The Swimming Triangle
The triangle is a good representation of the connection between an athlete, parent, and coach. Each leg of the triangle has the same value as the other. If all of the legs of the triangle supported one another then you would have a fulfilled athlete.

As a swim coach, I believe the triangle is the foundation of success for our athletes. Each leg of the triangle represents the three parties: the athlete, the parent, and the coach. We couldn’t survive without one another. The key to the strength of the triangle is to understand each of our roles:

Note: These are traditional roles, as the athlete accomplishes higher levels the function can change, but always athlete-focused.

The Swimmer:
1) Be responsible by being on time and prepared for your workout.
2) During practice give great effort and energy while displaying a positive attitude.
3) Make your teammates better because of your presence and support.
4) Be coachable and respectful.
5) Have attainable goals and let everyone know about what they are.
6) Most importantly, be grateful to your parents, coaches, and teammates for their role.

The Parent:
1) Be positive and supportive, regardless of the outcome of each swim.
2) Don’t coach your kids as this can be disruptive for the swimmers and coaches, and will likely confuse your swimmer.
3) Get involved; find a volunteer position you feel comfortable with and help out.
4) Try to have your swimmer at practice 15 minutes before start time, as this is a good habit for young swimmers to learn.
5) Acknowledge that the coaches have numerous triangles to maintain and each one is different from the others.
6) Don’t compare your swimmer to other swimmers. They all come from different backgrounds with different talents and growth progressions. It’s best to let the coaches guide his/her progression and focus on your swimmer only.
7) Most importantly, be grateful to your swimmer and coaches for the sacrifices they make during this journey.

The Coach:
1) Have the best interests of the swimmers.
2) Maintain a state of balance between what may be ideal for the individual (your swimmer) and the needs of the group (the team).
3) Communicate openly and honestly.
4) Provide your athlete a range of growth opportunities; some satisfying and fulfilling, others challenging and perhaps frustrating; as this will help develop his/her ability and overall character as a person.
5) Most importantly, be grateful to the parents and the swimmers for the sacrifices they make during this journey.

 

When I was younger I used to set New Year's Resolutions and guess what happened? Correct, nothing. I was good for maybe a month or so, but I eventually failed.

So about 10-15 years ago, I read in an article from Tim Elmore about choosing ONE Word each year, that will keep you moving forward in a positive direction. So I'm going to share my word with you.

Patience 

Why did I choose patience? 

When I was a younger coach, I had no patience, I needed to control everything and I tried to control everybody. Well, I wasn't a really happy coach and felt let down by everyone and every situation. I would write a season plan and never keep to it. I'd start home projects and never finish, I just couldn't stay focused on any task. When swimmers couldn't do what I wanted especially in races, it was not good.

It might be age or coaching for nearly 40 years, but over the last 15 years, I have come to my senses. I can't or do not want to control anything, except myself.

So this year anytime a situation comes up that I cannot control, I repeat the word patience to myself and remind myself I'm moving forward in the right direction at the right speed.

Coach Ian

 

PODIUM SWIM

What is a podium swim? 

During the last few years, I've come to realize that when our athlete's race, they need to do just that - RACE. Remember when they first started summer league as a 10 & under. When they touched the wall what did they want to know? Their time? No. It was "Did I win or what place did I get."

As an athlete gets older, they place more emphasis on the time they swam and less on what place they got.

Why is that?

We know the older and faster an athlete gets the more pressure there is to perform faster times than before. Pressure from within and from the outside occurs. I am guilty as much as anyone of thinking they should go faster every time they race. Realistically, that's not the way anything works in life, otherwise, we would all be perfect.

So as we go into our first Championship competition, I am reminding my athletes to RACE and no matter what heat you are in, make it a "PODIUM SWIM" - Top 3 in your heat.

If that occurs, they'll probably get the best time too.

Do you follow the Calendar or the Compass?

It took me a while to learn to follow my compass and not so much the calendar. 

"The compass matters more than the calendar. Your direction is more important than the speed you are getting there."

