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| Coaching Resources This section of our web site is a free resource for age group coaches. We have compiled articles on coaching and team-building with a special emphasis on topics that may be helpful for newer coaches and those coaching ages 14 and younger. We will try to add content on a regular basis. Coaches viewing this site are welcome to submit their ideas on topics that may be of interest to newer coaches (under 3 years experience). Content could include your thoughts on "fun practices with a purpose", "making parents happy", or "how to handle an over-crowded pool". Please e-mail us using the "Send E-Mail" link at the top of this page. We will not open attachments so please paste the text into the body of the e-mail. Coaching Resource DataBase: (listed in no particular order) LINKS ARE NOT OPEN YET. PLEASE CHECK BACK AGAIN SOON. THANK YOU ! 101 Tips for Super Swimmers By Wayne Goldsmith and Helen Morris A great laundry list of tips to help you swim and train better. 101 Ways to Praise Your Swimmers A great laundry list of tips to help you swim and train better. 8-under "Tuneup" Session By Greg Cronauer A stroke technique outline sheet given to coaches of the 8-under's the week before a meet. Covers the basic techniques of all strokes, in simple language, to keep the swimmers focused and "legal". Age Group Programs By Lee Arth This remarkable article is a transcript of a talk by Lee Arth at the National Swim Coaches Clinic in 1973. Although this talk was given over 30 years ago his topics and ideas are ageless and are based on incredible common sense. A must read! ASCA Panel Discussion on Motivation Moderator Jim Montrella Selected excerpts from a panel discussion at the ASCA World Clinic in San Diego, 1977 Practice Group Atendance Explanation This team had no attendance requirements for any of their 7 practice levels. Read what their new coach wrote for the swimmers and their parents to explain and "sell" them on the importance of requiring attendance. (Attendance policies are a big philosophy issue with many clubs and coaches.) Attendence Policies What is a valid reason for missing practice? Each coach has different views. Here is a list of over 30 "excuses" to test and develop your philosophy. Coaches offer suggestions for logically and successfully "countering" these with policies and ideas that work. Swimming Etiquette Behaviour Rules For Swimmers By Nikki Dryden The last work on how to swim in training and meet warm-ups Big Little Kids By Wayne Goldsmith Dear Wayne, I am always being told I am small for my age. I train really hard but other kids my age seem to do less training and beat me because they are bigger than me. Is there any point in swimming any longer if I am always going to get beaten because I am so small? Signed, FRUSTRATED, 12 Coaches Manual - Core Principles This excerpt from one team's Coaches Manual explains the directives for their coaches, based on that team's philosophy. The team can achieve more if all the coaches are on the same page. Coaches On Coaching This article, which is a round-table interview format with Paul Bergen, Murray Stephens and Cliff Ulman, has much good info for anyone who want to make swim coaching more than a “hobby”. Fundraising Below is a collection of articles to "stir the creative juices" where fundraising is concerned. Includes tips on making a fundraiser successful and how to sell your team on the idea.
The Head Coach Must Lead and Theory "X" vs Theory "Y" By Tom Fay These two appeared in the Management Memo section of "Coach" and cover leadership, management, and communication areas for head coaches. To Coaches and Parents Of Young Swimmers By Gene Damm Great reminders and guidelines for coaches and parents. Factors Affecting Performance By Greg Cronauer Are your swimmers frustrated that they aren't swimming as well as they should be for the amount of work they put in? Understanding all the factors that go into becoming a faster swimmer is where to start. "Managing" to Coach By David Armistead You, as a coach, are a manager of people, things, time, money and energy. If you want to coach, and coach well, you must be able to manage. This article explains much that is involved and things that might help. Goals of the Riverside Swim Team Riverside Swim Team was without a head coach and was "off-balance". Parents were split and team direction was vague. This is what the team president wrote to set the tone and direction for the future. Teaching Age Groupers to Work Hard How do you get young swimmers to "swim through the wall" for you? Here are some great tips. Teaching the Motor Skills of Swimming By Greg Cronauer Explains the 6 different ways a swimmer "learns" a new motor skill. Gives coaches a few more tools to work with in teaching or correcting stroke technique. Correcting Stroke Technique with Age Groupers By Greg Cronauer A great method for breaking down your correctional instruction to swimmers, making it more effective. Exposes the common errors coaches make and gives tips to minimize them. Head Swim Coach Job Description One team's outline of the duties and responsiblities of their head coach. Many teams are not as successful as they could be because these responsibilities are not clear. What is expected of the coach? Team