What do your coaches do?

Coaches need to remember the golden rule: That swimmers do not have to attend club workouts. They have a choice. If swimmers are ignored or don't get constant feedback from the coach, they will leave and join another club. I have seen many coaches who resemble statues. They stand at the end of the pool and shout instructions to the swimmers. Most swimmers in the pool go home feeling anonymous. Coaches need to make every swimmer in the pool feel important. It costs nothing for the coach to say hello to each swimmer as they come in to the pool. "Have you had a good day?" "You will like this session," "You've been training well recently," always goes down well. I've never been keen on putting the program on a whiteboard for all to see. The coach will have planned this workout beforehand, but if swimmers don't respond as expected, the coach can change the rest of the session to lift spirits or to make it more appropriate. If the program is on the whiteboard it doesn't look good if swimmers see that the coach has 'taken a diversion' half way through. Masters swimmers, as opposed to age-groupers enjoy a certain amount of banter. A 'connected' coach will easily be able to tease his swimmers on occasion, and allow himself to be teased in return. Self deprecation always goes down well. If swimmers can feel that the coach understands them and wants the best for them, they will respond positively. Every swimmer, during every workout needs to be reminded of their stroke. Masters swimmers are all the same - they can be told something when they push off, but by the time they get to the end of the pool they will usually have forgotten it. 'Reminders' rather than stroke correction are always received well. Experienced masters swimmers know all about the mechanics of each stroke. They have learned about this during their age-group years, usually. They don't need to be told the basics of the stroke, but a reminder such as, "Just think about the last part of your pull," or "Aim for 5 fly kicks coming out of the wall," is the type of comments that masters will remember. But 'connection' with the swimmers shouldn't be confined to the pool. Social events, particularly for masters groups are the best way of building team spirit. I've seen clubs use a social committee to organise such events, other clubs have had events arranged solely by the coach. The important thing is to get 100% attendance. It can be done, but will only work if all the swimmers in the squad feel valued. If you don't want to go home at the end of the workout because it's been interesting and fun, then you know you have a good coach. +1 :applaud: hmmmm any room in your club GG? :)

Coaches need to remember the golden rule: That swimmers do not have to attend club workouts. They have a choice. If swimmers are ignored or don't get constant feedback from the coach, they will leave and join another club. I have seen many coaches who resemble statues. They stand at the end of the pool and shout instructions to the swimmers. Most swimmers in the pool go home feeling anonymous. Coaches need to make every swimmer in the pool feel important. It costs nothing for the coach to say hello to each swimmer as they come in to the pool. "Have you had a good day?" "You will like this session," "You've been training well recently," always goes down well. I've never been keen on putting the program on a whiteboard for all to see. The coach will have planned this workout beforehand, but if swimmers don't respond as expected, the coach can change the rest of the session to lift spirits or to make it more appropriate. If the program is on the whiteboard it doesn't look good if swimmers see that the coach has 'taken a diversion' half way through. Masters swimmers, as opposed to age-groupers enjoy a certain amount of banter. A 'connected' coach will easily be able to tease his swimmers on occasion, and allow himself to be teased in return. Self deprecation always goes down well. If swimmers can feel that the coach understands them and wants the best for them, they will respond positively. Every swimmer, during every workout needs to be reminded of their stroke. Masters swimmers are all the same - they can be told something when they push off, but by the time they get to the end of the pool they will usually have forgotten it. 'Reminders' rather than stroke correction are always received well. Experienced masters swimmers know all about the mechanics of each stroke. They have learned about this during their age-group years, usually. They don't need to be told the basics of the stroke, but a reminder such as, "Just think about the last part of your pull," or "Aim for 5 fly kicks coming out of the wall," is the type of comments that masters will remember. But 'connection' with the swimmers shouldn't be confined to the pool. Social events, particularly for masters groups are the best way of building team spirit. I've seen clubs use a social committee to organise such events, other clubs have had events arranged solely by the coach. The important thing is to get 100% attendance. It can be done, but will only work if all the swimmers in the squad feel valued. If you don't want to go home at the end of the workout because it's been interesting and fun, then you know you have a good coach. +1 :applaud: hmmmm any room in your club GG? :)