American Coaches Association Newsletter

Vol. 2011 Issue 3

17 letter to the Editor From Daniel O. Thompson Developing A Young Athlete 18 ASCA “Working Successfully with Swim By Chuck Batchelor Parents” Final Essay: The Ultra-Competitive 10 & Under Parent INTRODUCTION: By Shawn Squires Good morning. I am Jimmy Tierney from Northwestern University and an ASCA Board 21 2010 ASCA Awards of Excellence member. It is my pleasure here to introduce our first morning speaker. How many of you guys have 25 NCAA Men’s DI Notes: read workouts and sets written by Chuck before? 100 Breast I know a number of them have been published. They are pretty awesome. They are motivating 26 thank You! Advocacy Fund and inspiring, at least to me. He challenges his athletes on a day-to-day basis. His workouts and his planning I think are just outstanding in terms of the development of young athletes. I will tell you what, I have had the pleasure of knowing a couple of his former athletes that swam at Northwestern and the thing that sticks with me the most is that they have the utmost respect for Chuck. They admire him and they simply like

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2 | Volume 2011 — Issue 03 | ASCA Newsletter him as a person and to Coach Batchelor: different things than you do – have experience that you do not have Thank you and good morning. me that is a wonderful and then listen to them. It doesn’t It is a tremendous honor to be mean you have to do what they say. combination to have when here before you guys. I appreciate Sometimes hearing three totally all of you coming out. I am pretty your athletes respect you different things and you going nervous. I will just get that out in a fourth direction is the right there. So, made the and you are demanding thing to do for you, but you won’t Olympic Team and that is basically find that fourth direction without from them the fullest why I had the opportunity to speak help. Continuing with the thanks, to you guys today. I really had to effort. At times he seems I wish to thank my swimmers, past cut this list down, but I think it is and present and then obviously to be just pounding them very important that I thank quite a Elizabeth and her family. They made few people. I know there is no way I and pounding them, but tremendous sacrifices on their part, could have done or helped Elizabeth keeping the eye on the prize. they seem to respond make the team if it wasn’t for a whole slew of people. First and OK, here is a picture of well to him. I have been foremost is my wife, Christina Elizabeth. For those of you that around him on the pool Close. She is here today. As I am know her, I thought that picture sure many of you know, it is in really represented her personality. deck. They smile and many ways a very selfish endeavor Those of you that do not know her the two things that I get from that seem to be having a good to go on the path to try to take an athlete to the highest level. She put picture are one, just a complete time. I think that is just a up with me not being around a lot, joy of life. I would say if you looked not being focused on mowing the at a hundred pictures of her, 99 of wonderful gift that Chuck lawn and things like that so, thank them have that smile, but if you has. Thank goodness he is you. On top of that my family and look closely in the eyes and in the her family were putting up with the face, there is also an intensity. I coaching here with us in same kinds of things and supporting think those two things of that joy and that intensity have enabled her the United States so his us all the way. The coaches, my friends, my mentors, I will just list to be the swimmer that she is. gift is being shared with a few people here: Chris Martin, Okay, a little story about my John Levine, Dick Shoulberg, Gregg us all over the country. roommate, . I think Troy, Ira Klein, John Collins, Dan this story really is a big part of my We all know about Flack, Frank Comfort, Jim Wood, philosophy. I do not know if Nelson Mike Ross who coaches with me is in here this morning, but I will Elizabeth Beisel and her and the rest of our staff, Nelson try not to embarrass him too much. great success, but he has Diebel, ‘92 Olympic Gold Medalist, So, I was a junior in high school my roommate in high school, BJ at the Peddie School. I was just a developed many, many Bedford, another Olympian, Nike pretty good swimmer when Nelson Swimming who supported us all the other talented athletes came in December as a Freshman, way, Josh Stern a dear friend in midway through the year. He had and hopefully he is going New England, Joe Bernal who has been kind of rebellious. He had given me tremendous guidance, the been kicked out of another school. to keep continuing to do amazing staff at USA Swimming, He showed up at Peddie and he was that for years to come. Russell Mark is above and beyond not a swimmer. I mean he swam. He and his crew Dan and George were was a 1:12, 100 yard breaststroker; So without further ado I just incredible every step of the not very good by many standards way. would like to introduce and definitely not very good by the One little bit of advice is Peddie Team standards. We had Coach Chuck Batchelor. surround yourself with people that probably a guy that was .59 and know more than you do – know maybe a guy who was a minute and

