“I want to swim the 50 free and the 50 Free”

“I want to swim the 50 free and the 50 Free” – Getting swimmers to swim outside their comfort zone.

Many years ago, my age group and high school coach Steve Dzina put me in the 100 Butterfly in an invitational in Buffalo.  I had never swum it in a meet before but I had been swimming it more and more in practice.  I was a bit nervous, but swam it any way and actually enjoyed it.  After the race I went up to talk to him and he told me something that is to this day one of my principles of coaching.  “Everyone can swim the 50 Free and 100 Free, now you have something else you can do.”   Very simply put swimmers need to be coached so that they can swim outside of their comfort zone.  The coaching that goes with that philosophy takes a lot of work and commitment from all 3 sides of our “Swim Team Triangle”.  From the Coaches it takes developing each swimmer and the skills they have at every age.  From the swimmer it takes the commitment and confidence to try other strokes and events.  And maybe most importantly support and understanding from the parents to make things all come together.

Over the years as a coach I have always felt that I needed to put swimmers in a position to have success when trying something new.  I would never put a swimmer in a race where I knew they would DQ or not finish the race.  All the hard work done in practice has to have a reason and has to be rewarded.  By challenging swimmers to try new events they expand their abilities and options in the sport so that they are always fresh.  This can mean putting an 8 year old in the 100 free, a 10 year old in the 500, or even a college freshman swimming the 200 Butterfly.

Case in point.  One of the most talented swimmers I have ever coached was a young lady from Akron New York.  She came to swim for me at Genesee Community College and her career really took off.  She was a hard worker and loved swimming the events that she had in high school.  The fun thing is that in college the 100 Butterfly can be the 200 Butterfly.  Over our semester break I worked with her and a couple of others on improving their fly.  They worked on sets and drills designed to make them stronger, and more efficient in swimming butterfly. 

Our first meet after break I put her in the 200 Butterfly.  When she looked at the line up the look on her face was nothing but fear.  Even a few tears from this incredibly talented freshman appeared.  We went over a race plan that she would follow and after a couple more words of encouragement she got in and swam.  It was incredible to watch, smooth and effortless just like I knew she could.  She finished first in the race with a time just a few seconds off the school record.  She looked at the time and literally jumped all over the deck happy and laughing.  I asked her how she felt and she replied, “I stuck to the plan and I feel great!”  The smile on my face was just as happy. 

Encouraging swimmers to try things outside of their comfort zone, and putting them in situations where they can succeed, expands what they can swim and want to swim.  The next year this particular swimmer took on the 400IM a challenging event she had never swum before.  By the end of the season she was second at the NJCAA National Championship meet in the event.

How we coach is the key.  How we create workouts is secondary to how we motivate and support swimmers of every age.  The fun part is watching our swimmers swim an event for the second time because it is the one chance when there is a 99.99% chance of swimming a Personal Best.  Waiting at the finish line along with the best time are always at least two huge smiling faces: swimmer and coach.

As coaches we are always fighting “staleness”.  Swimmers who work hard and swim the same things over and over can experience this. The most recognizable signs of this condition can be a persistent plateau or worsening in performance that is not improved by either short-term rest periods or reduced training. We try to treat each, case by case, and look at their overall training and competition.  This happens often in high school swimming when coaches feel the need to put the same swimmers in the same events meet after meet.  The swimmers are then expected to fire up and swim fast in the same event at the end of the season. Over time, they have lost the “feel” for what may be their favorite or best event.  The cure is simple.  Change things up.  Put the swimmer in something outside the box to train for and swim.  The result is a happy swimmer who now has new challenges in front of them.

Side note:  It has been a while since my last post.  I have had writers block and thanks to some “grounding” from one of my assistant coaches I am back ready to bring you words of advice and encouragement on the journey to Swim Smart, Have Fun, and Swim Fast.

PMA!

