Coach Encroachment

A swim camp is a great way to get some extra attention/instruction without really "stepping" on the coaches toes. Before I headed to college, the coach told my parents to get me into a swim camp - and I went to Indiana University's camp that summer... I am so glad that I got to go - great instruction, you meet other swimmers you probably would have never met, you get video taped - it was such a great learning experience. Don't feel bad about your kids getting some extra advice from other sources. A coach should be open minded... especially since they probably have a ton of swimmers per lane at practice every day - and you can't "reach" every single one of them ALL THE TIME. If you are really worried about it, you could even ask the coach and see who he/she recommends for additional coaching... they may like that they have some input into it, who knows.

I don't have much to add, but I am an assistant coach with our team's 12 & under group so I can throw in that perspective. We have had this happen before. I don't mind if kids get outside coaching in most cases, but as people have said, it's helpful to know about it so you can work to integrate what they are working on and understand why they may be making (or attempting to make) stroke changes. The only time I think outside instruction is problematic is when the parents are more into it than the kids. If adding in outside coaching means that the kids are in the water more than once a day at as young an age as I coach, sometimes the kids start to get a little bit burned out. Some kids can pumped up from extra advice and time in the water, but for some, it's a little overwhelming. All of this makes me agree that in some cases, outside coaching is good and in some less desirable. They best way of handling it is to include both coaches in the communication loop so that they can support each other's work rather than undermine it. Also, I think camps are a great way to boost motivation and have fun. And I'm all for them.

not touching this one. Huh? :confused: I don't get it, Dave? Is this terribly controversial? I sure didn't mean it to be. I meant it to be a serious SR discussion. Should have labeled it SR/TP/NH.

That's my view on it. If it's taking offence because of ego, that's really childsh. If it's because of philosophy, then that should be respected and abided by, or politely rejected and replaced with the new coach and their methods. I agree. I know sometimes coaches teach different techniques. Its only a problem if one coach perceives that what the other coach teaches is incorrect or will harm their swimmers. I know thats the only time I have a problem with it. If it helps my swimmers, then I'm all for it.

Fort, I sent my daughter to the U Texas swim camp for several summers. She loved it and learned a lot!!!! I myself am really enjoying the attention I get from my coach with Masters swimming. In my years as a summer and high school swimmer, I never got such stroke and technique attention. I was a pretty decent swimmer in school, and though I have only had one meet as a master, I can really tell the improvements I have made with this coach from the time trial he does with us. Drastic time drops even from the meet I swam in November. As for coaches not liking their charges getting advice from other coaches, my opinion is that it is either an ego thing or they prefer their technique over that of another. This would have to be an individual assessment of each coach.

As a swim team parent, and more importantly a swimmer...I was lured onto the coaching staff at our YMCA in the hopes of sharing my swimming 'know how'. Within a few short weeks...my Sunday stroke clinic grew to the point of being overloaded. Parents who previously watched their kids splash down the pool as what I could only describe as a controlled drowning were simply thrilled. Needless to say the rewards were a two way street, and I have endeavored to become one of the full time coaches. Any swim parents should be encouraged to help out when possible...especially if they have experience in the water. Perhaps this might be a way to prevent the need for outside lessons. Coaching a large group can be challenging...and providing "one on one" is sometimes a difficult prospect in a busy pool.

I swim with OCCS (Fort, you'll know this team) and I can see the coaches not being happy if a swimmer goes to private lessons with out them knowing first. I think if they are told ahead of time and it's discussed in the open, they would be fine. OCCS knows I swim with the masters team occasionally and that masters coach gives more private time (thereare usually only 10 in the water so he can watch each of us). I can tell you that with OCCS (it's a kids team) we have 3-4 different coaches depending on meets and vacation, etc. One coach wants me to do "this" with my free but the main coach knows that my shoulder will hurt if I do that so I just oblige the one coach and hope that the main one will come back soon before my shoulder starts to hurt. So getting different opinions can be great, and I normally love it but it's also great to swim with a coach who knows you and your style. With that being said, a swim camp sounds like a great option. Alison

Alison: You're brave to swim with a USS team. I modify workouts too much and don't like too much freestyle, so I personally would be a disaster with a USS coach. My daughter has a lot of friends that swim with OCCS. Some great swimmers on that team. Yes, I'm going to look into a swim camp for the summer. I've been told Stanford is great, Matt, by several folks, it's just a wee bit far ... although my daughter is obsessed with CA and would be happy to go. She loved it when we were there last August. The one person I was considering for some private lessons is a coach with FAST, but she is also a masters swimmer and gives masters lessons and clinics. I've heard she's fabulous. The summer seems a little bit less restrictive than the school year when they're on the March to JOs and whatnot. Then, no one wants you messing with their kid. And they definitely don't like the parent as coach phenomenon! I know a parent who is always critiquing his daughter's times and micro-managing which events she swims. The kid often is scared to talk to daddy if she doesn't do a PB. Now, that guy needs to get a life. But, in general, it does seem like all coaches coach differently and they all have their own style or preferences about what sets a kid should do and how they should swim a particular stroke. Hey, are some coaches going to weigh in?

As a former gymnastics coach, I know some of the team coaches hated when kids saught out outside instruction others could care less. I would just tell the coach what was going on. Say that the rude hormonal one wants some one on one instruction, that you realize that they cannot provide that during team practice and that you are going to have her take a private lesson (or 50). That way the coach is in the loop and you aren't sneaking around. Interestingly enough in the district I am in we CANNOT tutor the kids in our own class, but the teachers freely share info with other teachers tutoring their kids. Everyone should act in the best interests of their kids, but that doesn't always happen. Feelings do get hurt, and I think that is where the anger would come from.

My wife coaches the AG team here and every year she starts the summer season by having a coach from the U of Utah over to do a one week camp. She feels like she learns as much or more than the kids by doing this. She also encourages the kids to go to camps for additional stroke work. She has also developed relationships with other coaches in our LSC that she asks for advice and sends kids to for additional help. We are a small LSC and a pretty close group, and except for a few, there are no big ego issues. BTW Regarding swim camps, my son and a friend went to Arizona State for a camp last year (had fun, learned a lot) and this year are going to Bush's camp at U of Arizona