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.
I have argued within our own program that what we really need to do is set expectations (be transparent) on what a masters workout is and isn't. In reality it is a structured workout program, like spin, step class. Stroke tips and one on one time is at best icing on the cake. Our team schedules regular swim clinics, pre-meet sessions etc., to compensate however those are actually lightly attended.
This kind of program is what they've set up at my Y. It really is a "lap swim class" as opposed to a master's group. And I haven't seen that there are that many true "masters teams" out there. I live in what should be one of the more swimming-friendly states and I can think of only two teams that seem to really be active "masters swim teams" as opposed to swimming fitness classes. I can only imagine how difficult it would be to find anything in a less swimming-friendly state.
I have argued within our own program that what we really need to do is set expectations (be transparent) on what a masters workout is and isn't. In reality it is a structured workout program, like spin, step class. Stroke tips and one on one time is at best icing on the cake. Our team schedules regular swim clinics, pre-meet sessions etc., to compensate however those are actually lightly attended.
This kind of program is what they've set up at my Y. It really is a "lap swim class" as opposed to a master's group. And I haven't seen that there are that many true "masters teams" out there. I live in what should be one of the more swimming-friendly states and I can think of only two teams that seem to really be active "masters swim teams" as opposed to swimming fitness classes. I can only imagine how difficult it would be to find anything in a less swimming-friendly state.
