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.

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. I'm cool w my coach putting a workout on a whiteboard and later tweaking it. In fact, it seems to me that allows for some flexibility. My coach will notice if we're considerably ahead or barely making it on our intervals and might adjust accordingly--or might not, depending on the goal of a set, but I trust his judgment. He knows lots more than I do. He definitely is excellent at giving feedback to all of us, the velocity challenged among us (namely yours truly) and the speedsters. And he adjusts intervals and reps accordingly. But he doesn't baby us. Last night, when I expressed concern that I wouldn't make an interval without fins, he held the line and told me I was good for it, no fins! And in fact I made the interval each time. He's a great motivator--he'll critique, but also tell us when we're doing well. And sometimes, as you mention, he and the swimmers tease one another--he's adept at puns, and if I'm stressing out over not doing as well as I want, he'll say something to make me laugh... (I have to be careful there b/c sometimes as I'm swimming and my face is in the water, I'll think of something funny he said and have had to develop the ability of laughing with my face down.) :) He also has a give-away night, where he might do a relay as the last item in a practice, winnowing down contestants until only one person is left--and that person gets a prize from his box. It's usually something he got from a sponsor or an item from one of his race goody bags, not expensive, just fun stuff (swim caps, drawstring bags, goggles, etc.). Last night there were only 3 of us, so he just let all three of us pick something from the box and complimented us on how hard we'd worked. Don't anyone hire him away from us!! :)

Our coach Corinne gives each lane the workout a set at a time. She tailors each lane for who is in it and what works for what ails you this week. She has been running the team for 29 years this way and we like it.

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? :)

Maybe print this list out and hand it to "coaches" that are just there?

Yes, I remember the coach your are talking about, Flystorms. I was one of those swimmers he would ignore. He was great to start, but once I told him I was pregnant, I was left to my own. Wouldn't even say "hi" to me. I don't think he liked his job. The coaches we have now are wonderful! They take the time to correct and teach! In the few months I've swam with them, I feel the strongest and most aware of movement in the water than I have in my whole swimming experience. -Megan