swimmingpage

Williams, Fulton, Lucas, Paulding, Defiance, Putnam, Wood, VanWert, Allen, Hancock, Hardin, Henry, Mercer, Auglaze, Ottawa, Sandusky, Seneca, Wyandot

Coaching Notes:

Young Swimmers must first learn balance in the water before anything else. Stroke development must be taught but it should never sacrifice balance. If a young swimmer is struggling with their balance while working on stroke technique - Stop! Change the drill or have them focus on an aspect of the drill that returns them to a balanced position. Teaching a stroke technique without balance not only is worthless but also hurts the young swimmers ability to swim.

Language can always be a barrier to successful transfer of knowledge - since we have all been raised by different parents in different settings, more often than not their are subtle changes in the meaning of the words that we use. Because we speak a common language does not mean that our intentions will be perfectly read. Assume first that the young athlete did not understand what you meant by what you said and say it in a few other ways before you call them out on baligerance. If you succeed in transfering knowledge that is the success you are looking for and will make future direction easier since the young athlete now knows a little more about your language. Often times it takes saying the same thing three different ways before the person you are talking to really get's your meaning.

In order to train medium or large groups of young swimmers, you must first clearly define what it is they are expected to do in three ways then correct those that do not get it one at a time by making sets long enough so you have time to see what is going right and wrong. Correct the easiest first to prevent bad habits and then work to the hardest cases since you will have to spend the most time with them.