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
We have our coach who is involved with the kids team but he is not the head coach. He writes up the workouts and will help with strokes which has been good. I've just helped from the pool on the nights he's not there, but I actually do enjoy coaching from deck, esp. if folks are receptive.
It just happened there was no guard there when I was going to coach from the water, but after 4 others arrived I was leery about not being on deck "guarding" so I got out and started to do some stroke analysis--ok I don't know a great deal but I can tell if someone is crossing over and fishtailing etc, so I gave tips /drill to work on that--the groups said they enjoyed that analysis.
I'll even say stuff to others in the lanes while I'm swimming; not b/c I think I know best but maybe I can help with somehthing easy like "think forwards not up" on fly. I can't swim fly either but I can share the tips at least. I always say, I'm not trying to embarrass or be critical in a negative way, and least with a truthfull positive like "Your kick is so strong, if you can get the arms," or "You are strong enough to do 200 fly, I've seen you, but if you can go forwards more not up, you might go faster easier..."
I think the fact that they know I compete (or try to ) gives me some cred for helping out, and I don't care if they do or don't try it. I guess some masters coaches may feel a little gun shy etc. with being demanding with adults especially in a fledgling group.
Sadly the Y board, kids coaching team and parent lobby are not too interested in having masters secure any time at the Y, so masters will be ending in Sep. Even 1 night a week in with the kids would be beneficial.
That said there are a few coaches that are helping triathletes and the like one is an Olympic trialist from the 50's--I've changed my stoke totally and love the new one he showed us. He has years of swim wisdom and can put it into 2 or 3 words that connect with me as a swimmer so I get exactly what he means. I'm going to try to at least catch up with him in the non-coaches season. He great and tells me to "just keep asking me questions!"
We have our coach who is involved with the kids team but he is not the head coach. He writes up the workouts and will help with strokes which has been good. I've just helped from the pool on the nights he's not there, but I actually do enjoy coaching from deck, esp. if folks are receptive.
It just happened there was no guard there when I was going to coach from the water, but after 4 others arrived I was leery about not being on deck "guarding" so I got out and started to do some stroke analysis--ok I don't know a great deal but I can tell if someone is crossing over and fishtailing etc, so I gave tips /drill to work on that--the groups said they enjoyed that analysis.
I'll even say stuff to others in the lanes while I'm swimming; not b/c I think I know best but maybe I can help with somehthing easy like "think forwards not up" on fly. I can't swim fly either but I can share the tips at least. I always say, I'm not trying to embarrass or be critical in a negative way, and least with a truthfull positive like "Your kick is so strong, if you can get the arms," or "You are strong enough to do 200 fly, I've seen you, but if you can go forwards more not up, you might go faster easier..."
I think the fact that they know I compete (or try to ) gives me some cred for helping out, and I don't care if they do or don't try it. I guess some masters coaches may feel a little gun shy etc. with being demanding with adults especially in a fledgling group.
Sadly the Y board, kids coaching team and parent lobby are not too interested in having masters secure any time at the Y, so masters will be ending in Sep. Even 1 night a week in with the kids would be beneficial.
That said there are a few coaches that are helping triathletes and the like one is an Olympic trialist from the 50's--I've changed my stoke totally and love the new one he showed us. He has years of swim wisdom and can put it into 2 or 3 words that connect with me as a swimmer so I get exactly what he means. I'm going to try to at least catch up with him in the non-coaches season. He great and tells me to "just keep asking me questions!"
