The starting point for your club and for each new swimmer!

The starting point for your club and for each new swimmer!

What stage are you in? If you are no longer swimming, what stage were you in when you stopped? What stage are the coaches in your club in, who teach your fundamental swimmers?

As a more Elite athlete in your club, you probably are (were) swimming for the most experienced coach in your club. Why not copy what you do in your practices and water it down for the group you have? If you follow the LTAD plan you will see, that is not the way to teach young athletes and keep them in the sport.

Take a minute and brainstorm all the things you as a coach need to do with your group?

1. how to listen 2. kick 3. 3 or 4 different strokes 4. push offs 5. streamline 6. turns 7. dives 8. drills 9. pace clock Oops...I need another page

10. meet skills 11. what IM means 12. equipment they need (and how to use it) 13. stretching 14. dry land activities 15. teach the parents (about meets, snacks, clothes they need at a meet) 16. keep parents happy (they are all there) 17. how to race 18. oh ya...and make sure the kids have FUN!!

* Have a plan. *Know what your head coach wants swimmers to know before they get to his/her group *Work backwards, down your club structure to what your level needs to know to move up the ladder *Decide on what skills need to be mastered first * Write your workout, and reflect after on what you were able to accomplish

*Do the same warm up exercises each day *Set up a routine for your group *Don t add a skill until most in the group are able to do the last *You may feel bored, but they are not. Young children can watch the same movie, or listen to the same song over and over again. They want to master it. Let them become a master of the drills, and techniques and routines you are setting. They will feel more comfortable and learn easier.

Nooooooo... Only Perfect Practice Makes Perfect! Whether it be on land or in the water try to ensure what they are doing is done correctly. Practising something the wrong way will reinforce that into their muscle memory and will be more difficult to change. If they are not ready to do a skill (physically or mentally) don t introduce it. This might mean waiting until later in the season, or modifying the skill.

Start by getting them moving walking while swinging. This is the perfect time to let them talk. Get them to know each other. Find a partner, be able to tell me 3 things about them. Stretching. Slow, held stretches to lengthen muscles. The more flexible they are now, the better it will be when they are training hard, to relax tired strained bodies and avoid injuries. You do it with them...they will follow

Body weight and core activities are great for this level group. Backstroke kicks, planks can be done in short repetitions. Make sure they do them correctly. Turn it into a game. Make 2 of them the coaches. They can point out the best and switch. Planks with a partner and water bottle. Its more effective and instant feedback. Even use this time to introduce or practice a water drill. They are not wet...attentive...warm and focussed. Use a mirror if you have one.

Start easy and build...in teaching that is scaffolding a lesson. It takes me 2-3 weeks to get into a full game of indoor soccer with grade 2 children...but when we get there, they all understand the positions, where to move and team play. Breaststroke has many different components...legs, arms, timing, if you try to put it all together with one of the basic components missing they get frustrated. Start with one (kick). Move one when most of the group has mastered it.

When you know your group well enough, and they have routines down well, there are times to get in. (and by the way...they love it too) Some children learn by listening..others by seeing...others by doing...some skills can be taught much more efficiently with an in water coach. Breaststroke kick is either natural or not. Many need to feel resistance on their feet to master it. Flip turns can be broken down and taught easily in the water as well. Demonstrate and then guide. Once taught they can practise on their own.

With that said...some groups need a coach on land at all times to keep control...so get a volunteer. All high school students need 40 hours of volunteer hours..they can become your in water help. They can demonstrate while you talk to the group Teach them how to help with breaststroke kick and send swimmers over for one-one help. If doing 25 s have them at the other end giving high 5 s or feedback to individuals so swimmers know they are being watched.

The most important thing I feel young swimmers need to learn is how to LISTEN. Even if they can t do everything correct right away, if they can follow instructions, they will be able to move from coach to coach successfully. When you talk all eyes should be on you...whether on land or in the water. Take goggles off...(without goggles on they won t be bobbing etc) Be expressive without yelling. Give feedback as much as possible..people like to be noticed.

Swimmers should also learn to pick up cues, without words Where you stand becomes important You should be able to start heats without a sound, that s when you know they are focussed and ready

This is a skill that is very difficult, but can be introduced very early. If swimmers are used to looking at you and dropping down to push off, all you need to do is stand in front of the clock and point at it to signal when they should leave. Very quickly that can be changed to when they should leave. This frees you up to watch and give feedback more readily

60 or 90 minutes is a long time for children this age, physically and mentally. Break up your practice into components In warm up review and practise skills worked on the previous day or week. They will be fresh and hopefully more efficient. Next introduce the new (newer) skill or set If they are showing signs of getting tired add fins to help with body position and technique

Switch direction...take out a lane rope and do your turn practice. Swim from 2 nd lane rope to wall, turn and push off back to work. Work with a partner. Do a short game width wise If you have a diving tank, move again. Work diving with widths...add a challenge for breath control If more than one coach has the same level, create a circuit with one coach expert at each spot, with swimmers moving every 15-20 minutes

Make up dryland activities (skiiers-skatersmoguls) Streamline challenge Coach for a minute Deck drills Puck Challenge Puck retrieval Allison says (an oldie but a goodie) Widths (pushoffs and listening)

Up the Ladder Snake circuit Relays (noodles, feet first...) Tag Colours King-Queen-Peasants Easy-hard kick (whistle or flutter board) Capture the ring (capture the flag in water) ASK THEM...

The hardest part of working with these groups isn t: That they aren t strong They talk too much They don t listen They aren t physically ready They fool around The hardest part is that if you do your job well...

They will be ready to move up the ladder, to the next group. You will always be starting over with another group Teaching the routines and skills all over again, until it looks like they are amazing...and they are...and up they go. But...they also improve the quickest, show the most joy and will forever be a better swimmer because of the skills you have taught them.