Training VS Learning

News For SWIM PARENTS
Published by The American Swimming Coaches Association 5101 NW 21 Ave., Suite 200Fort Lauderdale FL 33309 ___________________________________________________________________TRAINING VERSUS LEARNING
By John Leonard

Last week I was speaking to a young coach who had just taken a new job.

His specific problem was that the coach that was there before he was, had everyone “training hard” and had done a great job of selling that concept. Everyone from 8 and unders to seniors was pounding the yardage daily.

The new coach wanted to spend 6 weeks or so concentrating on skills development, because in the first few days on the job, he noticed that many of the swimmers were deficient in the types of stroke, turn and start skills that would support them as they aged into older swimmers in the program.

He’d laid out that plan to his parent group, including cutting back practices from 2 and one half hours per day to just 90 minutes for the older swimmers and 60 minutes for the middle groups and 45 minutes for the youngest swimmers. This, consistent with today’s best advice to dedicate oneself to “purposeful practice” of new skills if you hoped for optimum learning….shorter periods of intense concentration, with little to interfere with the concentration process.

He immediately faced rebellion.

Moms and a few Dads, called him to complain that important swim meets were coming up and their little darling needed to “train” in order to be successful. Interestingly, more than 70% of the calls came from the parents of younger children. The coach asked my advice on how to educate the parents on this issue.

Here’s my answer. “Long practices, with high training volumes will make all swimmers VERY good at what they are doing. Repetition builds habit. Habit stands up beautifully under the pressure of competition…when in fact, nothing else does….as the pain of competition effort removes all traces of thought from the brain…..it becomes habit that the swimmer relies upon to get him home to the finish."

“Unfortunately, if they are practicing poor technique, that will be learned and habituated, just as well as good technique. And poor technique makes you biomechanically inefficient at the time of greatest stress. Hence you struggle more, go slower and your stroke collapses at the end of races."

“This makes swimming a technique limited sport. Your child will be severely limited by the degree with which they can perform the strokes with good habits, instead of poor habits."

“Lots of training with poor habits will make a very poor swimmer. A little training with good habits, will result in a good swimmer and one that is “unlimited” in their future."

“Which one do you want for your child?"

HINT: Get the strokes right FIRST instead of purposefully practicing mistakes.

All the Best for Great Swimming Experiences! John Leonard

A Winning Attitude

The following article I think is appropriate after a big swim meet and some swimmers are beginning to hit a plateau in their times in some events (while others are finally beginning to drop times after being at a plateau). As an athlete sticks to a sport, each year it gets harder to make large improvements as they had when they first started. I can remember Olympic gold medalist Josh Davis sharing his journey of the 200 freestyle. For eight years he got the same time in the 200 free, never improving it. Eight years is a long time and can be frustrating! But he stuck to it, trusted his coaches and himself, and it finally paid off. It is one of the reasons why I try not to let swimmers swim the same events every meet, that it is mixed up and goes through a rotation. Besides the fact that I feel that age group swimmers should be exposed to many events, but also this exposure keeps them from getting easily frustrated at one particular event. They will be able to celebrate the gains they are making in other events and can trust that it will happen sometime for their favorite event.
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A Winning Attitude


by Coach Allan Kopel


Every one of you has or at least is capable of having and benefiting from a winning attitude. If we choose to be positive and if we choose to find ways to expect the best from ourselves on a daily basis, we will think, feel and act like winners. All that is required to be confident and successful is a consistent determination to think and act like winners. This is a simple concept but it takes consistent effort for most of us to master.


Feeling confident and facing challenges is difficult at times. The more you let yourself trust and believe in yourself and in “the possible”, the easier it becomes to face subsequent challenges. It is not wrong to have self-doubt. Self-doubt is more common than you may realize. Dealing with self-doubt may not be fun, but winning that battle feels great. You can let your self have fun and be confident. Choose to believe!


