind me.
So what was this amazing change? It was literally based off of a single quote on a RCA Senior Team Shirt that said, "I am the only one responsible for my success and failure. I accept the Challenge!" It was on the back of the shirt for all of us to see as our teammates wore the shirt to meets and practices. It wasn't the shirt from that particular year, but an older one that I saw a teammate wear one day. That same year, was the year that we did US History, and I was also enamored with the ideas of Teddy Roosevelt and his "Rugged Individualism."
At this moment, I did my best to not make excuses anymore. Sure I complained and avoided doing things still, but I began to accept the result of those choices as my own, and not that of anything or anyone else around me. My failures weren't because of teachers, my coaches, my parents, my friends, or someone else. They might have played a part in a failure, but then I chose to deal with the individual for that particular endeavor. I blamed myself for bad choices in failures that I did, whereas before I always tried to sweet talk my way into making others believe it was the fault that I had no control over.
When I began it was really tough to give myself this blame, but I took it. It came to the point that no one could get mad at me as much as I got mad at myself. This was the first step that I knew I was changing; I wanted to be better. I had to then learn that I wasn't going to succeed every time, but that if you analyze all the choices that led to that result, then you could figure out why the result didn't end up as you had planned. Then I would figure out what I wanted for my next result, whether it was the same goal, a higher goal, or a goal that I really wasn't interested in any longer.
It became my challenge, and I accepted it. I got better at it as I got older, and I became better at looking and finding ways to make me better. I never accept that I do things right, but always willing to examine anything to see if it is a reason why I didn't succeed. It is hard at times to admit that you do something wrong that you have done for so long, but sometimes it is those very things that are your biggest flaws.
Own it. It is a challenge to accept responsibility. It is hard to deal with it at first, but it becomes great in the long run. Don't ignore your support system though. They may become bystanders, but they are important. It is the mindset that you are responsible, but let's not be naive, those around you help support you, and allow you to not succeed and to be able to try again.
Accountability is Courageous
By John G. Miller
A classroom full of college students waited expectantly as their esteemed Philosophy 101 professor began passing out the final exam booklets. He'd told them it would be an essay test with just one question to answer and that they each would be required to write approximately 500 words.
When every student had a booklet in hand, the instructor walked over to his laptop and pushed a button. Upon the large screen in front of the class appeared the single exam question:
What is courage?
Everyone went to work. With heads bowed and pens scribbling across paper, all were intensely focused on the answer they would create, hoping for that outstanding grade they sought. The teacher turned to his computer to keep busy for the next hour.
But then, out of the corner of his eye, there was movement. Looking up, he saw a student smiling at him as she dropped her exam booklet into a wire mesh basket on his desk and strode briskly—confidently—out of the room. Bewildered, if not stunned, the professor reached into the basket to grab the student's "work." Wondering how in under a minute the student could've answered the question "What is courage?" he turned to page one and saw the young woman's entire answer:
This is.
Courage comes in all forms and we could cite many examples, but instead let's make the link between courage and personal accountability, for one can't exist without the other. Let's first list, though, some common life problems:
• The project I'm leading at work is behind schedule.
• My team is not performing.
• The company I started isn't making it.
• I am not hitting my sales goal.
• I am overweight and out-of-shape.
• My relationships are suffering.
• There is tension in my marriage.
• My son is not obedient.
• My daughter will not listen to me.
• I have no friends.
• I am unhappy.
In light of these life problems, how do courage and personal accountability intertwine? By saying these words:
I own it.
Anything else is blame, excuse-making, and a lack of personal responsibility. And dare I say, immature.
Sometimes people use the phrase "man up"—which doesn't really seem to work for women, but to instruct someone to "person up" sounds awfully odd. Yet the message behind "man up" is what we're talking about here, isn't it? It takes courage to say "I own it!" with no ifs, ands, or buts. And in that moment, when I am willing to speak those three courageous words, I am practicing personal accountability. I am outstanding.