Coach Scott

Thanksgiving

Being Thankful as a coach… This has been an incredible blog to write...a personal inventory... The moments for which I have been most thankful as a coach might surprise you. Most important, is the very fact that so many of you parents have been willing to share your precious children with me.   I have never been one to deny that I have cried when great things have happened, but what one  person might consider great,  another may not.  The fact is, I cry easily when it comes to my swimmers.  What is the definition of thankful?  Webster’s says it is being “conscious of benefit received”.  What are the benefits I have received as a  swim coach? Have you ever tried to count the number of water drops in a pool?  Impossible.  Rather, here are five positives that I have taken from the millions that I want to share. 1.       Having a positive influence on lives.  It goes without saying that if you care about what you do then you can affect the people around you.  As a youth coach you have the ability to make a lifelong impact on how children develop.  We are not talking role models here.  I have never tried to be a role model for anyone.  What I have tried to do is instill values and morals into people that will help young people succeed in the future.  One of the key ingredients in that progress requires PMA.  Having a Positive Mental Attitude can influence every aspect of a young athlete's life.  We always want our swimmers to become great people.  When you have been coaching for as long as I have you get the opportunity to see your swimmers become parents and professionals.  This is so cool.  Past Student-Athletes have become teachers and they have passed that on to their students…giving thanks…. 2.      Watching swimmers overcome adversity.  I have seen  athletes overcome physical illness or even life adversity to take swimming to the next level.  I can think of two very distinct examples.  I watched one young lady overcome a family adversity to regain faith, confidence and belief in herself to achieve some incredible things in the pool and in the classroom.  The key was support which helped her realize the greatness she already had inside of herself. As a coach, I was able to instill in her the faith that she already had everything she needed to succeed, plus the understanding to do incredible things.  With a couple of bumps along the road, which ultimately reaffirmed her faith in her own ability, she  exceeded expectations.  A true success story.  To this day, I cannot be more proud of the person she has become. Another unexpected example of overcoming adversity occurred with a young swimmer who suffered a burst appendix.  When I went to visit her in the hospital my heart dropped to my feet.  Seeing her there was one of the toughest things I have ever had to deal with.  As I talked with her and her mom, I was sure that she would pull through. This little girl had to spend two weeks at the mercy of a hospital room, laying limp, when I was used to seeing her battle her way through challenging practices every day in the pool. Just seeing her up, walking around and happy again would be all that I could ask for. It broke my heart to see her and her family waiting helplessly by her bed. She did pull through.   And ever since she has been back in the pool every day has been an adventure.  I wondered, will she have the will and energy to push forward?  Will she continue to push for best times? At the last meet, I put her in the 200 Freestyle knowing she would not be thrilled with doing such a challenging event. As her coach, I knew she could do it.  She is one of the toughest kids from an amazingly supportive family. Could she do it and have a positive outcome?  I trust my instincts as a coach, but I still wonder, did I make the right call? When I put kids in events for the first time I never do it unless I am 100% sure they can swim it successfully.  I knew this particular swimmer could do it, but I wanted her to get out of the pool with a smile.  