Why are some people more successful than others? Why do some people make more money, live happier lives and accomplish much more in the same number of years than the great majority? I started out in life with few advantages. I did not graduate from high school. I worked at menial jobs. I had limited education, limited skills and a limited future. And then I began asking,
"Why are some people more successful than others?" This question changed my life. Over the years, I have read thousands of books and articles on the subjects of success and achievement. It seems that the reasons for these accomplishments have been discussed and written about for more than two thousand years, in every conceivable way. One quality that most philosophers, teachers and experts agree on is the importance of self-discipline. As Al Tomsik summarized it years ago, "Success is tons of discipline."
Some years ago, I attended a conference in Washington. It was the lunch break and I was eating at a nearby food fair. The area was crowded and I sat down at the last open table by myself, even though it was a table for four.
A few minutes later, an older gentleman and a younger woman who was his assistant came along carrying trays of food, obviously looking for a place to sit. With plenty of room at my table, I immediately arose and invited the older gentleman to join me. He was hesitant, but I insisted. Finally, thanking me as he sat down, we began to chat over lunch.
It turned out that his name was Kop Kopmeyer. As it happened, I immediately knew who he was. He was a legend in the field of success and achievement. Kop Kopmeyer had written four large books, each of which contained 250 success principles that he had derived from more than fifty years of research and study. I had read all four books from cover to cover, more than once.
After we had chatted for awhile, I asked him the question that many people in this situation would ask, "Of all the one thousand success principles that you have discovered, which do you think is the most important?" He smiled at me with a twinkle in his eye, as if he had been asked this question many times, and replied, without hesitating, "The most important success principle of all was stated by Thomas Huxley many years ago. He said, 'Do what you should do, when you should do it, whether you feel like it or not.'"
He went on to say, "There are 999 other success principles that I have found in my reading and experience, but without self-discipline, none of them work." Self-discipline is the key to personal greatness. It is the magic quality that opens all doors for you, and makes everything else possible. With self-discipline, the average person can rise as far and as fast as his talents and intelligence can take him. But without self-discipline, a person with every blessing of background, education and opportunity will seldom rise above mediocrity.
In the pages ahead I will describe seven areas of your life where the practice of self-discipline will be key to your success. These areas include goals, character, time management, personal health, money, courage and responsibility. It is my hope that you'll find a few "nuggets" that will help make your dreams come true.
The article above was excerpted from the book "The Power of Discipline" by Brian Tracy. It is reprinted here with permission. You may share this story as long as you do not edit the content; leave the links and this resource box intact.
Simple Truths, LLC.,
1952 McDowell Road, Ste. 205, Naperville, IL 60563, USA
Phone: 800-900-3427 / 630-946-1460
Copyright 2008, Simple Truths, LLC. All rights reserved.
"It has always been my thought that the most important single ingredient to success in athletics or life is discipline. I have many times felt that this word is the most ill-defined in all of our language. My definition of the word is as follows: 1. Do what has to be done. 2. When it has to be done. 3. As well as it can be done. 4. Do it that way all the time."-- Bobby Knight, College Basketball Coach
"Setting a goal is not the main thing. It is deciding how you will go about achieving it and staying with that plan. The key is discipline. Without it, there is no morale."--Tom Landry, NFL Football Coach
"I believe in discipline. You can forgive incompetence. You can forgive lack of ability. But the one thing you cannot ever forgive is lack of discipline."--Forrest Gregg, College & NFL Football Coach
"Why do I dominate the 400 meter hurdles? That's easy. Training. Just expertise. I know what I'm doing. I concentrate on this as much as I would engineering or physics or whatever I'd be doing. The discipline I had from engineering and physics got me through school and really stayed with me."--Edwin Moses, two time Olympic Champion
"Discipline is a part of the will. A disciplined person is one who follows the will of the one who gives the orders. You teach discipline by doing it over and over, by repetition and rote, especially in a game like football where you have very little time to decide what you are going to do. So what you do is react almost instinctively, naturally. You have done it so many times, over and over and over again."--Vince Lombardi, NFL Football Coach
"If my players work hard every day, then they won't have to worry about game plans, or where they play, or whom they play, or about rankings and so on. They have their daily behavior--their discipline--to fall back on."--Pete Carroll
"There are four parts of self that lead to success. The first part is discipline, the second is concentration, the third is patience, and the fourth is faith."--George Foster, MLB Player
Sunday, December 21, 2008
Saturday, December 20, 2008
Angles and Leverage
We have had some success lately with our swimmers by encouraging them to focus on their hand position in all phases of the stroke: the catch, pull, push and recovery.