So, to show my courage—and to be courageous—I will ask The Question Behind the Question (QBQ), "What can I do today to own a problem in my life?"
Some things just aren't that complicated.
16 years old. I was pretty much an idiot, but I thought I was a genius. I guess the term sophomore was perfect for my sophomore year, as I was quite sophomoric. Things went bad that year, and it was the first time I remember sitting back and thinking who I was as a person. I looked at myself and didn't really like what I saw. At this time, everyone wanted to help me out become better, but the thing was was it was all for not, had I not taken action myself.
I was lucky though, I had a great family and an amazing circle of friends. Most of these people have no idea what a help they were during this time in my life that I was going to change. It wasn't their words saying how smart I was, How much potential I had, or any other words of encouragement. I had heard those my whole life. It was the fact that they were there, and that when I took on this new look on life, they were going to be behind me.
So what was this amazing change? It was literally based off of a single quote on a RCA Senior Team Shirt that said, "I am the only one responsible for my success and failure. I accept the Challenge!" It was on the back of the shirt for all of us to see as our teammates wore the shirt to meets and practices. It wasn't the shirt from that particular year, but an older one that I saw a teammate wear one day. That same year, was the year that we did US History, and I was also enamored with the ideas of Teddy Roosevelt and his "Rugged Individualism."
At this moment, I did my best to not make excuses anymore. Sure I complained and avoided doing things still, but I began to accept the result of those choices as my own, and not that of anything or anyone else around me. My failures weren't because of teachers, my coaches, my parents, my friends, or someone else. They might have played a part in a failure, but then I chose to deal with the individual for that particular endeavor. I blamed myself for bad choices in failures that I did, whereas before I always tried to sweet talk my way into making others believe it was the fault that I had no control over.
When I began it was really tough to give myself this blame, but I took it. It came to the point that no one could get mad at me as much as I got mad at myself. This was the first step that I knew I was changing; I wanted to be better. I had to then learn that I wasn't going to succeed every time, but that if you analyze all the choices that led to that result, then you could figure out why the result didn't end up as you had planned. Then I would figure out what I wanted for my next result, whether it was the same goal, a higher goal, or a goal that I really wasn't interested in any longer.
It became my challenge, and I accepted it. I got better at it as I got older, and I became better at looking and finding ways to make me better. I never accept that I do things right, but always willing to examine anything to see if it is a reason why I didn't succeed. It is hard at times to admit that you do something wrong that you have done for so long, but sometimes it is those very things that are your biggest flaws.
Own it. It is a challenge to accept responsibility. It is hard to deal with it at first, but it becomes great in the long run. Don't ignore your support system though. They may become bystanders, but they are important. It is the mindset that you are responsible, but let's not be naive, those around you help support you, and allow you to not succeed and to be able to try again.
Thursday, April 19, 2012
Brainstorming the Job of the Age-Group Swim Coach
I am going to putting on a coaches clinic back in my home town over Memorial Day Weekend. My cousin is getting married, so I might as well do some work, and try to give back to the area that gave me so much experience to become what I have become so far. To begin the clinic I plan to talk about the job of the Age-Group Swim Coach, as it is a clinic for young club coaches and summer league coaches of the area. Normally these coaches deal with young swimmers and I have seen so many approach coaching with the wrong mentality. So to begin the clinic I wanted to start with preaching what has been my approach, and has served me greatly as developmental coach, which I still believe that I am.
The biggest thing is that the coach must understand what they are there for. Be honest though, as it doesn't help you if you are not honest with yourself. If you honestly find a flaw in your thinking, you can always take steps to change it for the better. So many coaches coach to develop that great fast swimmer, but there time horizon is normally all wrong. If you make a great 10 year old or 12 year old it may not be the best thing, as have you also prepared them for the next step in the journey.