Two minutes before she swam I went up to this smiling 10 year old and went over her race plan.  I wished her good luck and asked her to smile.  She “fist bumped” me and smiled.  I knew right then that it was not about time but about the finish.  She did it…and set the bar in the event which I am sure the next time she swims, will be faster.  She is like the first young lady I spoke of. She is a swimmer who  will always overcome any adversity in her path, because that is who she is at heart. 3.      Watching Best times happen – Coaches are always thankful for our swimmers getting Best Times.  It is the carrot at the end of the string, the light at the end of the tunnel.  All clichés aside, we coaches live for watching every swimmer achieve something that only the stopwatch will tell.  So many laps, yards, workouts, practices and more, we have lived and hoped through it all.  When  personal bests happen we are elated.  I once had to get down on all 4’s and bark like a dog for a girl when she got her best time in the 500.  When a certain backstroker broke the school record in the 100 back we had to go to Spencerport High School pool and pull the old  record off with a lifeguarding pole.  Recently, one of my 10 and under boys got his best time in the 100 IM after more than a year.  For a young guy, a year is like forever.  We knew he had the time. We only hoped that he keep his smile at his accomplishment as long as we coaches do.  I have said  many times that swimmers will not swim their best time every time their bodies touch the water.  But, when best times happen, and every time they happen, we rejoice.  Celebrate! Bask in the feeling of progress!  Then move on. 4.      Goals missed but an accomplishment still attainted – What happens when you get that close, almost, but not quite what you were hoping for?  The answer is (with the proper coaching) something just as incredible.   As a coach, I have experienced all of the "almosts".    The let down for swimmer and coach is relatively brief.  WOW…that hard work and dedication got you to a place we had dreamed of.  Even if you did not go all the way, you still did something very special.  I had a backstroker that swam at a summer camp of mine.  We swam in the exact pool that Sectionals would take place in.  I jokingly predicted that one day she would win the 100 back from the very lane she was practicing in….lane 1.  Three  months later, she swam the race of her life, probably one of the best race plans executed ever, placed 3rd and missed the New York State cut off by.04 in the exact same lane.  To this day, regardless of the outcome, I am so proud of her.  To Elizabeth, Sarah, Dale, Pola, Brett, Jillian, Heather, Jennifer, Jessica, Beaner, Boggs, and more…I did my best, you did your best and I will always be thankful that we got where we  needed to go. 5.      The blessing of being a swimming coach.  So who is Scott?  I am a Swimming Coach.  After writing this blog I am more proud of the opportunities I have had as a coach, now more than ever.  I look back on the years, the faces, the kids, the young adults; I am truly blessed and thankful.  Everyday I get to do what I love.  I go to work happy everyday; I come home excited about tomorrow.  I don't know what I would do if I was not a Swim Coach.  Recently one of my best friends and fellow coaches knocked me off my feet by announcing to his team that he thought I was one of the best teaching coaches he had ever met.  I was just happy to be able to work with those particular swimmers in the pool.  I am thankful, I am blessed, to be able to live everyday helping young people do something they enjoy and become the best possible person they can be.  That is a gift.  A blessing. I will never forget a face, or a name, of any of my swimmers.  No one is forgotten.  Everything is important.  This is my life.  I am blessed.  As a coach, I have so much for which to be thankful. Happy Thanksgiving and thank you to all the parents and swimmers that I am fortunate to be a part of their swimming lives. Coach Scott