We talk constantly about angles and leverage. It is nearly impossible to do a push up with your arms straight out in front of you. You don't have enough strength. The closer your hands get toward your shoulders the easier it becomes to push your body up. This is because of the angle and the leverage you have.
Similarly when we swim, if we get our hands in the correct position it is easier to pull ourselves forward because we have better leverage on the water. Simply stated, keep your knuckles facing the direction in which you wish to travel. Keep your palms facing the opposite direction - that which you have just come from. Keep your finger tips pointed toward the bottom of the pool during the catch, pull, push and the recovery as well.
Many swimmers want a long fluid stroke and mistake that to mean that their hands should glide out in front, extending the entry as far forward as possible. When we see swimmers like this at the pool we often think, "Look at how long and smooth that swimmer's stroke is". Well, it may be long and smooth but it isn't very efficient. One of our coaches likes to say that "Water you can touch, but cannot grab, does you no good".
Indeed that is true. When your fingers are fully extended, palms facing the bottom of the pool, knuckles to the sky, you cannot pull yourself forward.
So, slip your hand into the water and immediately get your fingers facing the bottom by cocking your wrist, bending your elbow keeping your shoulder and armpit up. Think of it this way...your fingers are below your wrist, which is below your forearm which is below your elbow which is below your shoulder.
Once your hand is in this position, first catch the water, then pull on it (in so doing you pull yourself over your hand) and finally push the water. At the finish make sure your palm is facing backward, your knuckles forward, your finger tips pointing to the pool bottom. When it is time for recovery, simply lift your hand out of the water by lifting your elbow, rather than "throwing" your entire arm forward from the shoulder.
Play with this and be willing to feel a little clumsy until you get the hang of it. Keep your knuckles facing the direction in which you wish to travel. This applies to all four strokes.
Let us known how it goes and if we can help in anyway!
We talk constantly about angles and leverage. It is nearly impossible to do a push up with your arms straight out in front of you. You don't have enough strength. The closer your hands get toward your shoulders the easier it becomes to push your body up. This is because of the angle and the leverage you have.
Similarly when we swim, if we get our hands in the correct position it is easier to pull ourselves forward because we have better leverage on the water. Simply stated, keep your knuckles facing the direction in which you wish to travel. Keep your palms facing the opposite direction - that which you have just come from. Keep your finger tips pointed toward the bottom of the pool during the catch, pull, push and the recovery as well.
Many swimmers want a long fluid stroke and mistake that to mean that their hands should glide out in front, extending the entry as far forward as possible. When we see swimmers like this at the pool we often think, "Look at how long and smooth that swimmer's stroke is". Well, it may be long and smooth but it isn't very efficient. One of our coaches likes to say that "Water you can touch, but cannot grab, does you no good".
Indeed that is true. When your fingers are fully extended, palms facing the bottom of the pool, knuckles to the sky, you cannot pull yourself forward.
So, slip your hand into the water and immediately get your fingers facing the bottom by cocking your wrist, bending your elbow keeping your shoulder and armpit up. Think of it this way...your fingers are below your wrist, which is below your forearm which is below your elbow which is below your shoulder.
Once your hand is in this position, first catch the water, then pull on it (in so doing you pull yourself over your hand) and finally push the water. At the finish make sure your palm is facing backward, your knuckles forward, your finger tips pointing to the pool bottom. When it is time for recovery, simply lift your hand out of the water by lifting your elbow, rather than "throwing" your entire arm forward from the shoulder.
Play with this and be willing to feel a little clumsy until you get the hang of it. Keep your knuckles facing the direction in which you wish to travel. This applies to all four strokes.
Let us known how it goes and if we can help in anyway!
Sunday, December 14, 2008
Overcoming Adversity
"Cracked ribs made it hard to breathe. A chipped bone in his hip ached as he walked. And 60-mph winds stabbed at him like ice needles. But at that moment, Trevor Thomas of Charlotte, N.C., could not imagine feeling better...the peak marked the end of a 2,175-mile journey...Hiking the entire Appalachian Trail is an accomplishment few people can claim. This year, about 1600 have tried and about 460 have finished. Only one of them - Thomas - was blind."
Unable to see, unwilling to quit - by Clay Barbour
"Here's to the memory of former Cal football player John Erby, who died recently at 68. He received two Purple Hearts during his service in Vietnam, where he lost part of his right leg...he told people that going through life with an artificial leg "isn't so bad. There is always someone not far away who has it so much worse. No matter how bad you think you have it, stop feeling sorry for yourself. Get up and go help someone."