Having self-doubt does not make you weak, and it will not defeat you (unless you let it). The keys are to recognize when you are anxious, accept it as part of the process, and find something positive to focus on and then act with confidence, passion and determination to be successful. One of the toughest things to overcome is the fear that no one else has doubts or that people (coaches, teammates) will not understand. It may not be easy but it is vital that you believe that you are strong and that your coaches and teammates understand and care. No one wants to have self-doubt. Your teammates and coaches will probably not sit around worrying or complaining with you. The role of a coach or teammate is to help people have fun, relax, stay in the now and trust, believe and achieve. Worrying and dwelling on one’s concerns is fatiguing and counter productive. Focus on something positive and take positive action. Action that centers the mind and leads to success is one of the best ways to overcome doubt or anxiety.


“Whatever you do, or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power and magic in it.

BEGIN IT NOW” (Goethe)

Lincoln’s Road to the Presidency


1831: Failed in Business


1832: Defeated for State Legislature


1833: Second Failure in Business


1836: Suffered Nervous Breakdown



1838: Defeated for Speaker


1840: Defeated for Elector


1843: Defeated for Congress


1848: Defeated for Congress


1856: Defeated for Vice President


1858: Defeated for Senate


1860: Elected President of the United States of America


Think about it. What if Abraham Lincoln thought of himself as a loser or no good each time he lost an election or failed at something? Put into a swimming / polo context, we could say that from 1831 through 1858, he did not have many, if any successes (first place, best time or victory), but he hung in there and had the best time of all in 1860.

Age Group State Meet Recap

The State meet in Savannah was a great weekend of swimming. Thanks to all those who came out to dinner Saturday night as a group. I hope all the swimmers had a lot of fun.

Great things I get to hear about our group is how great they look in the water, how great they work together as well as how well disciplined they are. That says a lot about our meet and how they swam.


Lifetime Best Swim(s): H Robison, C Gantt, N Gonzalez, C Perry, F Bettin, J Von Biberstein, T Piper, B Curry, A Reiter, E Martin, L Hutson, J Shuford, C Tappero

USA Swimming "A" Time(s): C Perry, H Robison, T Piper, N Gonzalez, E Martin, L Hutson, F Bettin, J Von Biberstein

Age Group Sectional Cut(s):
Caleb Perry – 500 Free
Julia Shuford – 50 Breast, 100 Breast
Emily Ann Martin – 100 Fly, 50 Back, 100 IM
Hannah Robison – 100 Fly
Allie Anne Reiter – 200 Free, 50 Fly

USA Swimming "AA" Time(s): J Shuford, E Martin, H Robison, A Reiter

USA Swimming "AAA" Time: A Reiter

Lanier Recap

A lot of great swims and a lot of results to pour over. I loved the energy that the swimmers brought to this meet, especially cheering each other on. As always, please let me know if I left someone off. I try to make sure I got everyone, but we are all human!

Lanier – Last Chance Meet

AG3

Lifetime Best Time(s): J Hansen, R Viersen, C Gantt, H Robison, F Bettin, K Yao, G Sherman, R Cetron, I Ariail, A Cook, B Fadjariza-Dumais, N Bent, N Gonzalez, B Lonial, I Velarde, C Staley, E Martin, C Tappero, N Singh, L Adams, L Hutson, T Lauterbach, C LaMastra, L Cardot, N Shields, D Hall, T Courtney, Y Smith, D Hall, J Hull

USA Swimming "B" Time(s): J Hansen, N Bent, I Velarde, C Staley, N Bent, N Singh, N Shields, D Hall, T Courtney, B Fadjariza-Dumais

USA Swimming "BB" Time(s): K Yao, B Fadjariza-Dumais, A Cook, G Sherman, I Ariail, R Cetron, N Gonzalez, N Singh, L Adams, T Lauterbach, J Hansen, B Lonial

Georgia Age Group State Cut(s):
Courtney Gantt: 500 free
Hannah Robison: 500 free
Foster Bettin: 500 free
Grace Sherman: 100 back
Izzi Ariail: 100 back
Alissa Cook: 100 back
Jackson Hansen: 100 back, 50 fly
Ben Lonial: 100 back
Nicholas Gonzalez: 50 fly
Emily Ann Martin: 100 breast, 200 free, 100 free, 50 back, 50 breast
Christopher Staley: 100 breast
Lily Adams: 50 breast

USA Swimming "A" Time(s): E Martin

USA Swimming "AA" Time(s): E Martin

Age Group Sectional Cut:
Emily Ann Martin: 50 fly

GOLD

Lifetime Best Time(s): A Warncke, L Beem, P Johnson, M Li, M Rotolo, P Wang, S Humphrey, J Purdy, N Rotolo, S Bettin, C Crumley, A Voloschin, C Langer, M Johnson, K Cheng, M Lee, C Horlock

