Melissa Gates at the Olympic Trials!

Over the last 4 years I have been blessed to have had the chance to work with Melissa and now it is the best time ever.  Good Luck to Melissa Gates.  California University of PA swimmer/PSAC Champion/NCAA National Champion and Record Holder!

On Friday Melissa begins her Olympic Trail experience in the 100 Free with the 50 Free to follow.

Melissa is Swimming Smart to its fullest.

All the Best!

Coach Scott

Fly and a smile

Today, as with the other 3 weeks, allowed us to work on Butterfly and give our swimmers the chance to learn something new.  They all came in knowing Butterfly but having a coach that has taken it to a new level.
No more trying to survive.  Lets do it and take it 1 stroke...1 perfect stroke at a time.

Too often swimmers go through their swimming lives just trying to make it through, survive swimming fly.

NO MORE.

They now know how to swim 1 perfect stroke at a time.

Every coach on a seasonal basis should let every swimmer know they have potential.  Ability is the drive that gets them there.  Having Fun takes it to the next level.

4 weeks.  Each week with a different goal, a different focus.  Please continue to watch and read this blog.  I have a feeling that there will be a lot going on here in the coming months.

If you or your swimmers have questions...swhunsinger@yahoo.com

I will post a team picture of Week 4 and Week 2 over the weekend.  From Coach back to Daddy...

Thank you all for 4 great weeks.

CAL U Swim Camp...where smart swimming starts!

Coach Scott

Making new friends...

Over the years I have done a lot of private coaching with swimmers from other teams.  I am very fortunate to get to work with such talented swimmers.  Helping them with stroke technique gives them a different perspective to smarter swimming.

Over the last 3 weeks I have had 3 chances to work with a swimmer from Week 1.  Olivia and I have spent some quality time working on the little things.  Some kids just get it and Olivia is one of those swimmers.  Her smile and enthusiasm give me so much energy.  Whether it was here at CAL U or at the Bridgeport Country Club it has been a blessing to have had the chance to work with her.

Thank you to Olivia and her parents Pam and Matt for the chance to work with her.

Coach Scott

Changing "OLD" to "Better"

What a great group of swimmers we have this week.  It is funny when you work with kids and tell them of the potential you see in them and they are shocked and amazed.  Whether they never get positive reinforcement at home or just don't have the confidence it is so much funny "Breaking the glass ceiling".  The smile is so big and you can see them trying that little bit harder.  One little positive comment brings such confidence.  Audra, Jade, Emma, and Krystal have all had that look this week.

Even my 4 Bay View Tigers are making great progress this week.  Having swimmers that you see all the time make improvements it is still so exciting to see.  I am so glad to have them here.  I think it is a huge plus for the campers to see drills done the right way.  Having them here is such a blessing.

We are working on Breaststroke and Butterfly today.  The campers all have said what a difference the little things are making to them.  I can only hope that all the things we teach them make a difference to them when they get back.

What Would Coach Scott Say...


A lot to do today!  What can I do today to help them improve?

We shall see.

Coach Scott

What did you learn that made the BIGGEST difference?

Over the last 3 weeks I have asked what made the biggest difference in helping you swim smarter.  Here is a sampling of their words.

Brooke - The drills.
Cody - The High Elbow on Freestyle.
Brittany - Tighter Streamline.
Logan - Tighter Streamline.
Rachel - Learning how to dive without my goggles falling off.
Thomas - Head placement.
Unknown - Head position in Streamline.
Olivia - How to do a faster start.
Maggie - Not worrying about anyone but me.  I can be good.
Gionna - Head Position in Streamline

It is great reading in their words what helped them.

Coach Scott

And then there was Freestyle

Today we focused on Freestyle.  What a talented group of swimmers to work with.  We spent a lot of time focusing on thinking and creating power...smart power.  I was really impressed with the changes that were made.  One of the great things today was the intensity of the breakouts that the swimmers now have.  We focused on 4 to 6 "shimmer" kicks as a prelude to the breakout.  What success we had.

Increasing Distance Per Stroke was achieved with focusing on body roll. Knowing what the hands need to do made a big difference.  We really took things slow and used the day to develop smarter Freestyle.

They are a great group with a lot of ability.  Tomorrow Backstroke...

Good Night from CAL U!

Coach Scott

And then there was Week 4

Time really does fly when you are having fun.  Here we are at Week 4 of CAL U swim camp.  We have 23 swimmers (4 returners/19 new campers), the unique thing about this week is that for the first time in the history of CAL U camp we have all female campers.  I joked with the girls this evening that it was so quiet and they were so attentive that it must be the boys that are the talkers at camp.

