With some recent talk about coaches, accomodating to swimmers, and swimmers obeying coaches, I thought I'd post a poll.
So who is receiving coached workouts? Do you like him/her? Do you like his/her workouts? Do they pay you attention, criticize and advise, or do they like to sit and read, or flirt with other swimmers/lifeguards?
Parents
Former Member
I've been swimming with a team for about a month now. At first it was 2x/wk, then 1x and now I'm not so sure as I get more out of my workouts (with much help from swim friends from afar) than I do with the team.
The issue is this: the coach brings a single workout, posts it at the of the lane, sits down and never looks up. I've never been asked my name, how long I've been swimming, what I hope to get out of it, what strokes I know how to do, what pace I can keep. Nothing. Of course, all of the above would be fine if I got some help on technique. When I've asked a question, I get "just do what you can." So basically, I jump in the wall lane, all alone, figure out what intervals I should do, and swim alone. I should point out that this is a small team that has some strong swimmers but hardly hard-core competitive. I feel more alone swimming with the team than I do swimming by myself.
I have to honestly ask myself what I want out of swimming. I believe it's to become fitter, stronger and if I can gain some speed in the process, I'll be thrilled. I'm not sure how swimming with this group of people fits in with that. I'm hardly motivated swimming a workout I can't swim next to strong swimmers with no one paying attention to me. In fact, a couple of times I've been so bummed that I wonder if I have any business swimming or competing.
I've hired someone to coach me a couple of times a month on the strokes I don't know and help me with the ones I do. I have some wonderful swim friends who have answered my workout and goal questions in incredible detail. I think I'll go with that for the next great while.
I've been swimming with a team for about a month now. At first it was 2x/wk, then 1x and now I'm not so sure as I get more out of my workouts (with much help from swim friends from afar) than I do with the team.
The issue is this: the coach brings a single workout, posts it at the of the lane, sits down and never looks up. I've never been asked my name, how long I've been swimming, what I hope to get out of it, what strokes I know how to do, what pace I can keep. Nothing. Of course, all of the above would be fine if I got some help on technique. When I've asked a question, I get "just do what you can." So basically, I jump in the wall lane, all alone, figure out what intervals I should do, and swim alone. I should point out that this is a small team that has some strong swimmers but hardly hard-core competitive. I feel more alone swimming with the team than I do swimming by myself.
I have to honestly ask myself what I want out of swimming. I believe it's to become fitter, stronger and if I can gain some speed in the process, I'll be thrilled. I'm not sure how swimming with this group of people fits in with that. I'm hardly motivated swimming a workout I can't swim next to strong swimmers with no one paying attention to me. In fact, a couple of times I've been so bummed that I wonder if I have any business swimming or competing.
I've hired someone to coach me a couple of times a month on the strokes I don't know and help me with the ones I do. I have some wonderful swim friends who have answered my workout and goal questions in incredible detail. I think I'll go with that for the next great while.