Manager (President) Job Description An example to compare with the duties of the coach(es). How his/her responsibilities mesh with the Head Coach is the key to a team's success. How Clear Is Your Vision By Neil Harvey When Everyone Sees The Same Picture And Commits To Achieving The Goal, Problems Turn Into Solutions (from SwimNews Magazine, July 1997) "How Was Practice Today Johnny?" A fantastic read for parents about goal setting. Tracking Your Dreams and Goals By Scott Rabalais A great article from "Swim" magazine (swiminfo.com) on setting and charting your goals. Written for masters swimmers it is still applicable to age group coaching. Pablo Morales- Lord Of The Flow By Cecil M. Colwin A great article about Pablo Morales which includes interesting history and information about goal setting and stroke technique. ABC Swim Club Budget Summary See how this team handles it's money and the reasons it does so. It is important to have a general fiscal policy and to make it known to all on the team. Explaining your budgetary philosophy to parents can eliminate "behind the scenes" griping. Fun Workout Ideas Some suggestions for making practices a little more interesting without wasting it on "games-with-no-purpose". (Pennies from Heaven and Oil the Gears) Parent - Swimmer - Coach Relationship By Scott Colby Level 4-USS (From the Dynamo Swim Club Parents/Team manual) This great explanation for new parents covers the responsibilities for each individual and the importance of this "triangular" relationship How About a Pentathalon? By Charles Schiegel Workout idea that motivates swimmers to work on all four strokes. Also a good way to recognize your "all-around" swimmers. Practice Group Progression This team has a coaches manual with an explanation of the "moving up to the next group" requirements. It is very thorough and covers areas such as motivation, skills, times and use of pace clock. This "clarity" minimizes inconsistent move-ups or philosophy differences between coaches. The progression your team uses is up to you....but it should be clear enough to put in writing for coaches, swimmers and parents to see. Use of the Bulletin Board as a Motivational Device This article offers creative suggestions for making your board a motivational tool as well as the central attraction for swimmers and parents at your pool. Staying Focused By Wayne Goldsmith Keeping Your Eyes On The Prize - Success Means Leaving Nothing To Chance . A great article on goal setting SwimMeet Explanation For Parents We know that many new parents think "competition" is a dirty word. This is how we explain and promote our philosophy concerning competition and our meet schedule. FROM WORD ARTICLE IN Swim Meets, League, etc, in Coaching Article section. Team Manual - Page 1 This is the Page 1 excerpt from one team's parent's manual. Information such as this should be printed and in the hands of new parents well before the first practice. Covers the most basic information that new parents want to know. Team Manual - Continued Some more of a team/parents manual. Answer these common questions before they come up and you have happier parents and faster swimmers. Take the Profit Motive Out of Swim Meets By John Leonard Long swim meets are having a negative affect on our sport. One of the reasons for long meets is the profit motive for the clubs that run them. This article makes you look at something in our sport that may drive swimmers or parents away and offers some possible solutions. Dinner Conversation This is a fictional transcript of a family conversation over dinner that emphasizes the need for good communication on your team. Keeping the Boys in Swimming By Greg Cronauer We want to maintain at least 40% boys on our team. How do we develop and retain them? This is a problem nationally. What can you do on your club? The following has been very successful for us. A Stroke Guide for Younger Swimmers This is a chapter from the new book "Guide for Competitive Swimmers" by Gene and Mary Damm. It is written for swimmers and their parents but the terminology and visualization tips are excellent for coaches at any level. All strokes and basic skills are covered. Breaststroke Web Site This site is maintained by Wayne McCauley and has many articles by successful coaches and world class breaststroke swimmers including McCauley, John Moffet, Roque Santos, David Salo, and Terry Laughlin. Also includes photos and video analysis of world class swimmers such as Mike Barrowman, Samantha Riley, Penelope Heynes and Fred Deburghraeve. The Limiting Factors in Coaching By Wayne Goldsmith and Bill Sweetenham The Top Ten Questions Asked By Athletes and Parents By Wayne Goldsmith Some thoughts on questions like "How much should my child practice?" or "Should my child do strength training?" and "What should my child eat?" are some of the issues addressed in this article. Pierce Island Pool Teaching Guide Communicating Using a Parent's Day By Coach John Mason, Bulldog Swim Club. A great idea to get the parents on the same page as the coaches concerning the team program. This article is from one of the American Swimming Coaches Association Newsletters. (The newsletter is free to members .... contact A.S.C.A at www.swimmingcoach.org.) Look For Upcoming Articles:
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