As the Age-Group Coach, we need to look at the big picture. Develop the skills early on that will serve them later in the career. The 10 and under ages, stroke work is always valued, but so is learning to feel the water and creating propulsion. Before this age, the habits of streamline, diving, turns, and transitions are developed. The better developed the less the coach later on has to focus on these things, and they can focus on other physiological and mental development.
Sometimes young coaches cling to a single swimmer, and push so much just to make that swimmer fast. They don't care how young they are; they don't care what the stroke looks like; they ignore some of the things that is going to help them later on. They worry so much about the time, and forget to look at creating a huge upside potential.
The coach must remember that they are not striving to get credit, they are trying to teach the skills necessary so they will be successful later. The great thing is that if done well, the swimmer does get fast under that coach, but there is always that up side because you haven't even tapped into physiological developing part of training.
So the job is rewarding, but at the same time, not that rewarding. If you view it the right way; you shaped this swimmer, and now they have moved on to the next aspect where the next coach actually makes them into the swimmer that achieves success.
As a developmental coach, I remember always telling my dad or brother, this is the next one. It didn't mean that they were going to be really fast that season, or even that year, but that they had the signs of being fast as the develop. Many times I have been right. It is sad to see those "next ones" fall to pressure of the social society when it comes fast and hard at them. Peer pressure and social aspects of American lifestyle can become the X-Factor in what happens to some kids with potential.
I continue to brainstorm this topic, and can't wait to see what I end up with for the clinic. As I really want to see if I can help people see my perspective, as I think it may make them understand some of the things I do better. The Developing coach has always been my job in club swimming, and I love every minute of it. I like to see the final product, but I really enjoy the developing process that takes part in the early and middle years of the career of swimmers.
The biggest thing is that the coach must understand what they are there for. Be honest though, as it doesn't help you if you are not honest with yourself. If you honestly find a flaw in your thinking, you can always take steps to change it for the better. So many coaches coach to develop that great fast swimmer, but there time horizon is normally all wrong. If you make a great 10 year old or 12 year old it may not be the best thing, as have you also prepared them for the next step in the journey.
As the Age-Group Coach, we need to look at the big picture. Develop the skills early on that will serve them later in the career. The 10 and under ages, stroke work is always valued, but so is learning to feel the water and creating propulsion. Before this age, the habits of streamline, diving, turns, and transitions are developed. The better developed the less the coach later on has to focus on these things, and they can focus on other physiological and mental development.
Sometimes young coaches cling to a single swimmer, and push so much just to make that swimmer fast. They don't care how young they are; they don't care what the stroke looks like; they ignore some of the things that is going to help them later on. They worry so much about the time, and forget to look at creating a huge upside potential.
The coach must remember that they are not striving to get credit, they are trying to teach the skills necessary so they will be successful later. The great thing is that if done well, the swimmer does get fast under that coach, but there is always that up side because you haven't even tapped into physiological developing part of training.
So the job is rewarding, but at the same time, not that rewarding. If you view it the right way; you shaped this swimmer, and now they have moved on to the next aspect where the next coach actually makes them into the swimmer that achieves success.
As a developmental coach, I remember always telling my dad or brother, this is the next one. It didn't mean that they were going to be really fast that season, or even that year, but that they had the signs of being fast as the develop. Many times I have been right. It is sad to see those "next ones" fall to pressure of the social society when it comes fast and hard at them. Peer pressure and social aspects of American lifestyle can become the X-Factor in what happens to some kids with potential.
I continue to brainstorm this topic, and can't wait to see what I end up with for the clinic. As I really want to see if I can help people see my perspective, as I think it may make them understand some of the things I do better. The Developing coach has always been my job in club swimming, and I love every minute of it. I like to see the final product, but I really enjoy the developing process that takes part in the early and middle years of the career of swimmers.
