Monday, November 22, 2021
Coaching Advice with USOPC Developmental Coach of the Year Dana Skelton
November is “Thank You Coach!” month, when swimmers nationwide are encouraged to thank their coaches for all their time, effort and dedication they put towards this awesome sport. USA Swimming recognizes the hard work of swim coaches everywhere, especially the behind-the-scenes coaches whose tireless efforts are greatly appreciated.
In celebration of this month’s theme, the special tribute goes to Dana Skelton, head developmental coach for the First Colony Swim Team in Sugar Land, Texas. Skelton, who was awarded the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee's Developmental Coach of the Year for 2020, has coached all levels of the sport, but found her true calling with the ten-and-under age group.
“I was the most excited for the 9-and-10-year-olds’ spot. To me, it's the most challenging and fun group where I know I can give the biggest impact and make a difference in their lives,” says Skelton. “I knew this group would push my skill set and fit my personality the best. I absolutely love it.”
Skelton’s coaching approach reaches far beyond the pool. Character development and team camaraderie are her top priorities. Swimming doesn’t even enter the picture until her group has mastered the skills of being a good teammate.
“I see the trickle effect this has on others. I try to get them to see outside themselves, to talk to others and really notice their teammates.”
Two years ago, Skelton started a journaling process with her group. The swimmers first begin journaling on the swim basics such as body lines and technique, then building from there, she questions her swimmers on things non-swimming related, so they can reflect on outside factors and journal their thoughts. Ultimately, her goal is to encourage them to eventually make the sport their own.
“It’s a fun way for me to learn about them, plus the journaling helps put the onus on them. They are not doing this because mom and dad signed them up,” she says. “They’re responsible for their own swimming.”
She is also big on goal setting, with the first one ensuring her athletes don’t always identify themselves as just a swimmer. Skelton advises other coaches to also encourage their kids to not identify solely as a swimmer. “It’s the healthiest thing a coach can do,” Skelton says.
If she notices one of her swimmers is having a bad practice, her motivational tactic is a far cry from anger and shouting. “I tell them they’re awesome. I’ll find something else to focus on and remind them that no matter what, they’re awesome. Bottom line, I want them to know I care. It’s regardless of how fast they swim at meets or practices.”
Skelton also used star awards during workouts which is a system that encourages and rewards team building, leadership, and good effort.
“I’ll reward someone with a star, and the whole group claps for them. They hang it up on the board after practice, and when the board is full of stars, we having a drawing for a prize. The kids love it, because they’re being rewarded. But it also creates such great camaraderie that I don’t even have to tell them anymore on how to be a good teammate, it becomes automatic.”
Every practice, Skelton is consistently pointing things out to her swimmers, even if it’s subtle. “I’ll tell someone they went really fast on that set because their teammate pushed them, so be sure to thank them. Sometimes it’s not so obvious for a nine-year-old, but they’ll always get the cheering.”
Additionally, Skelton runs her own “Strong Girls Program” where her nine-and-unders get to meet with older girls on the team and discuss a topic. “We talk about how it’s normal to be nervous before a meet. The older girls will tell the younger ones how to practice it and how to improve skills. Or, we’ll discuss why delayed gratification is so important. After one of our talks, a senior girl asked me where she could find a 10-year-old who was nervous about her first 100 butterfly, and wanted to talk to her about it,” says Skelton. “This type of leadership and camaraderie is huge.”
She says the best part of her coaching job is knowing that down the line, she’s helping them. She’s been coaching long enough that she’ll run into former swimmers whose own kids are now in her program. “I don’t need people to know it's me, they might not remember who helped them, just why and that it made difference.”
“My resume will never say, ‘I have an Olympic Trails qualifier,’ and I’m okay with that.”
In celebration of this month’s theme, the special tribute goes to Dana Skelton, head developmental coach for the First Colony Swim Team in Sugar Land, Texas. Skelton, who was awarded the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee's Developmental Coach of the Year for 2020, has coached all levels of the sport, but found her true calling with the ten-and-under age group.“I was the most excited for the 9-and-10-year-olds’ spot. To me, it's the most challenging and fun group where I know I can give the biggest impact and make a difference in their lives,” says Skelton. “I knew this group would push my skill set and fit my personality the best. I absolutely love it.”
Skelton’s coaching approach reaches far beyond the pool. Character development and team camaraderie are her top priorities. Swimming doesn’t even enter the picture until her group has mastered the skills of being a good teammate.
“I see the trickle effect this has on others. I try to get them to see outside themselves, to talk to others and really notice their teammates.”
Two years ago, Skelton started a journaling process with her group. The swimmers first begin journaling on the swim basics such as body lines and technique, then building from there, she questions her swimmers on things non-swimming related, so they can reflect on outside factors and journal their thoughts. Ultimately, her goal is to encourage them to eventually make the sport their own.
“It’s a fun way for me to learn about them, plus the journaling helps put the onus on them. They are not doing this because mom and dad signed them up,” she says. “They’re responsible for their own swimming.”
She is also big on goal setting, with the first one ensuring her athletes don’t always identify themselves as just a swimmer. Skelton advises other coaches to also encourage their kids to not identify solely as a swimmer. “It’s the healthiest thing a coach can do,” Skelton says.
If she notices one of her swimmers is having a bad practice, her motivational tactic is a far cry from anger and shouting. “I tell them they’re awesome. I’ll find something else to focus on and remind them that no matter what, they’re awesome. Bottom line, I want them to know I care. It’s regardless of how fast they swim at meets or practices.”
Skelton also used star awards during workouts which is a system that encourages and rewards team building, leadership, and good effort.
“I’ll reward someone with a star, and the whole group claps for them. They hang it up on the board after practice, and when the board is full of stars, we having a drawing for a prize. The kids love it, because they’re being rewarded. But it also creates such great camaraderie that I don’t even have to tell them anymore on how to be a good teammate, it becomes automatic.”
Every practice, Skelton is consistently pointing things out to her swimmers, even if it’s subtle. “I’ll tell someone they went really fast on that set because their teammate pushed them, so be sure to thank them. Sometimes it’s not so obvious for a nine-year-old, but they’ll always get the cheering.”
Additionally, Skelton runs her own “Strong Girls Program” where her nine-and-unders get to meet with older girls on the team and discuss a topic. “We talk about how it’s normal to be nervous before a meet. The older girls will tell the younger ones how to practice it and how to improve skills. Or, we’ll discuss why delayed gratification is so important. After one of our talks, a senior girl asked me where she could find a 10-year-old who was nervous about her first 100 butterfly, and wanted to talk to her about it,” says Skelton. “This type of leadership and camaraderie is huge.”
She says the best part of her coaching job is knowing that down the line, she’s helping them. She’s been coaching long enough that she’ll run into former swimmers whose own kids are now in her program. “I don’t need people to know it's me, they might not remember who helped them, just why and that it made difference.”
“My resume will never say, ‘I have an Olympic Trails qualifier,’ and I’m okay with that.”