My team just got a new coach about four months ago. Now personally, I don't have any major problems with this coach. He gives a pretty good workout, he is quite knowledgeable about stroke techniques, and he is trying to build some team unity. Admittedly, we have had some issues with him about showing up for workouts a few minutes late and relying too much on the pool lifeguards to provide us with a workout when he sometimes doesn't show (a much bigger problem for the newer/less experienced swimmers).
The big conflict seems to be from the beginning/intermediate swimmers and the triathletes (I'm also a triathlete, but I have a pretty strong swimming background). Now, this may seem quite trivial, and even a little bit petty to those of us who swam in college and have an intense competitive drive and thrive on the thrill of a good swim, but many of our intermediate/beginners are complaining that they are not getting recognition for their efforts. Thinking back to my early age group days, I can remember when a coach simply saying "good job" to me meant everything. It's what kept me coming back for more painful workouts the next week. Now swimming Masters, I really don't care if a coach singles me out for accomplishing something. I'm happy with an occasional Top Ten or winning a medal at Nationals. But we are now losing a lot of swimmers because they feel they are working for nothing. They don't see why they should swim Masters vs. just lap swim.
What's brought this to a head is that this morning, after workout, my wife sent me a text expressing how disgusted she was with our coach. She didn't go into specifics, but she ended with the statement "I'm done!". I didn't see what brought this on, but I did notice that halfway through workout, she was just swimming laps by herself. Back and forth, no stopping. I glanced at our coach, and he gave me a confused look, saying "so-and-so just wants to swim". While I'm not trying to make excuses for anyone, coach is a pretty young guy, with most of our members being 20-30 years older than him, and I think he might be a bit nervous expressing himself to some of us.
So heck, now I'm stuck in the middle. What do I do? Do I try to talk to the coach? Do I stay out of it? Help!
Imagine you are a 40-or 50 something who has never swam more than splashing in a pool to cool off. You decide to try something different, and you join a master's team to 1) learn to swim properly, and 2) get in shape. So you show up, get in the slow lane, and are promptly humiliated by the slowest people on the team.
I'm surprised no one picked up on this... perhaps the slow people on the team are humiliating the newer even slower swimmer?
And given that "the issue" seems to be with a sub-group of swimmers, it sounds to me like we have a few bad apples in the water stirring up negativity and bringing everyone down. Sounds like less of a coach issue than it is a teammate issue.
Changing coaches is always a tough situation. In many cases, you have a good coach and can't imagine what you'd do without them. They leave, a new guy comes in and after a year or so, you can't imagine what you'd do with out them. Yes, there are a few bad apples on deck too.
If I were Trident, I'd try to get a trialogue started between coach and swimmers and club admin to set expectations (of all three).
If I were Trident, I'd try to get a trialogue started between coach and swimmers and club admin to set expectations (of all three).
Agreed. Many opinions have been expressed on this thread - some accusatory towards the OP (and swimmers who are dissatisfied with their coaches), some supportive. The bottom line is that all members of the club (from swimmers to coaches to board members) need to have their opinions heard in order to strike a good balance. Trident seems to have started that dialogue and hopefully the team will emerge fully united!
I'm surprised no one picked up on this... perhaps the slow people on the team are humiliating the newer even slower swimmer?
And given that "the issue" seems to be with a sub-group of swimmers, it sounds to me like we have a few bad apples in the water stirring up negativity and bringing everyone down. Sounds like less of a coach issue than it is a teammate issue.
Changing coaches is always a tough situation. In many cases, you have a good coach and can't imagine what you'd do without them. They leave, a new guy comes in and after a year or so, you can't imagine what you'd do with out them. Yes, there are a few bad apples on deck too.
If I were Trident, I'd try to get a trialogue started between coach and swimmers and club admin to set expectations (of all three).
That's exactly what we're doing. We have a meeting set up between the coach, the board, and a few at-large members to sort things out. The emphasis is going to be on "constructive criticism". No subjective/personal criticisms. We're just looking at what it is going to take to move the team forward.
That's exactly what we're doing. We have a meeting set up between the coach, the board, and a few at-large members to sort things out. The emphasis is going to be on "constructive criticism". No subjective/personal criticisms. We're just looking at what it is going to take to move the team forward.
That meeting sounds as pleasant as wearing a sand paper thong dipped in battery acid for your coach. God help that poor coach. A board member is needed to tell the coach to be more supportive?
...many of our intermediate/beginners are complaining that they are not getting recognition for their efforts.....
What's brought this to a head is that this morning, after workout, my wife sent me a text expressing how disgusted she was with our coach. She didn't go into specifics, but she ended with the statement "I'm done!".
So heck, now I'm stuck in the middle. What do I do? Do I try to talk to the coach? Do I stay out of it? Help!
There's got to be a lot more going on here than just a lack of praise.
That meeting sounds as pleasant as wearing a sand paper thong dipped in battery acid. God help that poor coach.
I hope you guys have a "plan B" because, despite your best intentions, it's going to be very hard for the coach not feel defensive in that situation. I'd put the chances at better than 50/50 that the end result of that meeting will be a resignation.