Swimming Smart using T.C.B.Y.

Some of you might remember TCBY as a yogurt shop in the 80’s and 90’s. This blog has nothing to do with anything ice cream related.  Rather, it is about taking four simple letters that can be the starting point for learning to swim smart.

Seven years ago I had a crazy summer of coaching for swimming camps at CAL U,  Navy, Sweetbriar College, and Hartwick College, all over the course of eight weeks.  In that time I put thousands of miles on my car which gave me time to think about swimming and working with young swimmers.  I am always trying to come up with a new angle or Catch Phrase to help kids grasp the concept of Swimming Smart.  What I needed was a bridge from “Swim Smart+Have Fun = Swim Fast" to the next step.  Since adopting this equation into my coaching philosophy and coaching hundreds, if not thousands of swimmers, I have found that Swimming Smart is the toughest part of the equation.  

What does it mean to Swim Smart? What follows is my definition. That's where the frozen yogurt comes in the picture.  The four key elements of swimming smart are T.C.B.Y. (Think. Control. Balance. You.).

“T” = Think.  Most kids learn to swim at an early age.  The process is universal; first survival instincts kick in, then strength, and finally coordination to put it all together.  Somewhere in the process there may be a “disconnect” between the mind and body.  Bad habits replace good ones and proper stroke technique is lost.  I feel that the first step in getting back on track is to think.  Simple, right?  Just think about what you are doing.  Actually, it's not as simple as it sounds.  One of the hardest parts of swimming, at all levels, is replacing bad habits with good. One useful technique is to use a Mental Checklist.  As you push off and start swimming in practice, you have a list of things that you should be focusing on and self correcting.  Asking yourself questions as you swim is part of the process.  “Am I streamlining right?”  “How is my head position?”  “What I am looking at?” The idea is to use your senses to help you connect your mind with your body to be sure that the key elements of each stroke are being taken care of.  All of the needed changes may not happen right away, but by thinking about what you are doing you are putting in place the elements needed to get your stroke as efficient as possible.

“C”= Control.  I strongly believe that you never sacrifice good stroke technique for speed.  You need to be in control of everything your body is doing.  From Streamling to maintaining a proper breathing pattern, everything needs to be done correctly.  The control over your body is the direct result of the communication between your mind and body.  Your mind tells your body what is needed for each aspect of every repeat, set, workout, practice and race.  When you have gained mind/body control, good habits are repeated and muscle memory is gained.  Muscle memory allows you to stop having to think about the basics and allows you to focus on the tiniest of technique needs.  These include reducing drag, increasing force, and creating the lift needed to improve distance per stroke or distance per cycle.  In other words, coaches have young swimmers do repeat after repeat after repeat of streamline swimming, perfectly, so that they no longer even have to think about it, it just happens.  Then the coach can move on to more specific aspects of a stroke.

“B”=Balance.  There are many factors that contribute to how well your body will move through the water.  Balance and how it is applied to your unique body significantly helps your swimming efficiency.  Whether it is the long axis strokes of Freestyle and Backstroke or the short axis strokes of Breaststroke and Butterfly, balance is what helps each stroke flow.  Balance can also be called “having a feel for the water”.  That feel allows you to know how much roll to have in the long axis strokes and gives you that flow needed for the short axis strokes.  When balance is added to control and thinking, everything comes together to make you swim more efficiently.  We all started out as children learning to prop ourselves up first, then stand, and finally walk.  It was only after we were able to walk well that we were able to run.  In swimming a similar progression takes us to the point that we can swim fast.

“Y”=You.  You are the one that makes this all happen.  The dedication you have to being the best possible you puts this all together.  You need to think.  You need to ask yourself what you are feeling and doing to make efficient swimming happen.  You need to be in control.  The connection between your mind and body is a must.  You need to learn to balance; to have that feel and to have that flow.  Your coaches are there to give you all the feedback needed to make the changes, adjustments, or subtle tweaks needed to take your swimming to the next level.  You must choose to listen and make the adjustments and changes necessary.

With just four simple letters you are on your way to more efficient swimming and continuing on your own personal journey of swimming success.  That's way better than a frozen yogurt treat.

Happy Thanksgiving.

Coach Scott

PMA

Positive Mental Attitude (PMA) is not just a saying but a way of life.

If you have ever traveled to the Spencerport High School Pool and/or the Rush Henrietta High School Pool; you would have seen those letters painted proudly on the walls.  Coaches change and letters on the wall can be painted over, but the truth remains.  PMA has touched a lot of lives.

These three simple letters put together, form a powerful life lesson.  The concept of PMA was first given to me and my Fairmont State Swimming and Diving teammates by our coach Stephen P. Mahaney.  It was painted boldly in large maroon letters on the wall of the Feaster Center Pool.  

When we take PMA to heart and use it as a part of our swimming or day to day life, its power increases exponentially.  Being positive is something that most people have a hard time doing.  Inevitably, problems arise and life may get us down.  Sometimes it may seem easier to accept or allow negative thoughts, rather than choose  to look for the positive in challenging situations.  “When life gives you lemons, make lemonade."  It may be an annoying cliche,  but it can also motivate you to continue working towards your goals. Remember, goals were meant to be challenging.  It is when we overcome obstacles and challenges that we begin to realize our strength and potential.  A Positive Mental Attitude allows us to see a challenge as just another hurdle which we need to surpass in order to get closer to our goal.  Embracing PMA means that regardless of what happens; a bad race, a bad test, an argument with a brother or sister, we can overcome and move forward.

