Three Little Hints

 

Serious about coaching swimming as a career?

 

If nobody can talk you out of it, here are a few hints that might help.

 

1. Don't Reinvent the Wheel, Just Improve It

 

Suddenly find yourself needing group promotion criteria for your club?  Find out what successful programs use and make it your own.

 

Lettering policy need an overhaul at your school?  Check with coaches in similar programs.

Noticing a "weak" area in your overall plan?  Whether it's dry-land training, breaststroke, sprinting, distance, or starts/turns, borrow from coaches with a proven track record.

 

Take what you find elsewhere and modify it to fit your needs.

 

2. Take a Break from the Skyliner

The highs are awesome...and the lows are the pits.

 

Had a boy who swam out of his mind at TAGS - nearly won the high point trophy for 10 & unders.  When we got back to town, we found out our facility was shuttered - bankruptcy.

 

It's easy to get overly excited about the positives, and down-in-the-dumps pessimistic when things go wrong.

Hall of Fame basketball coach Dean Smith put it best:

"If you make every game a life and death proposition, you're

going to have problems.  For one thing, you'll be dead a lot."

 

Get off the roller coaster now and then!

 

3. Control Your Water

When you're at the mercy of another program, entity, empty suit administrator, etc. - you get the water time they dictate, at the price they decide on.

 

Unless you can schedule your training & competition plan the way you want it, you'll be coaching with one hand tied behind your back.