USA Swimming "B" Time(s): M Li, S Humphrey, J Purdy, L Beem, P Johnson, A Voloschin, M Johnson, C Langer, N Rotolo, M Lee, P Wang

USA Swimming "BB" Time(s): L Beem, M Rotolo, M Johnson

Age Group State Cuts:
Mark Rotolo: 100 Back, 50 Back

GREEN

Lifetime Best Time(s): H Cochran, M Ariail, C Hughes, A Altera, L Cryor, W Dillard, J McGuire, K Hansen, J Hull

Honor The Game

As much as I love kids who love to race, I also believe in sportsmanship. I think this is a nice article that gets to the ROOTS of sportsmanship. Please read and share with your swimmer. This week I will try at each practice to get the groups to help share times they have seen or observed good sportsmanship.


Honor the Game

Many people talk about "sportsmanship," or what it means to be a "good sport." What does it mean to you to be a good sport? Answers to this question vary widely. Sadly, PCA has even heard stories of coaches telling their teams that if they win the Sportsmanship Award at a tournament, they will spend the entire following week conditioning! Why might a coach say this? Unfortunately, many coaches equate being a good sport with being soft or weak.

PCA believes the time has come to unite behind a powerful new term, "Honoring the Game." Coaches, parents, and athletes need to realize that an Honoring the Game perspective needs to replace the common win-at-all-cost perspective. If a coach and his or her team have to dishonor the game to win it, what is this victory really worth, and what sort of message is this sending young athletes?

If Honoring the Game is to become the youth sports standard, it needs a clear definition. At PCA we say that Honoring the Game goes to the "ROOTS" of positive play. Each letter in ROOTS stands for an important part of the game that we must respect. The R stands for Rules. The first O is for Opponents. The next O is for Officials. T is for Teammates, and the S is for Self.

R is for Rules

Rules allow us to keep the game fair. If we win by ignoring or violating the rules, what is the value of our victory? PCA believes that honoring the letter AND the spirit of the rule is important.

O is for Opponents

Without an opponent, there would be no competition. Rather than demeaning a strong opponent, we need to honor strong opponents because they challenge us to do our best. Athletes can be both fierce and friendly during the same competition (in one moment giving everything to get to a loose ball, and in the next moment helping an opponent up). Coaches showing respect for opposing coaches and players sets the tone for the rest of the team.

O is for Officials

Respecting officials, even when we disagree with their calls, may be the toughest part of Honoring the Game. We must remember that officials are not perfect (just like coaches, athletes and parents!). Take time to think about how to best approach an official when you want to discuss a call. What strategies do you have to keep yourself in control when you start to get upset with officials" calls? We must remember that the loss of officials (and finding enough in the first place) is a major problem in most youth sports organizations, and we can confront this problem by consistently respecting officials.

T is for Teammates

It's easy for young athletes to think solely about their own performance, but we want athletes to realize that being part of a team requires thinking about and respecting one's teammates. This respect needs to carry beyond the field/gym/track/pool into the classroom and social settings. Athletes need to be reminded that their conduct away from practices and games will reflect back on their teammates and the league, club, or school.

S is for Self

Athletes should be encouraged to live up to their own highest personal standard of Honoring the Game, even when their opponents are not. Athletes respect for themselves and their own standards must come first.

Having this definition of Honoring the Game (HTG) is a start. To make Honoring the Game the youth sports standard, coaches, leaders, and parents need to discuss HTG with their athletes. Coaches need to practice it with their athletes (i.e. have players officiate at practice). And perhaps most importantly, all adults in the youth sports setting (coaches, leaders, parents, officials, and fans) need to model it. If these adults Honor the Game, the athletes will too.


http://www.positivecoach.org/subcontent.aspx?SecID=163

Guidelines For Going on the Road

I picked this article since are next several meets all involve travel of some sort. I wish I would have gotten it up before the ASL meet! What an advantage we have swimming most of our meets out of our very own facility! We forget the little things that are necessary when we travel to keep things just as normal as home for our swimmers because traveling to a meet can be fun and a family weekend trip. Even in the Olympics though, the U.S. sets up their own “temporary” training center much like the ones they have in Colorado/California/Michigan/New York. This offers them everything they would need besides their coach at their competition including the food they eat. As we look at Lanier, Age Group States, Metro Champs, and for some Age Group Sectionals, lets keep some of these tips in this article in mind.


