Sunday, December 28, 2008

In Between

At this time of year when we are between the main holiday season and the start of the New Year we have a chance for reflection; reflection on what went the way we intended and what didn’t go as planned.

We suggest a time of quiet reflection; a time filled with praise and appreciation for what you and those around you have achieved. It is true that those around you are a big part of your success and so it can be important to look at their progress as well as your own. Perhaps a training partner or a coach had a great breakthrough this year. That improvement may have actually been a reason that you achieved some measure of personal success.

We won’t go down the usual path of New Year’s resolutions in this space. We will however ask each of you to join us as we begin to look ahead with renewed enthusiasm and vigor. We spend a fair amount of time in our pursuit of excellence as coaches pondering the possibilities. We have weekly meetings that almost always include the “what if” component. We talk about individual swimmers, sub groups – the sprinters or the 200 gang – and the team as a whole. We include discussions about how our support structure can be improved; our access to water…the list is endless. What is constant is the fact that we discuss these items routinely.

We believe success comes from many places, has many influences. We encourage you to look at the past, the present and the future with equal inquisitiveness as you ponder your possibilities.

And of course, if we can assist you in any way, let us know!

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