Coaching is good but hard to find. I took our masters group the other night, and everyone enjoyed the stroke correction/suggestions.
I poached this quote from Stud off the over thread I started about training...it caught my attention for several reasons.
First and foremost I will say there are some incredible coaches out there doing a LOT of great things...however based on Laura and I having swam with dozens of teams all over the country the reality is that these great coaches are the minority.
Sadly I think that this is most often not because the coach doesn't know how to coach...but rather they tend to be burned out and/or simply don't think most masters care about being coached.
I mentioned my own first hand experiance with this awhile back while swimming with Sun Devil masters a few years back. At that time one of the coaches was Attila Czene who was a two time Olympic medalist and one of the most incredible swimmers have ever scene...sadly however when he "coached" it consisted of showing up late, giving the workout and sitting in a chair catching a tan!
I had earlier in the season decided to swim the 200IM (at Coral Springs) and was not going to let this guy get paid to do nothing so I challenged him to help me out...and guess what, he was awesome. He went on to tell me that 99% of the time he attempted to "coach" masters swimmers they either A) ignored him or B) listened to him and then didn't try so he basically gave up.
I have since that time always asked the coach when visiting a team to watch my stroke and if they had any suggestions to please give them...which I have been happy to find out more than not are willing to do.
So I challenge swimmers and coaches to start talking more. If your paying dues and not geeting coached tell them how you feel about it.
If your a coach....don't take masters for granted...start coaching and if your consistent about you'll find your swimmers will love it.
Parents
Former Member
I only have a bit of coaching experience but it was enough to make me appreciate the challenges of coaching a group of swimmers of varying skill levels, varying conditioning, and varying goals and motivation levels.
It's easy to expect the coach to come in and supply all the positive energy and motivation and get everyone over their tiring stressful day or early morning blahs but I've observed that the coaches usually respond well to enthusiasm and positive feedback from their swimmers as well, it's not a one way street. If you have no goals for yourself or haven't told your coach what your goals are and asked for help achieving them it is hard for them to help you. I think ideally the coach/swimmer relationship is a partnership where you both work together on mutually agreed on goals. If a coach gives you a tip that helps you be sure to let them know it helped and that your enthused about the improvement, that way they are much more likely to give you the next tip. I think many swimmers often neglect the little things that would make coaching them more rewarding.
I only have a bit of coaching experience but it was enough to make me appreciate the challenges of coaching a group of swimmers of varying skill levels, varying conditioning, and varying goals and motivation levels.
It's easy to expect the coach to come in and supply all the positive energy and motivation and get everyone over their tiring stressful day or early morning blahs but I've observed that the coaches usually respond well to enthusiasm and positive feedback from their swimmers as well, it's not a one way street. If you have no goals for yourself or haven't told your coach what your goals are and asked for help achieving them it is hard for them to help you. I think ideally the coach/swimmer relationship is a partnership where you both work together on mutually agreed on goals. If a coach gives you a tip that helps you be sure to let them know it helped and that your enthused about the improvement, that way they are much more likely to give you the next tip. I think many swimmers often neglect the little things that would make coaching them more rewarding.