In the pool, having a Positive Mental Attitude will mean that no matter what set you have to do in practice, regardless of how you feel, you can dig deep into PMA and conquer the challenge.  No matter how often you feel beat down, you have something that can help you get up, dust yourself off, and get back to moving towards your goals.  The positive spirit that PMA brings can work wonders.  While I was coaching at Genesee Community College I was able to see PMA’s effects on one of my distance swimmers, Eric Wixon.  Working hard, staying positive, and never giving up helped Eric drop 6 minutes in the 1650 over the course of 2 seasons. 6 MINUTES! Truly incredible! 

How you use PMA can be as little as smiling or as big as getting your mind back on track after a bad race.  You realize that there is more to do. You don't give up on your goals just because you were met with a challenge.  You embrace the challenge and realize that you will walk away stronger. I have had alumni from all my teams tell me that  PMA has helped them later in life with their jobs and life in general.  They have experienced its powerful effects and passed it on.  I even know of one classroom where it is displayed on a daily basis for young minds to see and use as a great life lesson. 

PMA: Learn it. Experience it. Live it.   Thanks Coach Mahaney for this great gift that I will continue to share as long as I live and breathe.

Happy Thanksgiving.

Coach Scott

A Parent's guide to Swimming...

A Parent’s guide to Swimming…
We all learned in school, “a triangle has 3 sides”.  Every side is equally important to the formation of the triangle.  I believe your child’s swimming experience is a triangle.  Three crucial sides: coaches, swimmers, and parents.  Your swimmer's experience is a team effort also with all the players supporting each other. 

Dr. Alan Goldberg, Michael A. Taylor, and Rose Snyder have all written some very insightful stuff on the guidelines for successful parenting in the sport of swimming. Below I have highlighted 4 key strategies, that from a coaching perspective, will have the most positive impact on a family's swim team experience.

1. “Be your swimmers' BIGGEST fan” – It really is simple.  Support them through the good times and the bad times.  Understand what they are feeling.  Help and guide them by keeping things in perspective for them at every stage of their career.

2.   “Leave the coaching to the coaches” – There is nothing that drives coaches crazy more than parents giving coaching instructions.  More important, there is nothing more embarrassing to a swimmer than seeing their parent single them out and try to coach.  It is both distracting and disruptive to the entire swimming routine.  The role of the coach gets undermined and your role of a loving and supportive parent gets confused in your child's mind. They see you as much as you see them.  Please try to support your swimmers coaches.  Your child will learn to trust when they see a united front. Coaches are not, however, perfect.  When you have concerns, share them with the coaches and agree on a plan that they can execute with your swimmer at the pool while you continue supporting them at home.

3.   “Reinforce what the coaches are asking your swimmers to do outside of the pool” – There are so many things that the coaches need to have swimmers do outside of the pool to insure success.  Proper nutrition is a big one.  We all know that children have varying foods which they prefer to eat.  Providing them with, and encouraging  them to get the right “fuel” is an important key to long term success. Sufficient sleep is another huge factor in a swimmer's success.  Coaches only have pool time to influence swimmers, and we give all we have.  Your job as parents is much bigger and much more influential.   Your children need you on their team.

4.   “Help create realistic goals” – I have read that a swimmer's odds of becoming an Olympian are .0002%.  We all need to be realistic.  As I have said before, what more can we ask, than for your swimmer to become the best possible swimmer and person they can be?  Setting goals and working toward them is a team effort.  If a child wants to dream, let him dream.  But by focusing on small obtainable steps, your swimmer will stay excited and engaged. 

