I was in the Coach Owned Team (small) group and we discussed the following:
What are the qualities of a great masters coach?
A welcoming energy and a personality that encourages others
The ability to motivate and uplift swimmers
Genuine empathy and understanding of others
Flexibility and adaptability, both in and out of the water Whether it’s coaching swimmers of varying abilities or staying upbeat when unexpected facility issues arise, great masters coaches should be able to pivot gracefully
Expertise in stroke technique and training fundamentals
What do coaches want from USMS or their LMSC?
Health and wellness support and resources for coaches.
Networking and professional opportunities for coaches (beyond trainings and conferences)
Access to pools!! (So we may build more programs) We have the manpower to run programs, we just need the space to do it
Building stronger community ties so we can team up with others to build more pools
I would love to hear what some of the other groups discussed and came up with!
Breakout groups according to type of programs. Very engaging group and great discussions in all groups. Take away was that people wanted the sharing and the ideas presented by others as every one felt they were missing initiatives and were not optimizing their opportunities. Sharing of emails, and contacts was prolific. Very fun to watch and facilitate my group.