Bruce Jenkin's 3 Dot Lounge
We see stories similar to this on a fairly regular basis. Most times we don't read beyond the headlines or the first paragraph or two. We are too busy, have too much to do, places to go, lists to be attended to etc. We believe that coaching offers many of the same benefits that swimming does. It gives us a chance to be grateful for our opportunities. We trust that you, as an athlete, are grateful for your opportunities as well.
As John Erby said, "Get up and go help someone". We are going to do that today. We challenge you to join us!
Unable to see, unwilling to quit - by Clay Barbour
"Here's to the memory of former Cal football player John Erby, who died recently at 68. He received two Purple Hearts during his service in Vietnam, where he lost part of his right leg...he told people that going through life with an artificial leg "isn't so bad. There is always someone not far away who has it so much worse. No matter how bad you think you have it, stop feeling sorry for yourself. Get up and go help someone."
Bruce Jenkin's 3 Dot Lounge
We see stories similar to this on a fairly regular basis. Most times we don't read beyond the headlines or the first paragraph or two. We are too busy, have too much to do, places to go, lists to be attended to etc. We believe that coaching offers many of the same benefits that swimming does. It gives us a chance to be grateful for our opportunities. We trust that you, as an athlete, are grateful for your opportunities as well.
As John Erby said, "Get up and go help someone". We are going to do that today. We challenge you to join us!
Head Position Counts
When looking for faster swim times or a more efficient position in the water so that more of your energy goes toward forward propulsion start with the spot highest on top...the crown of your head.
The crown of your head is best described as the point on top of your skull. You can visualize it as that spot of intersection for a line that comes up from your shoulders through your ears met by a line drawn from the base of your skull by your neck which intersects with a line from your chin up through your nose over your forehead. If you ever wear a baseball style cap they often have a button on top that is the intersection of the various pieces of material forming the cap. That would be a similar approximation of this line.
Another way to see in real time is to stand in front of a mirror with your chin more or less parallel to the floor. If a board was balanced on top of your head the place of tangency would most likely be the crown as well. We call this head placement the "neutral" position.
When swimming freestyle - which is the stroke most of us use for training purposes - we want our head in this neutral position which means we lead with the crown of our head.
Anytime you lift your head up, even a half an inch, something opposite happens at the other end of your spine. Your hips drop accordingly. In the old days (1950's through the 70's) it was thought best to hold your head up with the water line at approximately your hair line. The idea was to get up on top of the water. Today this is not the case. You want your body to swim as flat in the water as possible to minimize resistance from your chest, belly and hips. The easiest way to do this is to drop your head, leading with the crown.
Initially it will feel like you are swimming downhill or underwater. This is not the case. It merely feels that way because what you are used to is swimming with your head held higher; in most cases too high. If you can see ahead of yourself in the pool then your head is probably too high. Look straight down at the bottom of the pool. You can practice this position standing in front of the mirror; simply get your head in the neutral position and then look straight ahead. If you were to rotate your entire body 90 degrees you would be swimming on your stomach in the correct body position in the water.
Give it a try and see how you feel. Once you get used to it, you will feel better; for sure your stroke will be more effective as you are now presenting a smaller amount of body resistance to the water.
Let us know how it goes!
The crown of your head is best described as the point on top of your skull. You can visualize it as that spot of intersection for a line that comes up from your shoulders through your ears met by a line drawn from the base of your skull by your neck which intersects with a line from your chin up through your nose over your forehead. If you ever wear a baseball style cap they often have a button on top that is the intersection of the various pieces of material forming the cap. That would be a similar approximation of this line.
Another way to see in real time is to stand in front of a mirror with your chin more or less parallel to the floor. If a board was balanced on top of your head the place of tangency would most likely be the crown as well. We call this head placement the "neutral" position.
When swimming freestyle - which is the stroke most of us use for training purposes - we want our head in this neutral position which means we lead with the crown of our head.
Anytime you lift your head up, even a half an inch, something opposite happens at the other end of your spine. Your hips drop accordingly. In the old days (1950's through the 70's) it was thought best to hold your head up with the water line at approximately your hair line. The idea was to get up on top of the water. Today this is not the case. You want your body to swim as flat in the water as possible to minimize resistance from your chest, belly and hips. The easiest way to do this is to drop your head, leading with the crown.
Initially it will feel like you are swimming downhill or underwater. This is not the case. It merely feels that way because what you are used to is swimming with your head held higher; in most cases too high. If you can see ahead of yourself in the pool then your head is probably too high. Look straight down at the bottom of the pool. You can practice this position standing in front of the mirror; simply get your head in the neutral position and then look straight ahead. If you were to rotate your entire body 90 degrees you would be swimming on your stomach in the correct body position in the water.