News For Swim Parents

Published by The American Club Swimming Association2101 North Andrews Ave., Suite 107Fort Lauderdale FL 33311
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Guidelines For Going On The Road By Coach Jamie Thomas

Swim team families look forward to February and March as the championship season. Travel comes with the territory. So, whether you're going to a qualifier or to nationals, you need a plan for going "on the road". The length, usually three or more days, of these championship level meets can lead to a loss of that "great feeling" and cause performances to suffer.

The keys to a good road trip are:

1. Eat the proper foods,

2. Get plenty of rest, and

3. Make the days as normal as possible.

The swimmer's diet should consist of low fat high carbohydrate foods. Appropriate breakfast foods are pancakes, bagels, French toast, cereal, and fruits. Pancakes and toast should be served without butter or margarine. Syrup and jams are OK. Drink low fat milk.

At lunch, avoid fried foods at fast food places. Try a salad with a minimum of dressing or a potato with a minimum of butter. Sandwiches with lean meat or skinless poultry are good. Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches are good and easy, but watch the peanut butter because it is high in fat. Soup and crackers are also fine, but avoid cream-based soups. Stay away from soft drinks and drink low fat milk or juices.

For dinner, choose restaurants that offer high carbohydrate items such as pasta, salads, rice, vegetables and fruits. If you must have pizza, get one with a thicker crust and get low fat toppings like green peppers, onions, Canadian bacon or mushrooms. Avoid fatty meats and extra cheese.

Be nutrition conscious at all meals. Remember: don't sacrifice great performances by eating conveniently while on the road.

Understand that swim meets can be extra exhausting. While away from the pool, swimmers need to rest and relax. Napping between trials and finals is a good idea. When swimming in an afternoon session, swimmers may sleep a little later than usual. Do not allow swimmers to stay up late or run around socializing while at the hotel. This wastes important rest time as well as disturbing others.

During "free time" on the road, swimmers and parents should avoid excessive talking about the meet, particularly anything negative. Instead, think very positive thoughts for short periods of time.

Diet, rest, and attitude are keys to maintaining a "fresh feeling" through a tough, long meet. Remember these guidelines when you are on the road and minimize the effect of road trips on performance.

ASL Winter Invite Recap

ASL Winter Invite Recap

Lifetime Best Swims: A Reiter, C LaMastra, J Shuford, C Gantt, A Cook, F Bettin, B Curry, J Hansen, Y Smith, L Cardot. H Robison, J Von Biberstein, C Tappero, K Hansen (Green), S Bettin (Gold), C Staley

USA Swimming Motivational “B” Time(s): C LaMastra, B Curry, L Cardot, C Staley

USA Swimming Motivational “BB” Time(s): J Hansen, Y Smith, L Cardot, J Von Biberstein, B Curry, A Cook, J Shuford, F Bettin, C Staley

Age Group State Cut(s):

A Reiter: 500 Free, 50 Back
J Shuford: 100 IM, 50 Free, 100 Fly, 200 IM, 50 Breast
C Gantt: 100 IM, 50 Free, 100 Breast, 200 Free, 200 IM, 50 Breast, 100 Free
F Bettin: 100 IM, 50 Free, 50 Back
B Curry : 100 IM, 50 Free, 100 Fly, 200 IM, 100 Back, 100 Free
H Robison: 50 Free, 100 Breast, 200 Free, 50 Breast
A Cook: 100 Breast, 50 Breast
J Hansen: 50 Back
Y Smith: 100 Fly, 50 Fly
C Tappero: 50 Breast

USA Swimming Motivational “A” Time(s): A Reiter, J Shuford, C Gantt, H Robison

Age Group Sectional Cut(s):

A Reiter: 50 Back, 100 Fly
H Robison: 50 Fly

USA Swimming Motivational “AA” Time(s): A Reiter, H Robison

USA Swimming Motivational “AAA” Time(s): A Reiter