Today is June 1st and yes it's been a whole year since we got back into the water at places like Lakeview, CCF, Fairfax, Army Navy, Sideburn Run, and Mosby Woods. What is different about this year? This afternoon most of you will be returning to your summer pools for your first afternoon practice with old familiar faces.
Although the water may be chilly enjoy your practice and let the warmth of your friends warm your shivering bones. Take this first day and soak in your surroundings and enjoy the journey.
Some of you will have the opportunity to be assistant or junior coaches working with the younger swimmers. As you are working with the younger swimmers on your team always remember that they look up to you and those little eyes are always watching you. Your self awareness is always important and not just around the team but also away from the team.
Always remember they are watching your every move, hanging on every word and although at times you will think your speaking a different language they do hear and are soaking it in. Be positive.
Some things to think about when meeting those swimmers that first day.
WIN THE WARM UP-- keep it simple and consistent. keep it short you don't want to lose them during the first few minutes. Having a routine will save time explaining and get your swimmers into the water on time. They know what to do before they leave the house. Same thing goes for meets.
Techniques- - with all ages bust most importantly the younger groups teach the finer points that will get them from point A to point B as fast as they can. Your job is that summer league swimmer not the distance club swimmer. Think sprints! they will only be doing 50's and 25's during the summer so throw out those 200 swims even the 100's. You already know what win's races in summer league swimming, starts, turns and finishes. Use one of these as a focal point each day and towards the end of the week reserve one day to put it all together. A fun thing is to have your swimmers do a quick celebration when finishing at the wall. It will help them visualize the real thing and it's a way to have some fun with them.
KICKING-- do lots of kicking with your swimmers and don't be afraid to do it without boards. Position 11 is good for body awareness.
SMOOTH VERSUS EASY. If you have been observant over the years we use smooth and relax as opposed to easy a lot. Reason is that easy signals the brain to disengage even to the point of being lazy on turns among other things.
STRICT VERUS PUNISHMENT---- there will be times that you need to be strict but you can accomplish this in a fun way. Never use any type of swimming or stroke such as fly as punishment because that will only teach the swimmer that fly or that swim was a bad thing. Swimming should always be viewed as a privilege...not a punishment.
Other Coaching Tips----
- Punctuality-- be on time and that means be there to make sure the pool is set up for them and it's safe before they walk through the gate. be the last one to leave and make sure the pool looks better than when you arrived.
- Be enthusiastic--- the kids will pick up on it
- Walk Around-- move around the deck with the swimmers. Coaching from a chair is like asking them to swim from the showers.
- Be Creative-- it's okay to use things from other coaches but be creative about it. An 8 and under can not handle your terminology or workouts. Adapt workouts to your swimmers. Best ideas is a way to create fun.
- Be Yourself--- Don't try to coach like someone else. You have to discover your own strengths and weaknesses and become YOU.
- Challenge Your Swimmers--- at the end of practice have challenges such as timed finishes from the flags. or one I like is timed 12.5 to a turn with feet on wall. Again think creatively. And it's fun for them.
- Vary your lanes-- if possible try to vary kids in the lanes from time to time. It will help head off any developing cliques within the team and is a great way to begin team bonding.
- Swim Meets-- Stay calm, composed and confident. The swimmers especially in the summer already have a high anxiety level and when they can see you calm it goes a long way to steady their nerves.
- Be Flexible-- if you see something is not working don't be afraid to change on the fly.
- Parents-- have your team reps keep them off your deck and out of the team area. This is the swimmers sport not the adults. If they want to talk to you make time away from practice and away from the swimmers.
- They are not you-- Every coach has high hopes for their swimmers, but remember a lot of summer swimmers are just starting out and they will not do thin gs the way you know they are suppose to be done. be patient with them and regardless of their times if they are better the last day of practice you've done your job.
Above all enjoy your time on the deck with your swimmers and coach at your best every day, leave your drama at the gate.
