USA Swimming - Coaching Senior Swimmers

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You're here: Coaching Senior Swimmers

COACHING SENIOR SWIMMERS

It is hard to precisely define "senior" swimmer. In general, senior swimmers are high school aged and are experienced in skills, training and competition. Often, talented and experienced 13 and 14 year olds not yet in high school are included in the senior group. Competition will be at the local, regional, national, or in some cases the international level.

Teaching Technique to Senior Athletes

Just doing a lot of repetition is not enough. The coach must give meaningful feedback to the athletes. Feedback should be specific. Instead of “good swim” say “I liked the way you kept your hands out wide for the whole 100. That is just the way I’ve asked you to do it in practice. Nice job.” If there are negative comments that need to be made, sandwich the negative between two positive comments or give three or four positives followed by the negative. Don’t avoid the constructive criticism; just be sure to include multiple positive comments. For complete information order the DVD: The Foundations of Coaching.

Training Senior Athletes

Practices follow a progression and prepare athletes for peak performances. Everything that is done in practice should lead a swimmer on the path from training to competition. Progression also needs to occur within the training plan. Changes in practice intensity, frequency, and volume should progress throughout the period of development over the course of a season, the year and the entire career of the swimmer. Following are some elements to be included or considered when designing senior practices. Warm-up, Main Set, Other Sets including kicking, Fun, and Cool-down. See Foundations of Coaching. For complete information order the DVD: The Foundations of Coaching.

Working With Parents of Senior Athletes

Educate parents of senior swimmers on at least the following subjects: Coach-parent-athlete (communication and roles), Body Changes (Puberty and Growth), Fueling for Training and Competition, Drugs and Supplements, Injury and Illness (prevention and coming back from), College recruiting, Reaching the highest levels (what is it and how to get there, plateaus, focus, taper), Dealing with Success and Disappointment, Expectations for Parents (Optimal time to push and When to Let Go). For complete information order the DVD: The Foundations of Coaching.

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