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.
Yikes! This thread is depressing me! Eight years ago, I started coaching a masters group. I had just become a mother, had stopped working, and wanted to do some kind of work. One of my friends asked me to coach a masters group at the local Y. I agreed and have been doing it on a volunteer basis since mid-2000. For a few years, it was the only "job" I had, so I devoted a great deal of energy to it.
I swam in college albeit DIV III, so I can't say that I am as much an "expert" as others might be, but I try to be very attentive to stroke technique and teach the group drills. I've even videotaped from time to time. I attended the Auburn Masters Swim Clinic in 2001 and learned state-of-the art stroke drills from David Marsh and Rowdy to bring back to the class. After I attended the clinic, I sent other masters swimmers in the other years to pick up any new drills and come back to the class to share.
When we aren't doing drills, we are getting in timed swims and interval/ speed work. Regardless of whether folks are going to meets, I even got my triathletes doing our 4,000 yard practices. I do have different levels, some folks do the 4,000 yard stuff, others do 2000.
Many of my swimmers are new to masters but I've gotten many to become better swimmers and have gotten some to swim in meets. One of my swimmers could only swim a half length of the pool when she started and ended up being able to do a half-ironman triathlon. Another swimmer of mine just recently did his first meet at age 60! My goal is to help people develop a love for swimming and competing in swimming whatever their age, background, or level of swimming.
I know there are plenty of passionate masters swim coaches out there so my best advice is to be selective and pick a team with a coach that really cares!
Yikes! This thread is depressing me! Eight years ago, I started coaching a masters group. I had just become a mother, had stopped working, and wanted to do some kind of work. One of my friends asked me to coach a masters group at the local Y. I agreed and have been doing it on a volunteer basis since mid-2000. For a few years, it was the only "job" I had, so I devoted a great deal of energy to it.
I swam in college albeit DIV III, so I can't say that I am as much an "expert" as others might be, but I try to be very attentive to stroke technique and teach the group drills. I've even videotaped from time to time. I attended the Auburn Masters Swim Clinic in 2001 and learned state-of-the art stroke drills from David Marsh and Rowdy to bring back to the class. After I attended the clinic, I sent other masters swimmers in the other years to pick up any new drills and come back to the class to share.
When we aren't doing drills, we are getting in timed swims and interval/ speed work. Regardless of whether folks are going to meets, I even got my triathletes doing our 4,000 yard practices. I do have different levels, some folks do the 4,000 yard stuff, others do 2000.
Many of my swimmers are new to masters but I've gotten many to become better swimmers and have gotten some to swim in meets. One of my swimmers could only swim a half length of the pool when she started and ended up being able to do a half-ironman triathlon. Another swimmer of mine just recently did his first meet at age 60! My goal is to help people develop a love for swimming and competing in swimming whatever their age, background, or level of swimming.
I know there are plenty of passionate masters swim coaches out there so my best advice is to be selective and pick a team with a coach that really cares!