Give it a try and see how you feel. Once you get used to it, you will feel better; for sure your stroke will be more effective as you are now presenting a smaller amount of body resistance to the water.
Let us know how it goes!
Sunday, December 7, 2008
Post Olympic Paths
In the wake of the excitement of the swimming at the Beijing Olympics it is interesting to see what some of the participants are doing, what path they are on if you will.
Some have definitely retired - or at least that is what they are saying now. Of course, Dara Torres has retired a couple of times only to have been reinvigorated by her passion for swimming and competing at the highest levels.
Others, such as Michael Phelps and Natalie Coughlin have said they will retire after the London Games in 2012. There was an interesting piece in Sunday's San Francisco Chronicle about what Natalie is up to these days.
And of course Phelps has had tremendous exposure lately. He has appeared on Saturday Night Live, 60 Minutes and this week was named Sportsman of the Year by Sports Illustrated. He is the only swimmer ever to be named to the magazine's prestigious award.
Then there is Ryan Lotche. At last week's US Swimming Winter Short Course Nationals he competed in four events, winning all four and posting remarkably fast swims. By his own account he did not swim for two months after Beijing and has been training only an hour a day since returning to the water.
While money is certainly a motivator for many of these swimmers we believe that their love of the activity is a main factor. Training and racing at high levels requires inordinate levels of commitment and not just of time. One must have a willingness to make sacrifices, pay attention to the details of training and stroke, nutrition and life style - the list is endless. Personal satisfaction drives nearly all high level performers.
It is wonderful to be involved in a sport that has both such compelling storylines and lifelong benefits. Enjoy your swim today, or your coaching, knowing that you are in fine company!
Some have definitely retired - or at least that is what they are saying now. Of course, Dara Torres has retired a couple of times only to have been reinvigorated by her passion for swimming and competing at the highest levels.
Others, such as Michael Phelps and Natalie Coughlin have said they will retire after the London Games in 2012. There was an interesting piece in Sunday's San Francisco Chronicle about what Natalie is up to these days.
And of course Phelps has had tremendous exposure lately. He has appeared on Saturday Night Live, 60 Minutes and this week was named Sportsman of the Year by Sports Illustrated. He is the only swimmer ever to be named to the magazine's prestigious award.
Then there is Ryan Lotche. At last week's US Swimming Winter Short Course Nationals he competed in four events, winning all four and posting remarkably fast swims. By his own account he did not swim for two months after Beijing and has been training only an hour a day since returning to the water.
While money is certainly a motivator for many of these swimmers we believe that their love of the activity is a main factor. Training and racing at high levels requires inordinate levels of commitment and not just of time. One must have a willingness to make sacrifices, pay attention to the details of training and stroke, nutrition and life style - the list is endless. Personal satisfaction drives nearly all high level performers.
It is wonderful to be involved in a sport that has both such compelling storylines and lifelong benefits. Enjoy your swim today, or your coaching, knowing that you are in fine company!
Specificity of Training
At some point in your training you will want to consider the value of the concept of "specificity". There are many ways to describe this idea but for the sake of simplicity let's call it something like this: train the way you want to race, or exercise in accordance with your goals.
With respect to racing...
We always talk about the need to swim faster in practice if you want to improve your race times. This may seem obvious but at some point each swimmer needs to ask him/herself if they are actually doing this. If you are warming up and doing your main sets at relatively the same speed week after week, month after month, then you are setting yourself up for racing pretty much at the same speed.
And a word for you Masters swimmers out there...Certainly as your body changes and you start to slow down over time you still can maintain a forward "leaning" attitude about your training such that while real times may slow down, relative times will actually improve. We have not seen a scale of "relative" times for age advancement but if you are competing well as you move up in your age groups then you probably are improving relative to your own personal base line.
Once or twice a week add in a race specific set to your training. For instance, if you are working on your 200 distance you would add in a set that might look like this:
4x50 at 80% effort on the minute
1x100 easy
4x50 at 85% effort on the 1:10
1x100 easy
4x50 at 90% effort on the 1:20
1x100 easy
4x50 at 95% effort on the 1:30
1x100 easy
That's 1200 yards/meters of race specific training. Each group of 4x50 would be held at the same time with the times getting faster as you go through the set. This is an excellent way for you to learn what it feels like to swim 4 consistent 50's (your 200). And to swim them at a more demanding level (faster) as your go through the set. One of the biggest challenges in racing a 200 is to keep all the 50's tightly bunched. The swimming speed of each of the 8 (4 if long course) laps is the same. The only difference is the time of the 1st lap since there is a dive. Consider the splits of Karlee Bispo at last weekend's Texas Invitational in the 200 freestyle: 24.44 - 26.44 - 26.54 - 26.42 (1:43.84). And while very few of us are that fast, we can all learn from the even distribution of effort as evidenced by the split times. One of the nice things about swimming is that the stopwatch never lies!