We worked on Streamline and Ready Position this evening with a lot of success.  There is a ton of ability in the pool this week.  It will be a lot of fun for sure.

An added part of this week is that 4 of my swimmers from the Bay View YMCA are here with me this week.  They are all great young ladies and it will be good for the other campers to be exposed to swimmers who have already gotten so much for the "Swimming Smart" concept.

Coach Scott

The "end" of camp is a "new" beginning...

Thursday was a day that I think surprised our campers.  They learned a new way to swim Butterfly that was easier, smarter, and doable.  We did not reinvent the wheel, all the staff did was show them the basics, help them to get the flow and then show them how to train so perfect swimming is the way to go.  Just getting kids to THINK...FEEL....and REACT is a big step.

To often swimmers just "try to survive" when the swim fly.  After Thursday, all things are different.

Friday was a sad but great day.

I am so impressed by this group of campers.  They were so raw, so in need of the basics.  They came to CAL U in one state of being, they left with an incredible understanding of what was needed to be the "best possible U that U can be."

Leaps and Bounds.

The Jersey girls were even better than last year...a lot of talent.  Shout of to Kendra Rae!

I thought it was great to watch all of the kids improve in all 4 strokes.

Thanks to the parents that brought me treats.  As I am writing this blog post, I have a mini pepperoni roll and a Yann dog to eat as a snack.  Chocolate milk to wash it down.  My Fairmont foods as so special.  I need to get my buddy Guy Fieri to go do Fairmont with me to feature these treats!

Enjoy these pics and thanks you all!  1 more week of camp.

The last week will be special as 4 of my swimmers from home visit CAL U for the first time.

Group shot!

Wrapping up a great week.

Swimmer Profile (updated from week 1 to show "family" as a priority...yup in my rush Mental Training was left out.  Check back for the COMPLETE Swimmer Profile in Week 4.

Good Night from Cal U!!!

Coach Scott

Half way through Week 3

It is really hard to imagine that is has been 2 and 1/2 weeks of camp.  So many swimmers with so much ability.  So many laps in the pool getting smarter.  I can't even think to start to count the number of steps up and down.  We spent a lot of time today on Breaststroke, a lecture and 2 water sessions lead to a new understanding of what is needed to swim smart.  Coach April and Coach Nicole did an excellent job of getting our swimmers to grasp the new ideas in front of them.  A lot of today was spent getting a feel for creating lift.  Tomorrow we tackle the Pullout and Butterfly.  We wrapped up today with a walk (hot out...) to DQ and movie night watching Tin Tin.  And now, not a creature is stirring not even a mouse.

Life goes on even when we are a way.  Today was my daughter Julia's last day of Kindergarten...She is so smart...I am so proud and even more lucky and blessed.

Good night from CAL U!

Coach Scott

Backstroke and a "Golden" guest.

As I said before, we were right back at it today with Backstroke.

A great morning session was concluded by so many swimmers making impressive progress.  We had some swimmers that needed help with streamline, as of today we are 100% on the path to faster swimming with everyone streamlining.

We began our afternoon session with a specialty group talking about the "Complete Swimmer Profile", explaining what makes up what goes into being a swimmer.  This was briefly interrupted by a "Golden" guest.  One of my good friends Gold Medalist on the 4x100 Medley Relay in the 2000 Summer Olympics BJ Bedford Miller gave me a call to talk to our swimmers.  By speaker phone BJ told the swimmers some key points to improving their Backstroke.  The look in their faces was priceless as they huddled around the phone to listen to every word.

Sometimes pulling a rabbit out of your hat goes miles in making an impression to have swimmers get the idea.

Sometimes it is just making young people want to do the little things to become a better swimmer.

Another great day at CAL U!

Coach Scott

We are BACK!!!

Today is Backstroke Day at CAL U swim camp.  We started with a very good lecture and the kids are ready to hit the pool.

Sunday started camp with a very thorough review of Streamlining.  It is so important to have the best possible streamline you can.  We spent a lot of time both in the water and on the deck getting it right.

Monday was Freestyle day and a lot of great progress was made in getting smarter swimming to be the desired result.  Bryce and Rebecca S. were our swimmers of the day after making some great improvements in their Freestyle and Streamline.

This is a very spirited and fun group with a lot of potential.


Note:  Sorry it has taken me a couple of days to get a post up.  I was the victim of food poisoning (NOT from camp food)  and was doing my best to just be on deck and be the best I could be for our campers.  I am 90% recovered and ready to get back at it at 100%!!!

