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.
Ken, I understand yet on the other hand I have seen success stories that lead me to believe that given a "taste" of what it is like to have an outstanding coach/team masters swimmers will indeed pay more for the experience.
I'll give a few examples:
- Brophy Masters; Mark Rankin can manage a workout like few coaches I have ever seen. Even with 3 different groups and at times 50+ swimmers he manages the send off's, calls times, gives people a hard time for slacking (me) and most important he starts almost every workout with something as simple as an update on things like upcoming meets, acknowledges swimmers who just competed, talks about open water swims, they have monthly socials, on & on.
- Utah Masters; great group...love Priscilla!
-Nova; Michael does an outstanding job and it shows at meets when they ramp up.
- I would make an attempt to catch a workout with Tiffany at Boulder Masters anytime she was on deck...highly technical, up on current training/drills.
- Jerry at UCLA masters....I have no idea how he stays so motivated with all the workouts he manages
- Although I have not worked out with Walnut Creek when Kerry is on deck I have trained there and its exceptional
- Brian with the Manatee's who I no longer get to swim with but had some great workouts
There are good coaches out there, there are marginal coaches out there....my concern is that good coaches often take masters for granted and that marginal coaches get hired in the first place.
Ken, I understand yet on the other hand I have seen success stories that lead me to believe that given a "taste" of what it is like to have an outstanding coach/team masters swimmers will indeed pay more for the experience.
I'll give a few examples:
- Brophy Masters; Mark Rankin can manage a workout like few coaches I have ever seen. Even with 3 different groups and at times 50+ swimmers he manages the send off's, calls times, gives people a hard time for slacking (me) and most important he starts almost every workout with something as simple as an update on things like upcoming meets, acknowledges swimmers who just competed, talks about open water swims, they have monthly socials, on & on.
- Utah Masters; great group...love Priscilla!
-Nova; Michael does an outstanding job and it shows at meets when they ramp up.
- I would make an attempt to catch a workout with Tiffany at Boulder Masters anytime she was on deck...highly technical, up on current training/drills.
- Jerry at UCLA masters....I have no idea how he stays so motivated with all the workouts he manages
- Although I have not worked out with Walnut Creek when Kerry is on deck I have trained there and its exceptional
- Brian with the Manatee's who I no longer get to swim with but had some great workouts
There are good coaches out there, there are marginal coaches out there....my concern is that good coaches often take masters for granted and that marginal coaches get hired in the first place.