Tuesday, April 17, 2012
Happiness
In swimming we are very goal oriented. Many people understand this idea, but many times don't realize all the phases of the goal process. I think the main thing that people overlook in the process is the celebration of success. Many times the swimmer may improve or achieve a goal, and the only thing they can think about is that they still aren't where they or their parents expect them to be. Yes, even the parents should understand the process, as you can take those successes and emphasize the positive aspects of the experience you actually reinforce happiness that can lead to more success later on.
I have to give credit where credit is do though first. Thank you to Adrian Dinis from Rattler who guided me to this video. I think this video is very good, as it examines how we look at successes. Improvement is always the goal, but once achieved it is many times not celebrated. There is always the look over the shoulder about how someone else is faster, or they still haven't qualified for this other meet. This leaves the child never taking advantage of happiness, and what happiness can do for them in their progress towards the next goal. If always thinking about what they haven't achieved rather than that which they have achieved; soon, they are left with the feeling that there isn't happiness in achieving success, and find it hard to strive for the next small goal along the way to their long term goal. Celebrate success; celebrate improvements in the small things; celebrate all the time; you can even celebrate that they just want to compete and doesn't shy away from a result. Stop looking at the future all the time and enjoy the present. Here is the video from TED Talks.
Next, comes how we view our world. I love this talk as it means so much to what we do in swimming. Actually it means so much in so many different areas of our lives. I hope you enjoy this and think about the idea of investing in the process.
I have to give credit where credit is do though first. Thank you to Adrian Dinis from Rattler who guided me to this video. I think this video is very good, as it examines how we look at successes. Improvement is always the goal, but once achieved it is many times not celebrated. There is always the look over the shoulder about how someone else is faster, or they still haven't qualified for this other meet. This leaves the child never taking advantage of happiness, and what happiness can do for them in their progress towards the next goal. If always thinking about what they haven't achieved rather than that which they have achieved; soon, they are left with the feeling that there isn't happiness in achieving success, and find it hard to strive for the next small goal along the way to their long term goal. Celebrate success; celebrate improvements in the small things; celebrate all the time; you can even celebrate that they just want to compete and doesn't shy away from a result. Stop looking at the future all the time and enjoy the present. Here is the video from TED Talks.
Next, comes how we view our world. I love this talk as it means so much to what we do in swimming. Actually it means so much in so many different areas of our lives. I hope you enjoy this and think about the idea of investing in the process.
Tuesday, April 10, 2012
Goals, Goals, Goals
I talk about performance goals a lot. I believe that they need to have short term, mid term, and long term goals when it comes to where they want to be as a swimmer. I have seen too many summer league swimmers concentrate so much on silly goals that lead to nothing, and never have seen a time standard for a big meet to even have a reason to work harder.
I remember the talk I gave at the Fresno Pacific Swim Camp, and there were many kids who had never seen the motivational times, and they had no idea how fast they possibly could be with time and commitment. I open some eyes and I saw some kids take my motivational time sheets and excel from just having that step ladder of goal times.
Last night I talked to my group about practice goals though. I have talked about this before, as there are some sets that I do that are very similar to previous sets, and there are some test sets in there for the kids. Last night though I put it another way, maybe it got across to some of them that the other talks haven't. That is the goal of saying the same thing many different ways (we are trying to reach many kids just those that can understand the way you like to say it.)
As the weeks go on, I want everybody to recognize that they are able to do something that previously couldn't do. That is the best indicator that you are progressing at the advanced age-group level. Younger levels could be more about stroke techniques. They are able to do a skill better than they did before. As the swimmer gets older, it may not be as much that they can do a skill better, but maybe they are able to do a set better (make a set look easy). Maybe they can complete something that they previously couldn't do like a 400 IM or a 800 Freestyle.
Swimming is a sport based on goal setting. Without it, it is hard to tell yourself to work harder. It becomes that sole motivation as you get older, as there are so many other things telling you that you don't need to work harder. Do not become content on the work you've put in, but continue to push yourself because you want that next goal, which is the next step to the long term goal.