Coaches, swimmers, and parents can be a powerful force.   Together we are united in making a great swim experience, and ultimately a great life experience for our swimmers.

"Making dreams come true, one swim at a time!" - Coach Scott 11/13/11

Thanks for all you do!

Coach Scott

One race at a time...

Modern technology is great.  Thanks to the internet you can sit at home and actually watch a swim meet almost 400 miles away.  Now, I would much rather be on deck coaching, but this is the next best thing.  I am very fortunate to be helping 3 great college programs; California University of Pennsylvania, West Virginia Wesleyan, and Hartwick College.  For the next 2 days Cal U and Wesleyan are swimming in the John A. Pidgeon Memorial Invitational at Indiana University of Pennsylvania and thanks to Swimutopia.com I can watch every race.

While I sat watching prelims yesterday I was reminded of 2 things I have said to swimmers for many years.  “You swim one race at a time and then move on” and “You will not swim your best time every time you body touches the water”.

“You swim one race at a time and then move on” – Each race is a learning experience in the big picture of things.  You go into each swim with a race plan.  It is the goal follow the plan. Then swimmer and coach look back at the race and see what we learned.  First, I ask, “How did you feel?” or “What did you think?” That feedback is crucial to understanding the race and moving forward.  The swimmer usually has a pretty good feel for what went well and what needs work.  Then we examine the start, the turns, the stroke, the splits, and the finish.   Depending on the time of the year and what the goal for each meet is we look at over all time.  Surprisingly, that may be the least important factor to consider.  

A good example of this took place last weekend. My age group swimmers at the Bay View YMCA swam in a pentathalon invitational..  The lowest time for 5 combined events decides the winner.  The events include one of each stroke and an Individual Medley.  The first event was freestyle.  This happens to be this one swimmer's best event.  She was pumped.  Unfortunately, she mistimed her turn, and had to play catch up.  Not her best time, but lesson learned.  She quickly brushed off her disappointment and went on to swim personal bests in the following four events.  There was no time to sit and sulk, wasting energy about what could have been.  She had to move on and and did so with success.

Too often swimmers let one bad race ruin a meet; even a good race can disrupt a meet.  It comes down to that swimmer's expectations of the race, which is where good coaching is crucial.  What ever the meet, the swimmer and coach must be on the same page as to what the expectations of the meet and race are.  Swim the race, evaluate it, and move on.  The funny thing about sports is that emotion comes into play.  Be happy, be sad but know that there is a next race that you need to be ready for.

“You will not swim your best time every time your body touches the water” – It is the simplest of statements and one that holds so much truth.  Too often swimmers go into a meet and expect that “big swim” and the best time that comes with that.  I have often had swimmers who are upset that they did not swim their best time after working hard.  It is a coach's job to help put things in perspective.  There is a seasonal plan that coaches have for their teams and swimmers.  Some meets they will rest for while getting ready for the “championship” time of the season.  I often look at where swimmers were last year at a certain meet to gauge where they are now.  I have said many times “Do you want to swim your best time at a dual meet that no one will remember, or at championships?”  That really puts things in perspective.  As coaches, we  want our swimmers to swim fast and enjoy the satisfaction of seeing the fruits of their labor.  The reality is that there is a time and a place for everything.  With that knowledge swimmers can enjoy the process, not just the outcome of one race.  Every race and every meet become a piece in the puzzle for a successful season.
With that in mind -
"Go Bobcats! Go Vulcans! Go Tigers!"

Coach Scott

When swimmers “Get it” and “What can I do to improve today?”

When swimmers “Get it” and “What can I do to improve today?”

Today I have a 2- part blog for all of you to enjoy.  Over the last couple of days both topics have stuck in my mind so here they are.  Enjoy!

When swimmers “Get it”.