For you exercise swimmers out there consider what your goal(s) is and then think about how you can once or twice a week create a workout that supports your goal. Even if your goal is to swim for the simple fact that it relaxes you and provides some stress relief, you can make a workout that does that. For example, how about going to the pool and swimming for a certain amount of time, regardless of the number of laps you have swum? Wouldn't it be nice to once a week go to the pool and simply swim? Perhaps you could stop whenever you felt like it, maybe chat with a fellow lap swimmer, or simply enjoy the time in the water or in the sun if you swim outdoors. You get the idea.
And if you need more suggestions, drop us an email and we'll be glad to help no matter what your goal is! Have some fun this week, because if it ain't fun it usually isn't worth doing.
With respect to racing...
We always talk about the need to swim faster in practice if you want to improve your race times. This may seem obvious but at some point each swimmer needs to ask him/herself if they are actually doing this. If you are warming up and doing your main sets at relatively the same speed week after week, month after month, then you are setting yourself up for racing pretty much at the same speed.
And a word for you Masters swimmers out there...Certainly as your body changes and you start to slow down over time you still can maintain a forward "leaning" attitude about your training such that while real times may slow down, relative times will actually improve. We have not seen a scale of "relative" times for age advancement but if you are competing well as you move up in your age groups then you probably are improving relative to your own personal base line.
Once or twice a week add in a race specific set to your training. For instance, if you are working on your 200 distance you would add in a set that might look like this:
4x50 at 80% effort on the minute
1x100 easy
4x50 at 85% effort on the 1:10
1x100 easy
4x50 at 90% effort on the 1:20
1x100 easy
4x50 at 95% effort on the 1:30
1x100 easy
That's 1200 yards/meters of race specific training. Each group of 4x50 would be held at the same time with the times getting faster as you go through the set. This is an excellent way for you to learn what it feels like to swim 4 consistent 50's (your 200). And to swim them at a more demanding level (faster) as your go through the set. One of the biggest challenges in racing a 200 is to keep all the 50's tightly bunched. The swimming speed of each of the 8 (4 if long course) laps is the same. The only difference is the time of the 1st lap since there is a dive. Consider the splits of Karlee Bispo at last weekend's Texas Invitational in the 200 freestyle: 24.44 - 26.44 - 26.54 - 26.42 (1:43.84). And while very few of us are that fast, we can all learn from the even distribution of effort as evidenced by the split times. One of the nice things about swimming is that the stopwatch never lies!
For you exercise swimmers out there consider what your goal(s) is and then think about how you can once or twice a week create a workout that supports your goal. Even if your goal is to swim for the simple fact that it relaxes you and provides some stress relief, you can make a workout that does that. For example, how about going to the pool and swimming for a certain amount of time, regardless of the number of laps you have swum? Wouldn't it be nice to once a week go to the pool and simply swim? Perhaps you could stop whenever you felt like it, maybe chat with a fellow lap swimmer, or simply enjoy the time in the water or in the sun if you swim outdoors. You get the idea.
And if you need more suggestions, drop us an email and we'll be glad to help no matter what your goal is! Have some fun this week, because if it ain't fun it usually isn't worth doing.
Sunday, November 30, 2008
Perhaps Now Is The Time
...the time to rest, that is...This Saturday we went to the Old Mill Park in Mill Valley, California where the Quadruple Dipsea starts and finishes. There are actually three Dipsea races each year. In early June the Dipsea runs 7.1 miles from Mill Valley over Mt. Tamalpais to Stinson Beach, California. It is, along with the Boston Marathon, one of the oldest races in the United States. In late June they hold the Double Dipsea which is a round trip. Then every year on the Saturday following Thanksgiving about 250 hardy souls show up for the Quad Dipsea which is two Doubles. This course, whether you run it once, twice or four times in a given day has more vertical climb and descent per mile than the Western States 100 Mile Endurance Run. It is quite a challenge.
At this year's event we met runner and author John Morelock whose column appears below. Ultra Running Magazine, where Morelock's article appears, is the Bible for anyone who longs to run any distance that is beyond a marathon (26.2 miles). You can substitute the word "swim" or "bike" with the word "run" and see some value for yourself.
