Call me an old fashioned cynic, but Gary Hall's oh so exclusive "Race Club" seems to generate more amusement than intimidation. To review the bidding for those with real lives, Mr. Hall announced a few months ago his intent to form his own club dedicated to elite swimming. It has a fabulous location and training facility in the Florida Keys. It will cover travel, training and living expenses. (I'm tempted to ask who is fronting the money, but I won't denigrade Mr. Hall's ability to raise funds.) If you want to join them, send in a resume; don't call us; we'll call you. Let us look over your accoplishments and decide whether you are worthy.
Hmm, great facilities, don't have to share pool time with the non-world class members (i.e. 99%) of a Swim Club, just about all expenses paid. Unless you have your own lucrative endorsement deal, what swimmer wouldn't want to join this team?
Well, the initial members of the "Swim Club" were announced last week. www.swiminfo.com/.../6097.asp Eight Olympians sounds real impressive. But then you look at the list a little more closely. Eleven swimmers, and although I have not googled everyone of them, all of the ones I have googled are in their late 20's or older. Or in other words, 3 of the 11 swimmers are chronologically at the back end of their careers, and they have not yet made their nation's Olympic Team. Closer scrutiny reveals 10 of the 11 are men. Just about all of them swim the 50 free or 50 fly, and few of them seriously compete in anything other that the 50 or 100 free or fly. In contrast to the lack of age, gender and event diversity, the team does have members of many nationalities and ethic backgrounds. However, the most telling stat of all is that roughly half of the members I checked are not currently ranked in the World Top 20 Rankings, LCM or SCM, in any event.
Overall, the "Swim Club" sort of reminds me of the kind of team a rookie fantasy league coach would assemble--there are a lot of names you would recognize, but their most productive years may be behind them. To be fair, all of these folks are amazing, world-class swimmers. Their careers to date have been awesome, and they remain extraordinary today by any standard, except arguably World Rankings. In contrast, I am an opinionated loud mouth. I would be delighted to see them find new speed and light up the scoreboards next year with medals and records, and make a complete monkey of me. As of right now, I think may the "Swim Club's" gloss may have exceeded its actual capabilities.
Matt
Parents
Former Member
fritz,
There is no attempt not to give Gary credit. He has 8 Olympic medals!
I stand by my statement that he could have finished better in 1996 and possible won the Golds. He corrected that mistake and won in 2000. That was not luck, he corrected a mistake. My point is that others should not make the same mistake, be it a small meet or Masters nationals.
Fritz, please go on about what you feel makes a great coach. Do you coach? Are you a great swimmer? Have you had great coaches? What makes you a judge of others? If you question the credentials of others you may never get more coaches here. Why get attacked, there are plenty of people who will pay for advice.
To me, a great coach treats all their swimmers as valued customers. You need to ask what they really want to achieve.
Then you need all your language skills to teach and transfer the knowledge you have to the swimmers. And you must always be open minded and willing to learn from other swimmers and coaches.
I coached in Scotland a while ago, the coach said "They listened to your every word", and that I had essentially said what that coach had been saying all along, but they listened and understood you". I told him that I purposely change the words I use so they don't turn me off.
I am there not for me, but for the swimmers. All good coaches will say the same thing.
Gareth is right, you can be a great coach is a small area and never develop Olympic champions. You teach the swimming skills and life skills. Parents often ask if I am upset if their child takes off for a school or family function. They are surprised when I tell them that swimming is a lifetime event and the family and school work are more important.
More than once I have sent great swimmers to other teams so they can get more time in the pool. The swimmers should always come first.
fritz,
There is no attempt not to give Gary credit. He has 8 Olympic medals!
I stand by my statement that he could have finished better in 1996 and possible won the Golds. He corrected that mistake and won in 2000. That was not luck, he corrected a mistake. My point is that others should not make the same mistake, be it a small meet or Masters nationals.
Fritz, please go on about what you feel makes a great coach. Do you coach? Are you a great swimmer? Have you had great coaches? What makes you a judge of others? If you question the credentials of others you may never get more coaches here. Why get attacked, there are plenty of people who will pay for advice.
To me, a great coach treats all their swimmers as valued customers. You need to ask what they really want to achieve.
Then you need all your language skills to teach and transfer the knowledge you have to the swimmers. And you must always be open minded and willing to learn from other swimmers and coaches.
I coached in Scotland a while ago, the coach said "They listened to your every word", and that I had essentially said what that coach had been saying all along, but they listened and understood you". I told him that I purposely change the words I use so they don't turn me off.
I am there not for me, but for the swimmers. All good coaches will say the same thing.
Gareth is right, you can be a great coach is a small area and never develop Olympic champions. You teach the swimming skills and life skills. Parents often ask if I am upset if their child takes off for a school or family function. They are surprised when I tell them that swimming is a lifetime event and the family and school work are more important.
More than once I have sent great swimmers to other teams so they can get more time in the pool. The swimmers should always come first.
