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.
After having to swim outdoors last summer and trying to get ready for LC Nationals in 87-90 degree water I searched out the kids team in town that was swimming in the evenings at a COLD indoor pool. They had an extra lane available and the coach even put together workouts for us (myself and another competitive masters swimmer).
I liked the workouts so much and had such great results at Nat's that I made the switch permenantly. It is great to actually get coaching now, drills are designed to work on the things I need to work on. My kick was nonexistant. Now I can do a 200 with a kick the whole time. My sprints have finally dropped where they had been stagnant for 3 years.
Coaching really makes such a difference. My first masters coach was in the pool with us most of the time so he just provided a workout for us. My second one was ok but had kind of lost his motivation for a while. I usually will give tips to the newer swimmers when they ask for it.
Current coach knows the goals of all his swimmers who are serious about reaching them. He challenges us and there are times I have to wear fins to keep up to the kids. This week he is giving me workouts for my taper while he is at Junior Nationals this week with 3 of our kids. He asked me to provide my schedule of events, travel times and he will provide my warmups and warmdowns as well. This is just good coaching!
I am looking forward to seeing the major time drops again at Nationals this year.
I really like being back in the type of team environment I remember from back when I was a kid. It makes me feel young again. Who says 46 is old....
After having to swim outdoors last summer and trying to get ready for LC Nationals in 87-90 degree water I searched out the kids team in town that was swimming in the evenings at a COLD indoor pool. They had an extra lane available and the coach even put together workouts for us (myself and another competitive masters swimmer).
I liked the workouts so much and had such great results at Nat's that I made the switch permenantly. It is great to actually get coaching now, drills are designed to work on the things I need to work on. My kick was nonexistant. Now I can do a 200 with a kick the whole time. My sprints have finally dropped where they had been stagnant for 3 years.
Coaching really makes such a difference. My first masters coach was in the pool with us most of the time so he just provided a workout for us. My second one was ok but had kind of lost his motivation for a while. I usually will give tips to the newer swimmers when they ask for it.
Current coach knows the goals of all his swimmers who are serious about reaching them. He challenges us and there are times I have to wear fins to keep up to the kids. This week he is giving me workouts for my taper while he is at Junior Nationals this week with 3 of our kids. He asked me to provide my schedule of events, travel times and he will provide my warmups and warmdowns as well. This is just good coaching!
I am looking forward to seeing the major time drops again at Nationals this year.
I really like being back in the type of team environment I remember from back when I was a kid. It makes me feel young again. Who says 46 is old....