As a coach I am always aware of how each swimmer is progressing.  How they practice, compete and most important,  connect with what I am trying to get them to understand.  It is my responsibility to coach each swimmer as an individual.  With that in mind, there are  several different ways to convey the message.  Explaining it, showing it, and even having them watch it, either on video of themselves, or in another swimmer are all helpful.

 “It” can be one of the many things that are needed for a swimmer to improve and move on to the next level.  The great thing is that sometimes you never see it coming.  The time spent making corrections and getting rid of bad habits is the necessary part of this sport that allows swimmers to swim smart, and in the end swim faster.  Some think of it as the light bulb switching on, others say that everything just clicked. No matter what you call it, it is by far one of the best things about being a swimming coach.

I once saw Coach Bill Boomer work with Olympian Josh Davis on improving the power in his body roll and power phase for Freestyle.  Coach Boomer had Josh demonstrate a bunch of drills to a group of coaches.  Josh did a great job but there was that little bit that Coach Boomer still needed from him.  Coach Boomer got him up on deck and showed the coaches and Josh how the drill had to be done.  When Josh got back in and did it correctly it was like Christmas morning for Coach Boomer.  He yelled in delight, stopped Josh, “high fived” him and told him that was it.  He asked Josh a series of questions and Josh gave him back the answers he was looking for.

Josh “Got it”.  The secret is that is never stops right there.  When a swimmer truly gets it, they want more.  I stuck around talking with Coach Boomer. Sure enough, Josh came up to us and wanted to know more.  What more could he do?  The Olympics were right round the corner and Josh was eager to take things to the next level.  Coach Boomer went on to explain more and Josh took the information to heart and made it part of his training.

The thing about this story is that it happens at every level.  I have seen it on all my teams, at camps, and have had it related to me by the coaches I work closely with.  Case in point; a phone call this week I had with Coach Ed Denny from California University of Pennsylvania on how one of his student-athletes had really taken the concept to the next level.  In practice and after practice she wants to do everything little thing she can to improve.  That connection between coach and swimmer shows that the swimmer has understood it and now wants to apply it to improving.

When I describe being a part of this process as Christmas morning, it is just that.  The sense of satisfaction as a coach is incredible.  You have connected with your swimmer.  Each high-five, fist bump, thumbs up, and words of encouragement are the gifts coaches and swimmers get.  The process takes time and patience on everyone’s part.  But from the novice swimmer to the elite swimmer these things happen.  From a 7 year old streamlining to an elite swimmer buying into a race plan, it is all part of “Getting it”.

What can I do to improve today?

Every swimmer at every level must ask themselves 2 questions every day that they practice:

1.       What can I do to improve today?  This is asked before even stepping on deck.  It’s a plan for the day.  What am I going to work on or focus on? For the beginning swimmer it can be as easy as streamlining.  For the elite swimmer it can be paying attention to pulse rate and repeat times.  The task is as clear as the question; it is a matter of focus and committing to that.

2.      What did I do today to improve?  This is asked once practice is over.  Did I focus on the goal for the day?  Did I make my plan known to the coach?  What was the outcome?  More important, is it something that I am now committed to doing everyday?

This approach was taught to me by Coach Ed Denny from California University of Pennsylvania.  It is such a cornerstone of what he believes that he has 2 signs for his student-athletes to see as they leave and enter the locker room.  Walking out to the deck above the door reads:  What can I do to improve today?  Walking from the deck to the locker room reads:  What did I do today to improve?  It is a pretty simple concept that can mean so much for swimmers.  Every coach walks into practice with a plan for the day.  That practice is followed, possibly altered, and finally  executed to get what the swimmers need that day.  What is not part of the plan are the things we notice and talk about with the swimmers.  We as coaches are always talking technique and reminding swimmers to do this or that.  It is all playing into making them become the best possible swimmer that they can be.  With a little added focus and dedication, bad habits become good ones.  Taking swimming to the next level starts with a very basic concept: One practice at a time, one set at a time, one stroke at a time.

