Development Programs

Developing Swimmers have a lot to learn, and as a coach you take your time and try to not only teach strokes, but proper execution of strokes, skills, and drills. At the same time you want to provide programs that are different and can teach swimmers different things about swimming.

I have tried to put together various activities and programs in the past to provide a change of pace, or an opportunity to teach a part of the sport that isn't learned at a normal practice. Many times these programs or activities are hit or miss. Even a program that in theory would do great things, can go really bad because something comes up that you hadn't planned for, or something that creates a lot of chaos.

This season I tried to put one together, and it worked out great.This program began with one day when we brought in our two senior level swimmers to work one-on-one with our two beginning level groups. The fear is, how will the senior swimmers do in the instruction of these young swimmers. Our senior swimmers did a great job. The young kids enjoyed themselves a lot and they also got to know a senior swimmer. The senior swimmers seemed to really enjoy getting to know a swimmer, and trying to help them with swimming (which they themselves put so much time into). It went over so well, many of our younger swimmers wanted to know when they could work with their senior swimmer again.

Today, we took a friday workout and turned it into a practice swim meet. Again I used senior swimmers, and they walked the young swimmers through check-in, warm-up, checking heat and lane, reporting to the block, and they also cheered their swimmers on as they swam across the pool. It was a learning experience for the new swimmer, and another opportunity for our senior swimmers to help a person new to our sport.

There were some mistakes, including my own (the starter for the meet) as I forgot there was a 3rd heat, and I moved onto the next event. Whoops. There were others, but for the most part, it was another positive experience for all involved. I also hope that what we covered with athlete and parent about the meet process, will make their first meet experience better than without the practice meet. Anything to provide a better chance for good experiences at swim meets.

These kind of programs, we always create in theory to work really well, but sometimes they just fall flat on their face. I have had success' and failures, but continue to try to develop programs and activities to better prepare our swimmers and provide positive experiences. I got lucky this time, and it worked out really well.