The compass makes you think about where you are going and needs your attention every morning you wake up. It would be best if you took the time to pause and reflect each day. The calendar comes with a to-do list and a list of deadlines and if I'm honest it will wear me out. 

The compass asks you what I need to do today to get to where I want to be.

If you just follow a calendar you feel you've accomplished something today, but the more you follow the compass, the more you can make choices that get you where you want to go.

They Don’t Think AS We Do

I have been coaching for nearly 40 years, plus I swam competitively for another 20 years. Why did I stay in the sport for so long? I had a great experience.

When you look at youth sports today, young kids are under a lot of pressure from every part of their life. They have their peers, their coaches (teachers), and their parents, all wanting different things from them. I don't know if I could have grown up with so much pressure on me.

What I've discovered over time is this. Kids do not think like we do or look at sports like we do. OK everyone knows that especially parents, but when it comes to teaching, parenting & coaching they don't have to adjust to us, we have to adjust to them.

At a swim meet the 10 & Under are there for FUN. Their fun includes the experiences of grandma and grandpa watching them; being with their friends; and of course the biggie, the concession stand. That's what it's about in their world. In ours, it's about what their time was, whether did they do the event correctly (no DQ), and our biggie who they beat. Yes, we can all get caught up in the last one, way too soon in our careers. Let's try not to do that - ever; even when they are older. Remember Competition means to compete with - not against.

The kids that are successful, which to me means they have a long prosperous career are the ones that have the BEST EXPERIENCE

 We have to make certain we’re not spoiling their experience

2021 Trials Update Day 3

Day 3 Observations

Addie Rose swam the 100 Bk today. Race analysis review showed that we were out a little slow 30.04 at the half way point. Our goal is always to swim the first 50 in under 30 sec. When she made the Wave 2 cut ARB's first 50 was 29.7. However, as I have stated earlier in the blog that we are here to RACE and that is what ARB did in the 2nd 50. Coming home in her fastest 50 of the year. ARB ended up 32nd less than .90 from making semi finals, again another goal for 2024.

For the racing at finals we saw a sort of changing of the guard. Two teenagers made the team in the 100 Fly, the winner setting a new American record. The women's 100 Bk again the younger athletes make up the top 8. Its a little sad when you see a 2016 Olympian not make the team. They have dedicated 5 years to get ready, and one thinks if we had not experienced the COVID pandemic and swam the Trials in 2020, would that have made any difference? I think yes, in some circumstances. It is hard, really hard to make the team.

Finally Michael Andrew finally made the team in the 100 Breaststroke. Michael turned pro when he was 14, in fact he is probably the longest professional swimmer here in the US, he is 22 now. If you turn pro you cannot swim for a college, instead he received endorsement money to help him train and compete. Most coaches thought there is no way this "kid" was going to make it, well did he prove the coaching community wrong. Michael is a super young man and if you ever get a chance to meet him or hear him speak, you will know what I mean.

Day 1 Thoughts and Experiences 6/13/2021

ARB RACES the 100 Fly

Addie Rose clocked in with a 1:00.81 in the 100 meter Fly this morning. Her best time in 2021 but slightly off her life time best of 1:00.63. But, the name of the game is RACING here and she did awesome with finishing second in her heat and moving up to 49th position from 63rd. It took a 59.1 to make semi finals, so we have a goal for 2024 :)

Finals Highlight Race
Trials never disappoint, especially the finals and semi finals. The first race was a repeat of 2016 with Chase Kalisz winning the the 400 IM and Jay Litherland coming from behind and splitting a 57 on the free leg to get second. Both swimmer represented UGA and Jay is a Dynamo swimmer. These men both know how to race and put on a fantastic first race.

Observations

What amazes me at this meet, everyone is pulling for everyone. You truly feel a part of Team USA. The amount of coaches and athletes that said good luck to Addie Rose and myself, reminds me that this is the best sport on the planet. It supports our RAYS philosophy of Training for Life (T4L), that you need a supportive community to do anything well in this life. Watching Melanie Margalis tonight being out touched by her former college teammate in the 400 IM and then smiling and giving her a congratulatory hug was priceless. Only in the pool would you see that.