So, “What can you do to improve today?”

Thanks to all for your support and encouragement.  It means more than you know.

Coach Scott

One key phrase starts it all.

“Be the BEST possible you that YOU can be…”

For many years I have noticed swimmers comparing themselves to teammates, rivals, and siblings.  This comparison has never lead to anything positive on the deck, in the pool, or in day to day life.  It has always been my goal as a coach to get swimmers to focus on what they need to do to have success.   During my wrap up speech at the end of the first session of summer swim camp at California University of Pennsylvania in 2007 it hit me.  If we can be content and happy with doing the best that we can do, then in the end we have to accept it as our best and use it to our advantage.  Now how could I convey that to a group of swimmers ranging in age from 9 to 17?  The obvious answer was to put it in the simplest way possible.

"Be the best possible you that you can be." In the pool whether it is practice or a meet you are the only one in control.  Yes, all the coaching, the yardage, and training play a part, but as a swimmer you are the one that makes the decisions to do what you need to do.  We all want to be great.  We all want to swim fast.  We all aspire to achieve our goals.  The problem lies in the fact that life can be hard and cruel. Sometimes what we want is not exactly what we are going to get.  Realistic goal setting is a big part of how we go through life.  At the end of the day it is only you that you see when you look in the mirror.  Be happy with who you are and what you can accomplish.  If you do your best and know that you gave 110% then no one; not you, your parents, or coaches can take that away from you.

Why should we worry about teammates, rivals, or sibling and how fast they go?  They are not you.  Sure there is a competitive nature to swimming and life.  But, if we worry about what others are doing, it takes energy away from doing what we need to do. I have seen too many great swimmers walk away from the sport because they focused on being someone other than themselves. If you try to be someone else, you have 0% chance of success; if you try to be the best you, chances are much greater.

The idea for coaches is simple.  If you can get your entire team to buy into this concept you are setting your team up for overall success.  Happy and enthusiastic swimmers, when put together, breed success for each other.  Relays come together, line-ups come together, and teams come together to achieve success at their championship meets. Armed with this simple concept I have seen incredible things happen, from team records broken, to qualifying times achieved.  Most importantly, I have seen Personal Best Time after Personal Best Time achieved.

For parents this allows you to support your swimmer the best way you can.  Be their #1 fan.  The key is to do this through their good days and bad days.  Setting realistic goals is a big part of how we go through life. Parents can play a big role in helping swimmers stay on their path to success.  We as parents always want to see our children succeed, but it is how we support them that can lead to great things happening.

"Be the BEST possible you that YOU can be..." and what will you achieve? 

In future posts, we will look at goal setting and all the great ways that we can take this simple statement and use it as a powerful motivational tool.

Coach Scott.

Welcome to Coach Scott's Swimming Blog!!!

Welcome to my Swimming blog.  Over the last couple of years there have been several coaches, swimmers, and parents that have suggested that I start a blog and write a book on the cornerstone of my coaching philosophy. A simple equation that started in the late 1990's while coaching the Westside Swim Club.

"Swim Smart+Have Fun = Swim Fast"

The concept is simple. In order to "Swim Fast" there are 2 very important elements that you need to have at all times.

1. "Swim Smart" - With great technique comes the ability to be more efficient, swim with less drag, and make each stroke count. Another advantage of swimming
smart is that the chance of injury is reduced by using proper technique.

2. "Have Fun" - Hours and hours of practice, thousands of yards a day, that is what swimming brings to you each day. If you do not enjoy it you will get stale, not enjoy it, and potentially "Burn out". You, your parents, and your coach must be committed to having fun. There are a million ways to have fun but start each practice with a smile and a goal for the day.
The message that I have delievered to so many swimmers will now be available for you to follow. 

It is my hope that each post will remind you of something I have said before or give you something new to take with you to make that equation come true.

Watch for my next post...Being the best possible "you" that you can be.