ASCA Newsletter | Volume 2011 — Issue 03 | 3 probably another 1:02 guy. I think not break the record, but he did more incredible to me, knowing at that time I probably could have go 58. I think he went 58.4. He her, because at the same time she broken 1:12 and I was not a very made Junior Nationals. He didn’t doesn’t really necessarily fit the good breaststroker. So anyway, the even know what Junior Nationals typical Olympic athlete personality deal with Nelson was that he would were but it was really an incredible and persona. I am not necessarily only be admitted to the school if he swim. From December 1:12 to early sure that there is a “typical”, but in swam. It was not because anyone March a 58.4. What I got from that my mind’s eye she certainly doesn’t had any idea that he was going to was that Nelson’s perception was fit the concert violinist personality be a great swimmer, but he was every week he swam he dropped 2 either. She is her own person and very bright and Chris Martin, the or 3 seconds. Why was that going there is absolutely nothing that will coach at Peddie at the time, felt to stop? What in the world could get in the way of that. that if he swam he could be kept possibly stop that from happening? My wife and I bought the team under control. He also had the mindset that well, in the fall of 2005. Elizabeth was So Nelson shows up to practice clearly someone had gone 58 so why just 13. She had the summer prior, and we swim for a couple of weeks can’t I go 58? It can be done. That while she was still 12, won Junior and we have a meet. It was the was tremendously profound for me Nationals in the 200 . I first meet he gets to swim, kind and I coach that way. think somewhere around 2:15.9. of exhibition. He goes 1:08 in the I try to live my life that way. Today’s times have kind of gone hundred , still not very I try to teach kids whether it be crazy, but that was really fast. good, but a lot better than 1:12. Elizabeth or anyone else in our There certainly wasn’t anyone Another week goes by and he goes program or anyone else I come in at that age doing that, and there 1:06. Another week goes by, he goes contact with – hey – if it can be were not a whole lot of people in 1:05. A couple of more weeks go by done – why not you? Why not me? I the country doing much faster than and he goes 1:03. Wait a second, love to say to people and I may or that. So, we took over the team. now he is actually beating some may not really believe this, but you There were approximately three of the guys. One guy’s best time is know, just because no one else has sectional qualifiers on the team. a minute and Nelson’s 1.03 beats lived forever does not mean I am In total, 40-45 kids were on the him in that meet. Maybe this kid going to die. That is a real stretch, team, as well as about 30 something has got something. He definitely but the fact that no one else has athletes that had been swimming walked to the beat of his own drum lived forever that in and of itself for my wife on another program and I had kind of begun befriending isn’t enough for me to guarantee that kind of became part of the Nelson. We were probably about that I have to die some day. team. Probably about another 10-12 two weeks out from the Eastern Okay, I have notes here and I kids that had been swimming with Championships, the Prep School apologize if I read from them too me on another team also came to Championships, and the whole team much, but this is actually the first the team so that was our team. was sitting on the bench waiting for time that I have done something The first thing I knew was there Chris to tell us the torture of the like this. So, Elizabeth was a great were going to be lots of changes. day. Nelson in front of the entire swimmer through her entire age You know that I come from a pretty team, probably about 30 something group career. Her mother actually heavy work background having kids, looks up at the record board. tells me that she could do a legal swum for Chris Martin and also The record in the hundred breast on 100 IM at age 4. I do not know too had many opportunities to swim the team was 58.1. He points to the many 4 year olds that can do that. with Dick Shoulberg, a tremendous record and he tells everyone that he She is an incredible human being. mentor of mine. I sat down with is going to break that record. Well, She is a virtuoso violinist. I am told Elizabeth and her mom and basically the entire team starts laughing by the violin experts, because I am told them that I was going to build at him, except for me. I stood up certainly not, that if she was to give an elite team around Elizabeth. I and I put my arm around him and up swimming tomorrow she could have always felt that when you take I said, Nelson, if you keep coming follow a career in violin and have one kid to Nationals that one kid to practice and keep working hard, as much or more success, which is doesn’t have a very good time and I believe you will do that. What pretty incredible. It becomes even they usually tend not to swim all ended up happening was he did

