Wondering about USS coaching. If a swimmer is on a particular team, is it permissible or desirable for them to get private coaching/lessons elsewhere or attend clinics in addition to attending all team practices? Heard of a couple coaches recently who went ballistic when their swimmers took private lessons from another coach not affiliated with their team (not affiliated with any other team either, just a private coach). Is this not politically correct for USS swimmers?
Parents
Former Member
I think many USS coaches are mediocre. And many USS programs are elitist groups that ignore solid but unspectacularl swimmers. Yet you might have your child there because of location or practice times.
In that case I think it is perfectly OK to seek out additional coaching. My kids swim for a fine team, with great team chemistry, etc. But the head coach cannot coach breastroke worth a damn. She just doesn't know how to teach the many fine points of modern breaststroke. So we occasionally have private coaching from a former club coach who is particularly good at breaststroke.
Swim camps are an entirely different thing to me. First - they are an adventure for the kids. They swim with a much different group of kids. And often with NCAA coaches. My kids have been to Texas A&M's camp twice each and not only do they enjoy it - they come back with improvements. Part of it is because they get "talk time" where the coaches sit them down and explain things. And they get video taped.
I think it would shock many how little the typical USS coach knows. They coach the way they were coached. They don't understand lactic threshold. They don't understand physiology. And they suck at communication.
I think many USS coaches are mediocre. And many USS programs are elitist groups that ignore solid but unspectacularl swimmers. Yet you might have your child there because of location or practice times.
In that case I think it is perfectly OK to seek out additional coaching. My kids swim for a fine team, with great team chemistry, etc. But the head coach cannot coach breastroke worth a damn. She just doesn't know how to teach the many fine points of modern breaststroke. So we occasionally have private coaching from a former club coach who is particularly good at breaststroke.
Swim camps are an entirely different thing to me. First - they are an adventure for the kids. They swim with a much different group of kids. And often with NCAA coaches. My kids have been to Texas A&M's camp twice each and not only do they enjoy it - they come back with improvements. Part of it is because they get "talk time" where the coaches sit them down and explain things. And they get video taped.
I think it would shock many how little the typical USS coach knows. They coach the way they were coached. They don't understand lactic threshold. They don't understand physiology. And they suck at communication.