We hope you enjoy the Holiday season as much as we do. Read and rest. It might make all the difference to you. Let us know how it goes for you!
Run Gently Out There
by John Morelock
Ultra Running Magazine.
At this year's event we met runner and author John Morelock whose column appears below. Ultra Running Magazine, where Morelock's article appears, is the Bible for anyone who longs to run any distance that is beyond a marathon (26.2 miles). You can substitute the word "swim" or "bike" with the word "run" and see some value for yourself.
We hope you enjoy the Holiday season as much as we do. Read and rest. It might make all the difference to you. Let us know how it goes for you!
Run Gently Out There
by John Morelock
Ultra Running Magazine.
Mind Over Matter
Athletes tend to simplify things that they perceive relate to their performance. Many coaches and keen observers like to think that an athlete needs to be "tougher" to improve. Getting "tougher" is usually broken into the separate components of the body and the mind. Want to get faster? Train harder; it's that simple. Want to get to the top? Get your head together; that's the key.
Well. It is true that you need to train as diligently as possible; hopefully that capacity improves daily. It is also true that if your state of mind is centered, if you are focused and able to perform while distracted by any number of stimuli, you stand a much greater chance of success. However, there is more going on than meets the eye.
One of our swimmers came across a fascinating article on this subject written by two sports psychologists at the University of Texas at Austin's College of Education. Drs John Bartholomew and Esbelle Jowers write clearly and succinctly on this subject. Included in the article is a really good Q&A with Olympian Garrett Weber-Gale.
We hope you find this helpful. Let us know what you think!
Don't Even Think About It: Athlete’s mental toughness as important as physical strength
Well. It is true that you need to train as diligently as possible; hopefully that capacity improves daily. It is also true that if your state of mind is centered, if you are focused and able to perform while distracted by any number of stimuli, you stand a much greater chance of success. However, there is more going on than meets the eye.
One of our swimmers came across a fascinating article on this subject written by two sports psychologists at the University of Texas at Austin's College of Education. Drs John Bartholomew and Esbelle Jowers write clearly and succinctly on this subject. Included in the article is a really good Q&A with Olympian Garrett Weber-Gale.
We hope you find this helpful. Let us know what you think!
Don't Even Think About It: Athlete’s mental toughness as important as physical strength
Sunday, November 23, 2008
Is the Grass Really Greener?
In the world of sports, at least the world of professional sports, it is all too common to read about the switching of teams by coaches and players. The reasons for changing are usually money though no one cops to that, at least not outright.
In our sport of swimming one of the most common reasons for athletes to change teams is the frustration that comes with a plateau or even a drop off in performance. All swimmers begin their career with steady, often meteoric improvement. This is natural since they are starting at zero as it were. Couple this with the growth factor and by 13 or 15 years of age the expectation has been set; namely that a swimmer "should" see some kind of regular drops in time.
What often goes unrecognized is the contribution the swimmer makes to the improvement. By this we do not mean the training, the laps swum or the weights lifted. We mean the intention that the swimmer has and how he/she acts based on those intentions. Parents are the ones who usually pull the plug on the current team. They see a swimmer or swimmers who their youngster used to beat in races who are now out performing their son/daughter. And so, they decide after some discussion that it must be the coaching or the program in general that is better on the other side of the fence.
The change is made and life goes on. What too few realize is that the swimmer who moves takes with them their "stuff"; namely stroke strengths and weaknesses, racing strategies, mental toughness (or lack thereof), focus ability (or lack thereof) and training habits. Until a swimmer is willing to honestly address their whole package the change itself will do little in the way of lasting improvement. It is common to see a quick bounce but lasting change is a whole other issue.
Since the inception of $500 racing suits and professional endorsement contracts swimming's profile has changed. In this week's mainstream sports media it was announced that two time Olympian Katie Hoff, who trains at the North Baltimore Aquatic Club, has switched coaches. In a related story, Michael Phelps' coach, Bob Bowman, formerly at NBAC then Michigan has returned to NBAC. Paul Yetter, also a coach at North Baltimore, coached Katie Hoff until this week. In the stories about the changes it tells us very little. The one comment that is worth noting is Hoff's when she talks about the intensity level that Bowman is famous for and how she thinks she is now ready for that. This is the "stuff" we referred to above.
We certainly do not know enough about the intricacies of this story to comment with certainty. What we do know is that all of the players, Hoff, Yetter and Bowman bring their own skills and weaknesses to the table.