Coach Scott

A full day of Smart Swimming

It is so much fun having a captive audience.  We started with the Breaststroke Pull Out then went right into Butterfly.  I continued what we started with last week's group asking how many "hated" Butterfly.  With half the room raising their hands, I promised them that at the end of the day I would ask them again.

When I did ask again they had been introduced to a new thinking when it comes to Butterfly.  No one raised their hand.

It is funny that when kids really understand the secret to swimming fast is know exactly how they need to swim.  That core strength and focus can reshape them in the water.  This is a great group of swimmers, tomorrow we will focus on starts and turns, wrapping up a great week.

The Swimmer Profile...

The "Road Map" to a Smart Pull Out...

Breaststroke links

Here are a few things about Breaststroke that we are talking about today.

1.  ESPN did a Sports Science feature on one of the top US Breaststrokers Three-time Olympic medalist Rebecca Soni.  It is really interesting.

http://espn.go.com/blog/olympics/post?id=2053

2.  Although we are not teaching or recommending this "new" style of Breaststroke Pull Out to our campers, I wanted to post this link to give everyone a chance to read about it.  I am in no way saying it is good or bad but the jury is still out on this.


http://www.usaswimming.org/ViewNewsArticle.aspx?TabId=2175&itemid=4192&mid=11657

Enjoy!

Coach Scott

Backstroke and Focus

Is it that hard to believe that this was another great day of camp?  It was.  When you spend hour upon hour committed to finding ways for kids to swim smart it makes the reward that much better.  With a wide range of ability (I am giving up calling it talent...more to come on that later) you are able to work on different things with different swimmers.  While working on crisp, aggressive break outs; you can still be working on streamline and body position. 

The lecture is such a great way to start each stroke.  It gives me the chance to get the terminology set and the general ideas set.  It has been really amazing these past 2 weeks of camp; it is like some have never been exposed to the simplest of ideas.  Head Position lead to Body Position which lead to a new appreciation and understanding of the path of the hand. 

Once we were in the water we were off and swimming.  They really grasped the drills well.  I really feel that making things simple allows the swimmers to excel at everything that is expected.  They get the feeling of accomplishment and are then empowered to keep it going.  From Jenna to Lauren (1) to Niko to Shawn great things were done.  It is a lot of fun getting kids to try things that you know they can do that allows them to go faster.  When they do it, when they feel fast, the look on their faces is worth the price of camp and more. 

Focused, Controlled, Smart...

Coach Scott

Learning, Adjusting, and some fun

A lecture on Freestyle started the day with a packed room of 38 swimmers, that gave way to a great first full day.  I think the toughest part of coaching is being so energetic that new kids don't know how to take you.  I see so much potential that when kids hear "change this" or "try this" it is tough to know if they get it or understand.  The incredible thing is when they do it there is a glow that beams out of their eyes.  The fire is lit and now the fun begins.

The lectures are pretty standard I think, a means to an end in conveying a message.  The fun comes from using my catch phrases and adding fun stuff to get them to understand.  Today it was a brief discussion about the Constitutional Convention in 1776 that tied in changing your mind for something that is good.  I think the detail and the attention to every part of every stroke that is the key.  Nothing is taken for granted.  I will not move ahead till I know they ALL get it.

It was great today to have someone "Pay it forward", I had Riley come up and help me talk about W.W.C.S.S..

I have said for a while, that the kids take so much home with them, that they need a subtle reminder to get in the zone.  It is W.W.C.S.S. = What Would Coach Scott Say.  Little Riley stood there and said that last year it helped her and every camper was focused on this little girl who was now bigger than life.

Sometimes it is the little things, sometimes it is just getting kids to understand that the smarter they swim the better off they will be. 

What an awesome day!

Coach Scott

Week 2 Cal U Swim Camp

Time flies when you are having fun.  Truer words were never spoken.

We began Week 2 today with 38 swimmers (17 returners).  Some familiar faces that brought back everything they had learned before.  It is so great to see kids that remember and have lived what they learned in years past.  I spoke a lot tonight about "being the best possible you that you can be", that statement really is not just based in reality but also allows swimmers, coaches, and parents a chance to understand what is to come in the future.

The challenge of the mind set that the coaching staff shares is not getting swimmers to agree or "buy in" but to take it home and make it habit.  A blend of being firm and crazy, enthusiastic and relaxed helps to deliver the message needed.

Freestyle tomorrow...

Goodnight from CAL U!!!

Coach Scott

This is the NEW face(s) of Smart Swimming

Week 1 CAL U Swimming Camp 2012

Thank you!

