Foundations of Coaching

In Mount Isa in those days, we had great It was compulsory as part of membership would fish the waters of Kurumba in the sporting leadership within our education to the club and as a result every swimmer Gulf of Carpentaria. They would test us by system with Dennis Fredrickson who was learnt to swim fast, efficient heats. The having us compete in harnesses around a great teacher and a great sportsman, competition was structured so that our waists attached to fishing rods from and John Gouldson who was also a great everyone had to swim in all four strokes the 25 metre mark against each other as school teacher and great sportsman. As over all competition distances. There was athletes and the lids of 44 gallon drums such, young people were encouraged to no choice and whilst we all complained while battling the fishermen who were excel in both areas. about it as athletes and we applauded it as trying desperately to get us from either coaches. It provided athletes from Mount the 50m mark or the 25m mark into The list of swimmers coming out of Mount Isa with a winning point of difference the backstroke flags. Each time we as Isa over a long period of time is long, ahead of our opposition and competition. athletes would have to face a different and a tribute to the culture and attitudes This is something that has been lost in fisherman and our time differentials of people living in this remote country today’s compromising world of multiple would be recorded. This required a major town. The achievements and history of choices and options. psyche-up from the athletes and I am swimmers and sports men and women in sure the opportunity was relished by the fishermen who would invariably win with Mount Isa is legendary over many years. On some occasions, probably on a monthly only the time lapse being the difference. I believe this lies in the foundations of basis and in the Freestyle and Butterfly sport in Mount Isa and the attitudes of events the females were permitted to the people who chose to visit or live in use fins and compete on an equal basis At the conclusion of our weekly Sunday this tremendous environment. Two of with the males. On many occasions, I morning competition, all members of the families who I taught during my time can recall the frustration of having to the club in terms of the older athletes there were the Rafter family of Pat Rafter race against Riitta – her with fins and me (16 and older) would spend the afternoon tennis fame, and the Rosengren family with none, and having to fight like hell water-skiing at Lake Moondarra. A which had two Rhodes scholars and against the humiliation of being beaten by great recognition for senior athletes and Queensland Father of the Year (2008) in a female in the 200 and 400 metre events. a reason to stay in the sport! This was Kevin Rosengren. This was the quality It was certainly a challenge that I did not extremely motivational and a recognition of people competing and participating in relish at the time, but I feel certain that for those who were still in the sport swimming and sport over an extended it had untold benefits in my growth as a after 16 years of age. This provides period of time. swimmer and as a person. some extremely important lessons of recognition and cross-training for clubs and athletes in today’s world. There were The swimming club in those days held I was reminded during my visit to Mount many afternoons on Sundays when the their weekly club competition on Sunday Isa of the test opportunities that we as coaches driving the ski boats left us (the mornings from 7.00 till 9.00am prior to swimmers faced about three to four times athletes) with a long swim back to the the pool opening to the public and was a year when the professional fishermen, launch after a final wipe-out at the end of preceded by a one hour training session usually dedicated mine employees who from 6.00 to 7.00am. the day. FOUNDATIONS OF COACHING 18 SWIMMING IN AUSTRALIA ascta Journal [DEC 2011] V1.indd 18 30/11/2011 12:16:56 PM The system of selection for swimmers We did not do any swimming in the This had to be achieved in the month of competing in those days in Mount Isa was afternoons apart from this very fast October or by 1st November that coming that without compromise, we had to make and short speed work, and a series of year. Goal setting made easy! As athletes, fourth place at the State Championships underwater swimming. This session we all knew 10 to 11 months in advance held in January each year of the age we usually concluded or was interspersed what needed to be achieved, and more were going to compete in at the following with some fast, explosive strength and importantly when it had to be achieved year’s Championships. We had to achieve conditioning exposures utilising drill rods by, and that no-one sought or expected this at the Sunday morning competition procured from Mount Isa Mines. These compromise in this area. Nothing could during Club Time Trials. This meant drill rods were heavy duty steel and be more accurate, precise or deliverable. that we had to achieve a time in the painted by ourselves to identify which morning at Club Time Trials compared strength and conditioning tools were used This was a result and performance driven to the performances at the Valley Pool by which athletes. system that was very easy to buy into, and State Championship venue to a final it produced repeatable excellence over opportunity under the excitement of State Regarding 1st November Time Trials, a period of 20 years both before my time Championships. any swimmer who just missed out in Mount Isa as a swimmer and after my on achieving this standard was then experience there as a coach. This was all There was no compromise in this. You appointed to coach (as in recording times due to the visionary leadership of the head either made the time on Sunday morning and monitoring the training performances) coach prior to my arrival. Unfortunately, at Club competition at a level of Top 4 at at lunchtimes of those who did make I did not understand this as an athlete, the State Championships in finals on 1st it. This meant that each of us who made and as such I did not buy into it fully at the November, and were selected. You either selection to this group was appointed a time. did this and achieved the opportunity to swimmer who had not made it, and as a attend the State Championships in early result was very diligent in ensuring that When I was a swimmer, Mount Isa to mid January, or you didn’t go – no the standards required were met. It also swimming was ahead of its time. It was excuses and no exceptions. For those of provided these “pseudo coaches” with in the early 60s that I remember that we us who did, we were then provided with an inspiration to make it the following year. did circle training, ie. following each other opportunity to train three times a day over It was the responsibility of each swimmer around in circles within our lane. We the Christmas school holiday period. In to buy their allocated lunch time “coach” a trained three times per day with three the mornings, the entire club trained from gift at the conclusion of this period. different energy systems, we integrated 5.30 to 7.30 on aerobic work and individual strength and conditioning programmes medley work. and a fully integrated systematic approach In my memory, many of the coaches to training, reward and recognition. or monitors from one year went on to For those achieving the State make it the following year and very few Championship standard on 1st November, who were selected to attend the State The Mount Isa Swimming Club had white we trained again at lunchtime with high Championships in January went on to tracksuits with blue and gold stripes and intensity, mixed rest repeats from race represent without winning some kind of as such, was an unmistakable brand and distance down for approximately an hour medal. could only be achieved with representation and a half, depending on whether we at the Queensland or North Queensland achieved the pre-set times or we didn’t. Championships as a swimmer. The Mount This was usually only about 4 to 8 athletes Obviously, those who competed at the Isa Swimming Club enjoyed a period of who would achieve this standard. In the State Championships knew immediately over 15 years where it was in the top afternoons, we trained from 4.45 until that if they wanted to repeat this exercise 3 swimming clubs in Queensland, and 6.15 or 6.30 where we would do fast series the following year, then the time standard for a period of over 12 years it was one of speed work across the pool and all you had to achieve was fourth place in the of the top 2 swimming clubs in North repeats were timed and recorded along age group above. Queensland. with stroke counts. COACHING SWIMMINGSWIMMING IN IN AUSTRALIA AUSTRALIA ascta Journal [DEC 2011] V1.indd 19 30/11/2011 12:16:58 PM Adult Swimming To gain representation at the North Certification would be given at the end I continue to be inspired today by my Queensland Championships, the of the school holidays for those who time in Mount Isa, and re-visiting the swimmers had to achieve a standard of could swim 50m Freestyle, and further learn to swim pool that I had built at top 3 in the finals in the age group above certification would be given for those who my parents home at 58 Buckley Avenue from the year before at North Queensland could do the 200m Individual Medley by where many children learnt to swim level.

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