This has happened to all three of us here at SwimCoachDirect. It isn't always a bad thing either. Sometimes a swimmer who switches gets and gives relief all at the same time. What we do know for sure is that before you switch you really need to make an honest assessment of your own set of tools. Do you really need new ones or can you sharpen the ones you have? If you need new ones and they are not available in your current program that is one thing. If they need sharpening perhaps you are the one who needs to do the work and not the coach.
Something to think about...
Have a great week and let us know how it is going for you!
In our sport of swimming one of the most common reasons for athletes to change teams is the frustration that comes with a plateau or even a drop off in performance. All swimmers begin their career with steady, often meteoric improvement. This is natural since they are starting at zero as it were. Couple this with the growth factor and by 13 or 15 years of age the expectation has been set; namely that a swimmer "should" see some kind of regular drops in time.
What often goes unrecognized is the contribution the swimmer makes to the improvement. By this we do not mean the training, the laps swum or the weights lifted. We mean the intention that the swimmer has and how he/she acts based on those intentions. Parents are the ones who usually pull the plug on the current team. They see a swimmer or swimmers who their youngster used to beat in races who are now out performing their son/daughter. And so, they decide after some discussion that it must be the coaching or the program in general that is better on the other side of the fence.
The change is made and life goes on. What too few realize is that the swimmer who moves takes with them their "stuff"; namely stroke strengths and weaknesses, racing strategies, mental toughness (or lack thereof), focus ability (or lack thereof) and training habits. Until a swimmer is willing to honestly address their whole package the change itself will do little in the way of lasting improvement. It is common to see a quick bounce but lasting change is a whole other issue.
Since the inception of $500 racing suits and professional endorsement contracts swimming's profile has changed. In this week's mainstream sports media it was announced that two time Olympian Katie Hoff, who trains at the North Baltimore Aquatic Club, has switched coaches. In a related story, Michael Phelps' coach, Bob Bowman, formerly at NBAC then Michigan has returned to NBAC. Paul Yetter, also a coach at North Baltimore, coached Katie Hoff until this week. In the stories about the changes it tells us very little. The one comment that is worth noting is Hoff's when she talks about the intensity level that Bowman is famous for and how she thinks she is now ready for that. This is the "stuff" we referred to above.
We certainly do not know enough about the intricacies of this story to comment with certainty. What we do know is that all of the players, Hoff, Yetter and Bowman bring their own skills and weaknesses to the table.
This has happened to all three of us here at SwimCoachDirect. It isn't always a bad thing either. Sometimes a swimmer who switches gets and gives relief all at the same time. What we do know for sure is that before you switch you really need to make an honest assessment of your own set of tools. Do you really need new ones or can you sharpen the ones you have? If you need new ones and they are not available in your current program that is one thing. If they need sharpening perhaps you are the one who needs to do the work and not the coach.
Something to think about...
Have a great week and let us know how it is going for you!
Saturday, November 22, 2008
Heartbreak and Inspiration
Each of us can relate to this story in many different ways: the athlete who works incredibly hard to do something no one thinks can be done, and then just when achieving it has it unjustly taken away; the coaches and parents who have devoted love and support but are powerless to change the outcome; and the inspiration of the athlete who finds his way through the flames of the bonfire to give back again over and over as a coach. So no matter who you are: athlete, coach, or parent in any combination, and no matter what your personal 'Olympics' are, we all can learn from "Gold Medal Lockdown".
Sunday, November 16, 2008
When Opportunity Knocks
San Francisco Chronicle columnist Nancy Gay covers the NFL for readers. She just profiled an interesting situation recapping how the Miami Dolphins are rebuilding their recently woeful team. In her recent article "The right way to rebuild" she talks about Chad Pennington the former Jets and now current Dolphins quarterback.
We found that several of her observations and Pennington's comments hit the proverbial nail right on the head. Sports often mirrors life in that one seemingly hopeless situation often morphs quickly into a wonderful opportunity. The key ingredient is usually the mindset of the people involved.
Some key points from Nancy Gay's story:
Have a great week. Who knows, perhaps opportunity will come knocking on your door?!
We found that several of her observations and Pennington's comments hit the proverbial nail right on the head. Sports often mirrors life in that one seemingly hopeless situation often morphs quickly into a wonderful opportunity. The key ingredient is usually the mindset of the people involved.
Some key points from Nancy Gay's story:
- Pennington has quietly completed 66.5 percent of his passes this season (185 of 278) for 2,200 yards and eight touchdowns. Pennington has tossed five interceptions - a byproduct of Henning's gambling downfield style - but he's also had 24 completions of 20 yards or longer, which ties him with Peyton Manning, and is one more than his replacement with the Jets (Favre has 23 completions of 20 or more yards after getting two Thursday against the Patriots ).