I remember the talk I gave at the Fresno Pacific Swim Camp, and there were many kids who had never seen the motivational times, and they had no idea how fast they possibly could be with time and commitment. I open some eyes and I saw some kids take my motivational time sheets and excel from just having that step ladder of goal times.
Last night I talked to my group about practice goals though. I have talked about this before, as there are some sets that I do that are very similar to previous sets, and there are some test sets in there for the kids. Last night though I put it another way, maybe it got across to some of them that the other talks haven't. That is the goal of saying the same thing many different ways (we are trying to reach many kids just those that can understand the way you like to say it.)
As the weeks go on, I want everybody to recognize that they are able to do something that previously couldn't do. That is the best indicator that you are progressing at the advanced age-group level. Younger levels could be more about stroke techniques. They are able to do a skill better than they did before. As the swimmer gets older, it may not be as much that they can do a skill better, but maybe they are able to do a set better (make a set look easy). Maybe they can complete something that they previously couldn't do like a 400 IM or a 800 Freestyle.
Swimming is a sport based on goal setting. Without it, it is hard to tell yourself to work harder. It becomes that sole motivation as you get older, as there are so many other things telling you that you don't need to work harder. Do not become content on the work you've put in, but continue to push yourself because you want that next goal, which is the next step to the long term goal.
Friday, April 6, 2012
Release Points
Yesterday I talked to the swimmers about releasing the water. I emphasized the finish of the stroke for awhile now because of the lack of extension in the arm, but now I talked about that once you have pushed the water past the hips, you don't keep trying to push, but release the water and rise the elbow with the arm relaxed.
We did a drill where the swimmer will pull one hand back and end up in a side kick position, then they will rise the elbow without forcing the hand. They will stop in a shark fin position, and then the elbow will go back down, so the arm is back to a side kick position. The elbow will rise again, but this time they will continue to rotate the elbow forward and extend the hand as the lead hand pulls back and repeats what the previous arm did. I called it up-back-and full drill. The concentrate is to relax the arm during the recovery. They need to be able to release the water at the arm extension and relax.
Backstroke finish is done with a down press, like the swimmer is going to throw a ball to the bottom of the pool. There is then a release of the water and relax in the forearm, as the hand turns slightly, the shoulder will rise the arm out of the water relaxed. This release will help relax the arm so the shoulder rises the arm up quickly.
Butterfly is the one I emphasize all the time, as the force of the finish messes with timing so much. I normally talk about slicing out from the belly button, but in reality it is a release of the water and the force is to get the arms just above the surface and not to bring the water up with the hands. This release technique I emphasize a lot, and I have seen great progression in my flyers, so I am hoping emphasizing the the release on the other strokes will develop these strokes as much as I have seen from butterfly in my group.
We did a drill where the swimmer will pull one hand back and end up in a side kick position, then they will rise the elbow without forcing the hand. They will stop in a shark fin position, and then the elbow will go back down, so the arm is back to a side kick position. The elbow will rise again, but this time they will continue to rotate the elbow forward and extend the hand as the lead hand pulls back and repeats what the previous arm did. I called it up-back-and full drill. The concentrate is to relax the arm during the recovery. They need to be able to release the water at the arm extension and relax.
Backstroke finish is done with a down press, like the swimmer is going to throw a ball to the bottom of the pool. There is then a release of the water and relax in the forearm, as the hand turns slightly, the shoulder will rise the arm out of the water relaxed. This release will help relax the arm so the shoulder rises the arm up quickly.
Butterfly is the one I emphasize all the time, as the force of the finish messes with timing so much. I normally talk about slicing out from the belly button, but in reality it is a release of the water and the force is to get the arms just above the surface and not to bring the water up with the hands. This release technique I emphasize a lot, and I have seen great progression in my flyers, so I am hoping emphasizing the the release on the other strokes will develop these strokes as much as I have seen from butterfly in my group.
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