Things swim coaches should not do or should do.

We typically have 25 or so people per workout, and our coach does a good job of individualizing workouts for people with different goals. Sometimes we all do the same set (with some different intervals or distances based on ability) if the goal of the set is something we all need to work on, such as aerobic base-building, kicking, etc. But other times, he gives a set and then gives certain people specific modifications based on their specialty. If we have a set of 4 x 200, for example, most people may be doing freestyle, but he may tell me to do breaststroke and hold my times under a certain interval. He might do the same with a backstroker and flyer. He may remind a newer triathlete of a specific stroke focus before they take off doing freestyle. It's not that everyone gets a customized set every time, but when it's appropriate and, especially if you tell him you have specific goal you want to work towards, he will do more individualizing. I think that works well. Other thoughts: A coach should offer encouragement and praise in addition to stroke critique and suggestions. A coach should be thanked for his or her efforts and passion. A coach should continually strive to improve his or her knowledge of swimming. A coach should be honest when he or she doesn't know the answer to a question.

In a Master's setting there are typcially people of widely varying abilities and ages. It would be almost impossible to design individualized programs. Our coach does a base workout with the interval times for the fastest lane and then modifies the times/repeats for the other lanes. Considering all the new "try it out" types this time of year, coaching is a huge challenge as new folks show up all pumped up and then fade big time after a half hour.

Coaches should: make workouts that have a point other than using up time be ready to time a swim at the end of any workout pay attention to a group that has been tasked with drills to ensure they are being done correctly watch the swimmers in case anyone asks about their stroke give intervals to the slowest group; the fastest group already knows their interval Coaches should not: palaver with the lifeguards, no matter how friendly or cute they are have favorite lanes be late to practice or leave early (it rubs off on the swimmers' attitudes)

Coaches should ... Have a solid knowledge base and teach within that ... if you don't know how to coach fly, don't have your swimmers doing it while you try to fix it ... Know what each of their swimmers are capable of ... Tailor the workout at least to specific lanes and injuries ... Know their swimmers goals and/or reasons for coming ... (whether it's to swim a fast 50 in a meet OR do a tri ... VERY different goals and training) Be learning constantly .... Take criticism well ... Give both praise and CONSTRUCTIVE criticism ... Be enthusiastic .... SMILE .... Welcome new swimmers, tell them where to go, ask them their name and background, show them where equipment is and introduce them to people ... Pay attention to practices ... Try NOT to have favorite lanes ... Make their swimmers work hard!

Coaches should #1 Make sure the swimmers can handle the workload. #2 Design Individualized programs. Can coaches always design individualized workouts in a group setting? How?

I make a list of every swimmer and their abilities. I design my workouts to be specific for each individual. Although the workouts are done as a group I give each swimmer time goals on a card to follow for their workouts. Sorry guys I only coach groups of maximum 5. Every coach could make a list and give individual goals for larger groups, it is time consuming. I spend at least five minutes a workout with each doing stroke correction. Next year all of my swimmers will be doing their workouts with no more than 2 in a group in my Riverpool.

I would love to be able to give tailored practices every day.....but I have 38 senior kids in a 5 lane pool. I do the best I can for the group as a whole and I make sure that the practice intervals are different for each, but I am the only one on deck and it tends to get very difficult!

It's not hard to split the pool into distance, middle distance, stroke and sprint and design workouts accordingly. When new people come to try it out, put them in a lane of their choosing. That's what I said, lanes for preferences. Hard to design an individualized program for each swimmer, however.

I've recently been told that my kids' swim coach sometimes puts a long, boring :snore: set on the board and retreats to the office and checks e-mail. Pretty demoralizing... :(

I agree that it would be difficult to design an individual program for each swimmer but, assuming this is done; given limited lane space it is imposable to divide the lanes according to preference and not have speed/abilities conflict. This is very true. We have a few swimmers who are basically "stuck between lanes" - too fast for one, too slow for the other. We encourage them to swim up and they are quite good at moving over when caught. Usually, they go off last on a set and this is only an issue on longer sets of 300 yards or more. It also works as a motivation for the fast folks. Trying to catch that slower person speeds you up along with them swimming faster to avoid being caught. It's a little cat and mouse game.