- "Well, I think the one thing that the NFL is about is opportunity. When one door closes, a lot of time another one opens and as long as you keep the right mind-set and stay confident in how you do things as a professional, I think you can really take advantage of the opportunities presented to you and that's what I've tried to do," Pennington said this week. "I've tried to come in to the Dolphins organization and be the best that I can be every day and work extremely hard and see what happens."
- Tony Sparano was looking for a quarterback to whom the young players would gravitate, and Pennington established himself straight away as that guy - just as his front office envisioned. "Once we had the opportunity via the Brett Favre thing ... to, maybe, get a player like this, it was fortunate that Jeff (Ireland) and Bill (Parcells) felt strongly about this," Sparano said. "We went out, we got him, we brought him in here and, from Day 1, when he walked through the door, the players were following him around like he was the Pied Piper."
- Pennington's history made the transition much easier. "I was familiar with the system because Bill Parcells drafted me in 2000 in New York and I knew what type of system it would be and how the organization would be run. They value smart, tough, disciplined football players and guys who not only know how to be professionals but really take pride in being a professional football player," said Pennington, who was told he would be expected to provide leadership and be a mentor to the younger players, a role he relished. "I knew that that would fit me and I felt really good about the situation."
Have a great week. Who knows, perhaps opportunity will come knocking on your door?!
The Value of Starting Blocks
A quick reminder this week about the value of "starting blocks". And those words are in quotes on purpose. By starting blocks we mean any event that puts you in a slightly more competitive situation than a regular training situation.
An intrasquad meet, a team time trial, an alumni meet, a recreation league sponsored open water swim, a local "Tri" that is really nothing more than a development type of competition all are examples of a slightly more competitive situation than a normal workout setting. Any of these formats will more accurately simulate the process you will go through in prepping for and actually racing in competitive situations than a workout. It is also a good way to mix up the emphasis.
We took our team this weekend to an "Invitational" meet. There were six teams invited and most of the usual events were offered. The swims rolled one upon another fairly quickly which meant the swimmers had short rest periods with little loosen down time. What is great about these meets is that while times count (Colorado scoreboard, fully sanctioned and officiated etc.) the emphasis is on doing your swims correctly. Each swimmer has a chance to practice the mental and physical approach all the while knowing that the times may not be the best.
Our team is going to one of two big meets in a month; the deciding factor is the qualifying times they have. Each meet will be a "shave and taper" meet. There is only one way to truly prep for such a competition; namely, getting up on the blocks and racing, specifically racing someone you do not ordinarily swim against every day in training.
So, we encourage you, regardless of your own particular level of competition, to seek out a local meet or racing opportunity, sign up and then go and see what happens. You wouldn't enter a course of study at school that had only one final exam, would you? These lower level racing opportunities are akin to weekly "pop" quizzes or mid terms.
Even if your response to this is that "I don't really do this to compete" we encourage you to give it a try. You may find that it opens your eyes a little or re-kindles a greater level of awareness about the value you place on your training.
Let us know how it goes!
An intrasquad meet, a team time trial, an alumni meet, a recreation league sponsored open water swim, a local "Tri" that is really nothing more than a development type of competition all are examples of a slightly more competitive situation than a normal workout setting. Any of these formats will more accurately simulate the process you will go through in prepping for and actually racing in competitive situations than a workout. It is also a good way to mix up the emphasis.
We took our team this weekend to an "Invitational" meet. There were six teams invited and most of the usual events were offered. The swims rolled one upon another fairly quickly which meant the swimmers had short rest periods with little loosen down time. What is great about these meets is that while times count (Colorado scoreboard, fully sanctioned and officiated etc.) the emphasis is on doing your swims correctly. Each swimmer has a chance to practice the mental and physical approach all the while knowing that the times may not be the best.
Our team is going to one of two big meets in a month; the deciding factor is the qualifying times they have. Each meet will be a "shave and taper" meet. There is only one way to truly prep for such a competition; namely, getting up on the blocks and racing, specifically racing someone you do not ordinarily swim against every day in training.
So, we encourage you, regardless of your own particular level of competition, to seek out a local meet or racing opportunity, sign up and then go and see what happens. You wouldn't enter a course of study at school that had only one final exam, would you? These lower level racing opportunities are akin to weekly "pop" quizzes or mid terms.
Even if your response to this is that "I don't really do this to compete" we encourage you to give it a try. You may find that it opens your eyes a little or re-kindles a greater level of awareness about the value you place on your training.
Let us know how it goes!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)