Writing workouts on dry-erase board, or something else?
Former Member
I'm wondering what some other coaches use to post their workouts -- you don't need to be a coach to respond to this -- tell me how your coach posts the workouts.
I've used a dry-erase board mostly in the past. But now that I'm coaching Masters, (instead of age-groupers) I would need to buy 3 or 4 dry-erase boards to use for each lane, since each lane is tailored for a specific workout. And 3 or 4 big dry-erase boards is going to be expensive.
I've also used large notecards and Sharpie permanent markers to post workouts before. Then I stick the notecard on a kickboard and no matter how wet it gets, the marker doesn't run.
I'm wondering if anyone has ever used overhead transparency sheets and a semi-permanent marker? (like the kind where you use rubbing alcohol to clean it off, not the kind that cleans off in water)
Hope to hear some good ideas from you guys!
---swimandpedal
The vast majority of ours are verbal, some louder than others.
Occasionally (very occasionally) we'll get it on a white board -depending on complexity.
We're considering powerpoint - maybe that'll help performance. jk
Jim
One guy I swim with is a brilliant leader--rarely loses count, always is encouraging, so I try my best to imitate him when it's my turn. I have found that a good way not to lose count on repeats is to tell everyone (or the next person) how many are left. Then you have two counters working in case one screws up and you repeat every or every other repeat, so you have recent info to work from.
Originally posted by Linny
I like white boards but there are always some swimmers who can't see that far. :)
THERE! That's me! That's exactly what I was thinking as I read this thread. I can't see a whiteboard on the wall. In fact, if I'm in a pool where the pace clock is at the other end of the pool from where we are starting our sets, I don't want to lead the pack in the lane (even if I'm the fastest) because I can't see the clock to start us off at the right time.
This may also be a factor in why I prefer to work out alone.
Originally posted by jim clemmons
The vast majority of ours are verbal, some louder than others.
Occasionally (very occasionally) we'll get it on a white board -depending on complexity.
We're considering powerpoint - maybe that'll help performance. jk
Jim
Who're you calling loud Clemmons???
Originally posted by knelson
I was thinking the exact same thing Jeff. All of my coaches, age group through college, just told us what to do. In masters every one has written in on a white board. [/QUOTE
Every coach I had from age group through college AND masters has told us what to do.
I am always told to lead my lane ... and so my lane mates have become really bad at counting as a result ... I am not always the best counter and I forget if we've done 9 or 10 of something ... but sadly I am the best person to lead my lane ... I need more than just verbal instructions if I lead ... if I see it written down no problem ...
Bryan yell? I just couldn't picture that. He's so mild-mannered. :p
Kerry puts our workout on a 2' x 3' whiteboard and attaches it to one of the equipment carts so he can roll it from one lane to another. It lives pretty much in the center lanes, but we can all see it- he writes pretty big and legibly. The workouts are also verbal and he explains them well and repeats the sets often. The only differences in our workouts (former Olympian to novice is the interval, so they don't have to be written; even between the lanes sometimes one lane will do a 1:10 interval and the next lane will do 1:15, and if you want to go faster or slower move over a lane). Our workouts run very smoothly, everybody knows what's up- it's great. And I have NEVER, in almost 13 years, heard Kerry yell :p Hey Jim maybe if you swam faster he wouldn't yell? LOL
I too grew up being TOLD what to do, but I think the whiteboard is nice so I can remind myself instead of having to ask again. And as a teacher, it's great for the visual learner!
I'm a visual learner: I really need stuff written down. One group I swim with tells us, and I always have to make the coach repeat it like five times. It matters less if you have a good lane leader, but some people are really appalling leaders: they lose count, forget the set, etc.
Our coaches tell us verbally the work and write it on the board ... I seriously think I look at the board between every rep ... when we do certain sets where the swim is always chaning I have to look at the board, plus I like to concentrate on one swim at a time ... If it's straight 10 x 100 then I don't need to look, but if it's constantly changing then I do ... wow that was wordy ... I don't like the idea of the entire workout written out for you ... I don't want to know what's coming ...
