Learnings From Individual Sports

Technique change - the thoughts of an 8 time Olympic Gold Medal winner and now coach (The Race Club).

In the sport of swimming, while there may be theoretical advantages of using one technique over another, nearly every change of technique brings both advantages and disadvantages. It is the job of the coach and the swimmer to determine if the change in technique results in more advantages than disadvantages. It is not always easy to determine. Most changes in technique require time to adapt to and to perfect, so those determinations of benefit may also take time.

A few weeks ago, we described the three advantages of using a vertical arm recovery in freestyle. Does that mean every swimmer should use a vertical freestyle recovery? No. But in partnership the swimmer and coach should try it out and see if it fits the swimmer’s physique and motor movement pattern and “feel” for the water.

Change takes time, but as stated above, the coach and athlete must assess the pros and cons. It might be worth the effort in the long run. Should GAA coaches invest more time in this process? Probably. But it requires time, effort, patience and the outcome might not be significant. So….?

Swim Parents - Partners in Potential and Performance

Every swimming coach in the world must find a way to work effectively with the parents / carers of the kids they coach.

The concept of ⁠partnership⁠ is important.

In essence, what are coaches, parents / carers and swimmers all chasing?

Answer: To help the swimmer be all they choose to be - to help them realize their potential in and out of the water.

The beautiful thing about that is that when it comes down to it - coaches, parents / carers and swimmers - ALL WANT THE SAME THING! - we all want to see the swimmer learn to love the water, enjoy the experience of swimming, improve and to be all they choose to be.

In any partnership, each of the partners, need to do their "job" - they need to understand what it is they need to do to help achieve their collective goal - in this case - the realization of the potential of the swimmer.

So, what's the "job" of a coach? To teach skills, help swimmers prepare for Meets, to improve their speed and fitness, to help them perform when and where it matters, etc.

And swimmers - what's their "job"?

It is simply - to do the best they can - every time they train and race - to do their best.

⁠Swimming Parents and carers⁠ - what's their "job"?

To teach values like respect, honesty, integrity, humility, courage, discipline and a work-ethic.

To help build independence, self-responsibility and self-accountability

To love, accept and value their children unconditionally for who they are.

To help their kids learn important life skills like time management.

To teach them the importance of taking ownership and responsibility for their day to day needs like cleaning their rooms, preparing for training, packing their swim bags, hanging out wet swim suits and towels etc.

If you think about the coach, parent / carer and swimmer relationship as a partnership - as a team - where every member of the team is committed to and focused on helping the swimmer to be the best they can be - there's no limits to what you can achieve together.

Is it always easy?

NO!!! - of course not. Stories about the difficulties of dealing with overzealous and overly "invested" swimming parents / carers are common place in coaching all over the world.

But it is vital that coaches look to find ways of building and sustaining strong, positive constructive relationships with swimming parents / carers and to strive to work closely together as the swimmer progresses.

Is this not the case in all sports? We hope this helps whatever your sport and involvement is.

(Extract from GoSwim TV)