Comments on: Message to Swimming – you still don’t get it!

By: Wayne Goldsmith

Wayne Goldsmith — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 04:40:28 +0000

Thanks Brendan,

One of the biggest myths in coaching is that it is the workout that wins - i.e. the secret to success lies in the actual variables of the workout…rubbish.

A poor coach with swimmers who are not engaged in the program but who has outstanding programming skills will not get a great result.

Give me a hard working, dedicated coach working together with a group of motivated, passionate, committed swimmers and the worst ever programming skills any day.

Thanks,

By: Brendan Robb

Brendan Robb — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 04:31:09 +0000

Harsh, but I think you are on the money here. I just don’t see enough sharing. There is ample opportunities for coaches to share ideas, sessions, venues and programs/sets in order for the whole sport to move forward. Lets face it, it’s not as if swimming is attracting the vast sums of sponsorship that we all need to protect our IP! I think if there was more sharing and cross-program interactivity we would get swimmers staying longer in the sport. It seems some coaches and clubs will do everything to control swimmers in the fear that they will up and leave their squads. Well, when the program isn’t working, an attitudinal adjustment is required, sometimes for the swimmer, and sometimes for the coach. Open up!

By: Wayne Goldsmith

Wayne Goldsmith — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 23:14:45 +0000

Hi Deborah.

I love the sport of swimming but what continues to break my heart are stories like yours which I receive every day. And I get them from parents, swimmers and coaches all over the world.

It is shattering sometimes to read that with all the sport has to offer, some people continue to cause division and pain between families.

Politics and personality squabbles does more to kill our sport than anything else.

I can promise you two things:

1. It is changing. Some of the national swimming Federations are doing some great work to help Clubs understand the importance of adopting a client focused approach and embracing parents as welcomed partners in all aspects of the Club and:

2. I will not give up trying to change things – we owe it to every kid and every parent in every swimming Club around the world.

Keep fighting the good fight – do not give up.

By: Deborah

Deborah — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 23:44:31 +0000

What a great article, my family is new to swimming and your article sums it up, only you left out the bit about the bitchy, clicky parents who have the most important swimmers in the squad-the Elite! I call my swim centre the reverse ATM- you just keep throwing money at it with no interaction at all and god help you if you dare to ask a question- I recently epressed similar views to yours at a meeting and was threatened with my children being expelled from the Program – there’s no room for consultation in the swim world.

By: Wayne Goldsmith

Wayne Goldsmith — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 03:05:51 +0000

Thanks John.

It is hard to write articles which criticise something you love – but unless we all work together and provide swimmers and families with the best possible “product” they will stop buying it, and, sooner or later the only people swimming will be you, me and a few dolphins off the coast of California.

Let’s make our sport great – no strike that – let’s make it the greatest sport in the world.

By: John

John — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 16:45:47 +0000

Brilliant article. I could not agree with you more on all accounts. I began swimming competitively in ’63 and I am still a Masters swimmer — and swimming parent. I live in Evanston, Illinois where there are 4 age group teams, 4 Masters teams, a successful High School program and Northwestern University men and women varsity swimming. You would think we’d bleed chlorine. Still, even though the times continue to drop, it’s the same ole, same ‘ole you mentioned. I am all ears and eyes. Send me ideas and maybe I can help facilitate in at least the program I (and my son) swim in. Thank you.