News For
SWIM PARENTS
Published by The
American Swimming Coaches Association
5101 NW 21 Ave.,
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What the Coach Looks For In a Swim
Performance
There are many things a
coach is looking for in a swim performance. In general, a coach is
looking for these four things: proper attitude, a best time, proper
technique, and winning. Few swimmers achieve all four aspects in a single
race. When they do, that is a job well done -- but it is not a
"great job" or and "unbelievable job" or a "fantastic
job." To use those terms can make a performance greater than it
really was and therefore make it more difficult to repeat. We use
"mild praise" because we know, and we want everyone else to think and
to feel, that there is always room for more improvement. Doing three of
the aspects, or two, or even one is cause for some level of praise.
Proper attitude:
Coaches look for the "I want to be
coached" attitude. Coaches look for swimmers ready to express
themselves about their swim in analytical fashion and then be eager to listen
to advice. Coaches look for athletes to say "I'll try to do better
next time." Sometimes a performance is less than what the athlete
was hoping for and the emotional response can be a factor that inhibits looking
at the swim objectively and analytically. I such cases the coach may ask
the swimmer to warm down for an extended time or to simply take some quiet time
before looking at the race. When this happens we look for the athlete
resolve to make appropriate changes that will lead to a better performance next
time.
A Best Time: A best
time usually represents an improvement in endurance, strength, and
technique. It measures the swimmer first against themselves
and second against the rest of the world. Intermediate through more
advanced swimmers above the age of 11 should strive to know their best times.
Proper Technique: How
was the start, the strokes, the turns, the pace, the race strategy?
Winning: Winning means
racing with someone and finishing ahead. In some cases that means winning
the event. However, in every heat there are several races -- there is a
race for 1st, there may be a race for 3rd, there may
be a race for 5th or even for seventh. Coaches look for
swimmers to be in a race, whether it is for 1st or 7th, and to try their best
to "win."
The coach expects to speak
with each swimmer before and after each swim. Parents, please be sure to
direct your child to the coach before the event. When you see your child
after the event ask them if they have spoken with the coach about their race
and if not, direct them to the coach as soon as possible. The coach should
be the last person to talk to the swimmer before the event and the first to
talk to the swimmer after the event.
Before the swim the coach
will talk to swimmers about technique, pacing, race strategy, and best
times. Younger aged swimmers and less experienced swimmers will need
direct reminders from the coach but as they age and grow in experience the
coach will expect more information coming from the swimmer. Ideally, the
coach would like to have the swimmer tell the coach what they plan on doing in
their event as a quiz to see how well prepared the swimmer is. After the
event the coach will ask them how they viewed their swim, listen to their
responses, and then review the swim as the coach saw it.
In this process it is
important that parents play the role of emotional support -- give warm towels,
and hugs, a "good luck, darling" to your swimmer and ask them to
check in with the coach before and after their swim. When the swimmer
returns from their post race discussion with the coach it�s appropriate to ask
them how they thought their swim was as well as to ask what the coach thought
of the swim. Please leave the race strategies, breathing patterns,
stroke, start and turn reminders, time analysis and
race analysis to the coach. Any questions or comments parents have for
the coach should be addressed directly with the coach at an appropriate time
when the coach is not watching other swims.