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