Tolls in our Toolbox

I read Mike's last blog (End of the year is around the corner, are we being consistent??) and it reminds me of a point I am constantly trying to get across to the swimmers. We, as coaches, give the swimmers the tools for their toolbox but unless they take those tools out during the course of the practice, the tools are just going to waste.

Last night during AGC we spend the whole practice on breaking down the breaststroke pull as it relates to the pullout and the swim. It took them quite some time to get their heads-in-the-game. Derrick and I tried to get them to understand the importance of breaking the stroke down and working on the fine points of the stroke, these are the tools. The little details of the strokes, the one or two works and or non-verbal commands the remind a swimmer about the proper technique of a stroke. A coaches job is to motivate and teach and a swimmers job is to absorb and perform.

I like Mike's analogy in his blog of a math teacher. I have used this analogy on the pool deck with the kids on numerous occations. Their math teacher does not have to start every class by reminding the kids that 1 + 1 = 2. The same should apply for swimming, they should be able to come off every wall in a tight streamline. If they don't use the tools we, as coaches, are there to remind them of their tool that is in their box. But it is up to each and every swimmer to use the tool to become a better swimmer. Each swimmer should walk on the pool deck ready to perform (with toolbox in hand) mentally as well as physically.