Hosting my first masters practices this week.... variety of skill levels. Hour long practices. Any tips for good first week practices?? (new to coaching masters, but have been swimming/coaching for 35 years)....
any and all advice welcomed!
Mahalo!
Remember that masters swimmers are coming to practice to improve. Be direct and offer constructive comments to help 'fix' the things that you are seeing your swimmers make.
My group was upfront with me and asked specifically for me not to candy-coat flaws that I see from deck - age groupers may need you to coat over these areas, but the adults you work with will not. Be honest and encouraging to get their respect. :cheerleader:
Engage, encourage and correct the swimmers. I see too many Masters coaches who throw a set out there (or on the board) and then don't interact with the swimmers. Really coach the swimmers: push them, point out stroke corrections, etc.
Get to know the swimmers individually and what they want out of a workout. Some will be there to train to compete, some for fitness, some for getting ready for triathlons, etc.
If feasible, adapt your workouts to these different "segments" of swimmers.
Show your personality -- in your mood, in your sets, in your encouragement.
And, my personal wish would be for more coaches to encourage more Masters swimmers to compete.
Longer term ... if/when you travel, try to drop in and workout with some of the great coaches in Masters swimming. If you're ever out west, PM me and I'll send some suggestions.
Engage, encourage and correct the swimmers. I see too many Masters coaches who throw a set out there (or on the board) and then don't interact with the swimmers. Really coach the swimmers: push them, point out stroke corrections, etc.
Get to know the swimmers individually and what they want out of a workout. Some will be there to train to compete, some for fitness, some for getting ready for triathlons, etc.
If feasible, adapt your workouts to these different "segments" of swimmers.
Show your personality -- in your mood, in your sets, in your encouragement.
And, my personal wish would be for more coaches to encourage more Masters swimmers to compete.
Longer term ... if/when you travel, try to drop in and workout with some of the great coaches in Masters swimming. If you're ever out west, PM me and I'll send some suggestions.
Ditto.:applaud:
Hosting my first masters practices this week.... variety of skill levels. Hour long practices. Any tips for good first week practices?? (new to coaching masters, but have been swimming/coaching for 35 years).... any and all advice welcomed! Mahalo!
Be fun & have fun
get to know your swimmers, their situations, injuries, backgrounds/stories, goals & plans (give them questionaires or have meetings)
gear your workouts towards the needs of the majority, on my team most swimmers are fitness swimmers and triathletes who rarely do meets
Divide the lanes up by ability & fitness levels
Write challenging but doable sets, vary intervals by the ability of the lane
Be flexible, masters have outside lives, jobs obligations & various meet / event plans, so we can come when we want, leave when we need to, skip when we need to & modify sets to fit our needs as long as we don't get in the way of others in our lanes
Create an email list and get cell #'s
keep folks in the loop on the schedule and any changes
Be fun & have fun
I'd try to establish right away that it's a two-way street between you and the swimmers. It's not going to just be you barking orders and them nodding and pushing off. Masters swimmers are in the pool for many different reasons and they need to articulate those reasons to you in order for you to coach them as effectively as possible. Good luck!
All the above and play good music. I broke out the 1970s lite rock last week just to annoy my swimmers. Nothing like Muskrat Love (also known as wookiees mating song) to get the day rolling at 5:30 am.
Nothing like Muskrat Love (also known as wookiees mating song) to get the day rolling at 5:30 am.
Good thinking, Geek. Muskrat Love, You Light Up My Life, Mandy, etc. These are the kind of songs that make you want to swim and not stand at the wall!
Also, keep in mind that 90-95% of all masters lack on the flexibility side, and even more sad, they don't do much to improve it. They read books, go on the Internet to find clips, they try to modify their stroke to mimic the greatest swimmers, but can not achieve the range of motion due to (often severe) flexibility limitations.
I couldn't agree more! Which is why I am going to (politely) suggest yoga. The benefits are immeasurable.
All the above and play good music. I broke out the 1970s lite rock last week just to annoy my swimmers. Nothing like Muskrat Love (also known as wookiees mating song) to get the day rolling at 5:30 am.
3608