Coach Scott

Butterfly? I love it!

We conquered Butterfly today...
At the start of the lecture I asked how many of the campers hated fly?  The answer was typical...most.
At the end of the day I asked the same question...how great it is teaching fly and turning hate to like.
Through an explanation and some great simple drills every swimmer could at one point do 3 consecutive perfect fly strokes.  There is a long way to go and lots of bad habits to break but we are on the road to good habits.  Adjusting the kick, getting rid of hesitation, and making the concept simple proved that anyone can handle fly.  This has been a great week, I can only hope that the things learned will make a difference.

Smart Swimmers will leave camp tomorrow.

We also spent the morning wrapping up Breaststroke and the Pullout.

We held "Pullout 101 Class" and they all got an A.

I hope you all have enjoyed this blog and will share it and continue to flow the idea of
Swim Smart + Have Fun = Swim Fast.

Something so simple can mean so much.

Coach Scott

Breaststroke lecture pictures

Some pictures of the chalkboard during the Breaststroke lecture today...great stuff.

The question asked each time they leave the deck...

Backstroke and a lot of learning...

Today was a great day, but then again we are blessed with a great group of swimmers.  Of course we have dealt with our fair share of typical swim camp stuff (homesickness, chlorine rashes, tired campers, and crazy coaches to name a few).  The food has been great although a special thanks goes out to Olivia's parents for bringing me those sacred Yann dogs.  The swimmers are settling in for a good nights sleep and I will give you a brief recap of the day.

Backstroke - We started our day with a classroom session on backstroke.  It was really great, the lecture was informative and fun.  I really think that making the kids laugh allows them to really connect with what they are learning about.  By the end of the 75 minute lecture the attention was still on that crazy bald coach talking about being an arrow or torpedo.  The chalkboard was full of diagrams and info that so many had copied down into their notebooks.  The key to a great lecture is breaking it down and explaining it so that every swimmer in the room can understand and grasp it.

We spent 3 pool session working on backstroke and made some great progress with every swimmer.  They really seemed to enjoy the drills and understood what they needed to do.

We spent the evening session reviewing and then worked on Freestyle starts and turns.

An incredible day!

Goodnight from Cal U!

Coach Scott

Freestyle - Week 1 Recap

A great day at camp.
I asked the group during our lecture on Freestyle to rate on a scale of 1 to 10 (with 10 being a lot) how much they had learned about Freestyle. 10, 10, 8, 9, 10, 10, 6 ("Chip" smiled, he was a returning camper).  It is so exciting teaching kids who have never truly been taught about swimming.

Today I instructed our swimmers that it was their job to THINK about what they were doing, FEEL what their bodies where doing, and then REACT by either changing/adjusting what they were doing or to continue doing what they were doing if they felt it was right.

Little things like the "ready" position, the kick on the breakout, and even bilateral breathing all were Christmas presents they received today.

Wrapping up by reviewing the 864regular drill, the 1/4-1/2-roll drill, and even some old school "Heads Up" Freestyle gave the kids another chance to go over their "mental checklist" to make those adjustments to their new long axis Freestyle.

Tomorrow's challenge will be teaching them how to do a proper Cannonball...

Goodnight from CAL U!

Coach Scott

Home for the next 4 weeks...
The road to smarter swimming starts here for 22 swimmers from West Virginia, Ohio, and Pennsylvania.

Every camp starts with a first step

It is always exciting to have new campers come to camp.  They are raw talent, ready to learn and improve.  Tonight we started very simple.  I went back to my roots and did some floating, very similar to what I witnessed years ago at the Olympic Training Center.  Coach Bill Boomer showed a group of coaches how everyone floats different and how that can be a "tell" as to what that swimmer will do well.  22 swimmers...22 different floaters but each somewhat grouped.

After some floating we started at square 1 with Streamling.  WOW...it is so exciting to watch kids improve something so simple yet so important to their swimming careers.  Through some on deck positioning drills and more reinforcement in the water a great session was the result.

I love the look that swimmers get on their faces when you see potential and tell them that after this week, great things will be in their futures.

Let the fun begin.

Coach Scott

The Summer of Swimming 2012

The Summer of Swimming 2012 has begun!  I am at California University of Pennsylvania for the 11th year of swim camp with Coach Ed Denny.  We have just begun Week 1 of 4 with 22 excited campers (19 of which are new campers).  This is going to be a lot of fun teaching young swimmers to "Swim Smart"!  Stay tuned for pics and updates as we go.

Coach Scott