The power of the team

Ever wonder why some of the best swimmers seem to come from the biggest teams? I believe it is from the power of the team.

Swimming by its nature is an individual sport. Within USA Swimming though, they have created a sport that can take advantage of the team advantages, and use it to create great individual athletes. I have mentioned many times that swimming is a tough sport and the career is filled with ups and downs, and even a few flat spots. How do we keep our great athletes engaged through these hard times? It is the utilization of the team.

I talk to my athletes that they need to want to push each other to help each other become better. They must also know that them not trying, or taking laps or sets off hurts not only themselves, but their teammates as well. When a teammate gets faster, it should celebrated by the whole team. If that person is in your group, then you know that you have a faster swimmer to help push you, or you have a new challenge of someone trying to take your position as the fastest at practice.

If you hear about high level swimmers choosing a place to train, many look at; who is the coach, but many times they looked to see who is going to be their training partner. In a swimmers career they should experience being on the bottom of the group; what it feels like to be the middle of the pack; and know how to be the leader (the person everyone is using to help them to become better). Every spot in a group is very different, but success can be taken from any of the positions if done well.

My opinion is that this is why USA had become so dominant in this individual sport. We have created the team advantage, and each of those teams compete, and then we end up with great group of swimmers in the end team (the Olympic Team). Yes, the world has caught up to us, and many of them now come to the states and take advantage of what the USA has fostered at the club and college level.

Many people come into our sport very individual minded, and very little care for the team. They either get tired of how we try to develop the team, and not just individuals; or they buy in and reap the benefits.

"Our aim is not produce champions, but to create an environment where champions are inevitable." -Forbes Carlisle.