Damon the Coach (June
2006)
I want to take the time this month to give the swimmer and parents a coach’s perspective and insight into to his or hers daily job. A basic why so we do what we do.
We as coaches have the responsibility to mold on average 20-30 swimmers into the best they can be. To give you a hint what that is like stroke wise we watch on average 400+ strokes per minute during a practice. During that time we have to decide which corrections or some cases tweaks we must make. Do we make an individual correction or stop the entire group and make a group correction.
Every swimmer is different physically and mentally. Make no mistake both those circumstances have heavy implications how a swimmer performs. We as coaches have to decide how to treat each swimmer to get the best performance out of them. The physical part can be accomplished by checks and balances within the training regimen. Understanding the mental part can be much tougher task. To learn the mental aspects of a swimmer is definitely a trial and error program. To help in this aspect I like to take the time to talk to the parents and learn a little more about their child. This gives me the inside perspective to help me understand why they might respond to certain things certain ways. We as coaches see these swimmers many times at there most vulnerable at times of perceived failure and at their most ecstatic at times of perceived success.
Why do I not give out praise easily? I have many times been asked this question. The reason is simple. I do not give out praise easily because success is not easily accomplished and many times when it is it isn’t. I want my swimmers to know when I am giving them a compliment and not just think I am just saying this.
Why am I so loud during practice? Because it is hard to hear in the water even when I am yelling. I rarely yell in anger though and when I do the swimmers know it.
Why don’t I coach strokes during warm-ups and before swims
at swim meets? Because I want the
swimmer to be reaction ready not worrying whether or not they are doing it
right. Practice is for working on the
strokes; the swim meets are for reacting to practice.
I hope this helps give you some perspective in what we do I could write forever on this and if you have any other questions about why we do what we do I encourage you to email me at coachdamon@raiderswimming.org to discuss this. Maybe I will include your question in my next article.