TSA Coaches Clinic

TSA Coaches Clinic May 24, 2011

1. Communication is your key to success and often the hardest thing to do well. I am often guilty of assuming that swimmers or parents know something that they should but unfortunately they don’t and it creates confusion and problems. A. The more your parents and swimmers know the easier your job will be. B. Make sure they are aware of schedules, events, what you are trying to accomplish. C. Communicating with your TSA representative is vital to your success. They are the person that TSA recognizes for your team and they should be aware of all things you are doing.

2. Goals – an essential part of any successful endeavor A. What are your goals for your team this summer. They should be simple, they can be general and you should write them down. B. As you are working with each swimmer have goals for each of them, improve their kick, make their breaststroke legal, etc.

3. Be knowledgeable A. Be aware of the rules, it can be a huge asset and avoid problems. TSA rules are found online - http://www.tsanc.org/about/forms.php The TSA purpose is:  to further interest in competitive swimming,  to set and enforce meet standards and rules for participation, and  to foster cooperation between participating clubs. B. The more knowledgeable you are the better you will do your job. If you understand the rules and the sport you can present reasonable and well thought out conversations with swimmers, parents and officials. Often a smart and reasonable presentation will help you achieve your goal especially in conjunction with #5.

5. Be professional A. Looking, acting, and speaking professionally is a big asset. It will make your job easier. B. when you are dealing with parents, officials, or other coaches, acting in a professional manner will always help you accomplish your goal better than losing your cool. C. Choosing a meeting time is better than having a confrontation on deck. D. Conduct with swimmers has become a very big topic with swim coaches this year. Not that it has not always been important, just that there is more scrutiny due to media coverage. Make sure that you are not putting yourself in a position that could cause trouble.

6. General coaching thoughts A. Realize the power and effect you have on your swimmers. You will be spending at least an hour a day with them over the several months and that is more than some of their parents. You are a role model to these kids, you are a mentor and they will notice how you act, speak and behave. B. Kids like to be challenged; it is part of growing up. Challenge them not only with hard work, but in technical excellence. C. The more interest you show in the kids and parents the more involved they will be in your team. Show up early and talk with them, stay late and answer questions. D. Make sure that you mix things up and do different things with them to keep it interesting and fun. E. Butterfly – fast kick, pop your arms and get your head down and behind up F. Backstroke – fast hands, deep catch, rotation G. Breaststroke – fast hands all the way out, finish kick and get to streamline, set elbows H. Freestyle – sneaky fast breaths, rotation, kick

7. Best Practices from USA Swimming for Athlete (and coach) Protection The following Best Practice Guidelines are strongly recommended for all USA Swimming members. 1. Parents should be encouraged to appropriately support their children’s swimming experience. 2. All swimming practices should be open to observation by parents. 3. Two-deep Leadership: One coach member and at least one other adult who is not in the water should be present at all practices and other sanctioned club activities whenever at least one athlete is present. Clubs and coaches should evaluate their seasonal plans and map out how to best accomplish this strongly recommended guideline. 4. Open and Observable Environment: An open and observable environment should be maintained for all interactions between adults and athletes. Private, or one-on-one situations, should be avoided unless they are open and observable. Common sense should be used to move a meeting to an open and observable location if the meeting inadvertently begins in private. 5. Coaches should not invite or have an athlete(s) to their home without the permission of the athlete’s parents (or legal guardian). 7. Athletes should not ride in a coach’s vehicle without another adult present who is the same gender as the athlete, unless prior parental permission is obtained. 8. Communications between non-athlete adult members and athletes should not include any topic or language that is sexual or inappropriate in nature. 9. Non-athlete adult members should respect the privacy of athletes in situations such as changing of clothes, showering, etc. Non-athlete adult members should protect their own privacy in similar situations. 10. Relationships of a peer-to-peer nature with any athletes should be avoided. For example, coaches should avoid sharing their own personal problems with athletes. 11. Coaches and other non-athlete adult members should avoid horseplay and roughhousing with athletes. 12. When a coach touches an athlete as part of instruction, the coach should do so in direct view of others and inform the athlete of what he/she is doing prior to the initial contact. Touching athletes should be minimized outside the boundaries of what is considered normal instruction. Appropriate interaction would include high fives, fist bumps, side-to-side hugs and handshakes. 13. Coaches should not initiate contact with or accept supervisory responsibility for athletes outside club programs and activities.

9. Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions, or need some help. Office – 981-0644, cell 906-SWIM (7946), email [email protected].