Newspaper story on a masters team

I prefer to remind myself that reporters are going to select the facts and present them in such a way to make for a compelling "story" (to use the newspaper term). I don't know, but it wouldn't surprise me if the competitive side of Coach Fetters is mentioned more often in the article than it actually comes in to play as he coaches his team. One fact in the article I do know is over the top is the statement, "Beaufort has won every long course meet since 1993 and every short course meet, held in February, since 1995." Local meets, yes, but I don't believe Beaufort has won it's team division at USMS Nationals every year since 93 for LCN or 95 for SCN. So, consider the author an inexpert opinion, and give Coach Fetters the benefit of the doubt. Talking to people about DQs is entirely appropriate, regardless of the meet's outcome. That sounds like a coach who is passionate about people swimming well, and not on winning the meet. I will say his emphasis on painful workouts does strike me as a bit "old school" (which should come as no surprise considering Coach Fetters earned his bones as a coach in the mid-late 60s). That has pluses and minuses for a Masters program. Same/same his insistence that everyone swim in meets. On the one hand, we're adults and we should decide when we're ready for competition, and there is nothing wrong with saying you don't care to do so. On the other, meets are a terrific way to focus your fitness routine and introduce some variety to the same ole/same ole workout routine. The fastest masters team I ever joined, the only one where I was slower than the median swimmer, barely even made a ripple in the local meet scene, let alone Nationals, because 99% of the team (including almost all of the butt-kickers) never showed for any meets. That can be frustrating for both the other swimmers and the coaches, and I can see a desire to say to everyone you must swim in this meet to be on our team. If everyone knows what they are getting into, it's fine & dandy. However, I don't think Coach Fetters' approach is a prescription for other teams to copy in toto. Matt

I prefer to remind myself that reporters are going to select the facts and present them in such a way to make for a compelling "story" (to use the newspaper term). I don't know, but it wouldn't surprise me if the competitive side of Coach Fetters is mentioned more often in the article than it actually comes in to play as he coaches his team. One fact in the article I do know is over the top is the statement, "Beaufort has won every long course meet since 1993 and every short course meet, held in February, since 1995." Local meets, yes, but I don't believe Beaufort has won it's team division at USMS Nationals every year since 93 for LCN or 95 for SCN. So, consider the author an inexpert opinion, and give Coach Fetters the benefit of the doubt. Talking to people about DQs is entirely appropriate, regardless of the meet's outcome. That sounds like a coach who is passionate about people swimming well, and not on winning the meet. I will say his emphasis on painful workouts does strike me as a bit "old school" (which should come as no surprise considering Coach Fetters earned his bones as a coach in the mid-late 60s). That has pluses and minuses for a Masters program. Same/same his insistence that everyone swim in meets. On the one hand, we're adults and we should decide when we're ready for competition, and there is nothing wrong with saying you don't care to do so. On the other, meets are a terrific way to focus your fitness routine and introduce some variety to the same ole/same ole workout routine. The fastest masters team I ever joined, the only one where I was slower than the median swimmer, barely even made a ripple in the local meet scene, let alone Nationals, because 99% of the team (including almost all of the butt-kickers) never showed for any meets. That can be frustrating for both the other swimmers and the coaches, and I can see a desire to say to everyone you must swim in this meet to be on our team. If everyone knows what they are getting into, it's fine & dandy. However, I don't think Coach Fetters' approach is a prescription for other teams to copy in toto. Matt