loosening up
- The tweet I quoted above really got me thinking about the challenges my team faces and the goals we want to achieve. I had to admit to myself that I could do more to educate and communicate with the parents on my team. Thus, my goal is to start writing a weekly parent education article. I plan to share these articles with you beginning with next week’s newsletter.
- The twist on the traditional dual format that Virginia and Auburn put on their meet last weekend was fun and interesting. Our sport needs more of this -- innovation and ideas that bring more excitement and fun. My own team has hosted a meet these past few years where we did mixed-gender relays instead of single-gender relays. The kids loved it, and it added an element of novelty and some thrilling races. Coaches -- what other tweaks have you tried that you liked?
- The “Focus 3” podcast has a brief 20-minute episode that my team found useful: Be Elite in Your 20 Square Feet. We listened to a few key excerpts during dryland and followed it up with a good conversation about taking responsibility for our own excellence. The theme is in the same vein as Bill Belichick’s “Do your job” mantra.
- I enjoyed reading Rose Bowl Aquatics Head Coach Jeff Julian’s note to his team, mostly for the positive yet demanding tone he creates. Good stuff, coach!
- Chris DeSantis offered some interesting observations in his article about getting faster when the genetic free ride ends. If you have ever the frustration of having a swimmer get to age 14-16 and them just stop improving, this may get the gears in your brain started on how to avoid that fate in the future.
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video of the week
"paddle head drill" to practice in-line breathing mechanics and stable head position while not breathing
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favorite workouts from the blog
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this week's bit of coaching inspiration
“'Fail' is not in my dictionary. I don't know what people are talking about who use that word. All I do know is temporary non-success, even if I've got to wait another 20 years for what I'm after, and I try to put that into people no matter what their object in life"
- Percy Cerutty,
Legendary distance running coach
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want to have just the right words to say?
My free e-book The Quotable Swimming Coach is packed with pithy quotes for any situation you might encounter, organized by chapter:
1. Quotes to Start the Season
2. Quotes on Technique
3. Quotes on Mindset & Psychology
4. Quotes for Training
5. Quotes for Before & During a Meet
6. Quotes on Triumph & Victory
7. Quotes on Disappointment & Defeat
8. Quotes on Character
9. Quotes for Coaches
Best part of all - it's totally FREE and available for download here.
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That's a wrap for issue #8. The audience for this e-mail has continued to grow week by week - thank you for sharing it. If you are seeing the wake-up swim for the first time I invite you to subscribe. If you like what you are reading or have suggestions about how I can improve, please send them to me at thewakeupswim@gmail.com.
Thanks for reading,
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