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For more information call 888.333.4647 that well. However, if you have an was still a very young, but very unless we start getting some race opportunity to take 5 or 6 kids to successful athlete. strategy involved here and some Nationals, all of a sudden it is more We had our New England Senior plan to the race there is only going like a party and they all tend to do Meet which is a senior meet in our to be so far she is going to go. Even better. So, that was my plan; that LSC and by then I had kind of gotten when she medaled at the US Open was my goal. I think at the time to know her personality pretty she basically ascended the 200 with Elizabeth’s mom thought that I was good. I was still trying to break the every 50 being slower than the a used car salesman. I don’t think ice with her a little bit even though previous. That is one way of doing she thinks so any more. Elizabeth I had been with her for months. it, but that was not the way I felt was not very happy in the early It was getting a lot better, but it was the best way to swim. months. I think partly because she would come and go. She would let Because she is stubborn I was growing up a little bit and I was you know if she wasn’t happy with basically told her that the next time asking her to do things that she was something. People that know her that she swam the 200 backstroke I not accustomed to doing. It was all will I think really appreciate this. wanted her to negative split it. That kinds of things in the pool, a 5,000 At the New England meet there was somewhat of a difficult concept race, a 10,000 race. These things is some pomp and circumstance. for her to understand. I basically were not pleasant. They made her There is an awards ceremony after told her she could not be winning at sore. I was asking her to do a lot every event and of course she is the 100. She could win the race, but of dry land. She was terrible at dry going to be winning a lot of medals she couldn’t, no matter what, she land. She is still not nearly as good in that type of situation. Often, couldn’t be winning at the hundred. at dry land as she should but she the coach of the person who wins I knew the next meet we were has gotten a lot better. She is now a the race is going to hand out the going to that was going to be very leader on the team in the dry land medals and what not. I hope no one difficult for her not to be winning at whereas for probably the first two does this to me but right behind the the hundred. It was just because of years you would think that she was curtain I had a little remote control the competition that was going to the only one there because I was fart machine. So I put it right be there. Well, she wanted no part constantly yelling her name to do behind the curtain and as I was of that. So I told her then you are something correctly. giving her, her gold medal and she not swimming it. But I have to swim In December of that first season leaned over I clicked the button and the 200 back that is my race. Well, I brought her and two swimmers it @#@#@ and she just died. That is either you do it my way or you are that had swum for me previously on her humor still and we have been not swimming it. That was kind of another team to the US Open and like that ever since. She actually the first time that she and I kind of she got 3rd in the 200 backstroke. convinced me to loan it to her. She really butt heads but I wasn’t angry. That was the first time she had been brought it to school and got it taken I was just matter of fact. I think on the medal podium at a meet that away. Her mother was not happy that was really significant to her. If was beyond a Junior National level with me for that. she got in trouble at home someone meet and that was pretty good. Back to the swimming, I was mad at her. I wasn’t mad at her. She was very happy with that. That remember asking her a question It was just this is the way you are kind of said to her that okay, maybe actually before I started coaching going to do it. This is why you need some of these things we are doing her, at the Junior National Meet to do it this way and if you are not are working, but she still wasn’t that she had won. I had watched going to do it this way you are not too sure if I was okay. She still was her swim and it was impressive. going to do it. Until you are going to and is very stubborn. She is very set She swam like a bulldog, but there do it that is it. I think it was a long in her ways. She was very young. was not a whole lot of race strategy course meet in Springfield College, I recognized that at times I was involved. Actually, there was none. very reluctantly, she did it. She looking at her as the swimmer and I asked her what she thought about flipped at the hundred and I think had to constantly remind myself when she swam. She said, “I don’t she was in about 3rd place. She was that she was a young 13 year old. think about anything.” Now she is seed time wise considerably faster Half that list of people I mentioned maturing. She is getting faster and than some of the other girls. She were people that helped remind getting a little more focused and flipped at the hundred and then she me to keep my mindset that she getting stronger. Yet it is clear that just took off and she did a lifetime

6 | Volume 2011 — Issue 03 | ASCA Newsletter ASCA Newsletter | Volume 2011 — Issue 03 | 7 best time in a not very fast pool think it was necessarily going to be morning. 2:12 was top seed and all and not at a big meet with not a beneficial, but I really felt that she of a sudden it is like okay, this can significant situation in any way, could make the Olympic team in really happen. I do not think that shape or form. She was so happy 2008. I’m not even sure why I felt she knew at the time what top two when she got out. It was the first that way, but that is another way meant and I think that was a huge time that she wasn’t feeling like she that I operate. advantage. She was there to try to was about to die at the end of the In 2004 I didn’t have a single beat people. She had the attitude. race. That then became the race Olympic Trial Qualifier. David Russell I am younger. I am still looking at strategy. That is where we are now. just missed. In 2008 I wanted to 2016. There is no pressure. I am Continuing on with kind of her have ten. We ended up bringing just here to beat people. I don’t development and my development 13 to the meet, but I made a bold know how they pick the teams. I as her coach, I was very fortunate statement that we would have ten don’t know any of this stuff. I am to have not just two in particular people at Olympic Trials in 2008. just at my favorite pool in the world but a handful of very good athletes This is about 2006 that I am saying at a great swim meet. It is sunny come home in the summer from this. So what does Elizabeth need to outside. I am getting tan and I get college to train with me. Elizabeth’s do where she can swim pretty darn to race the 200 backstroke. She got swims gave more credibility to fast? She is swimming a much better second. What does that mean? It me. David Russell had just finished race plan, but she is no where near means PAN-PACS and you go up to his freshman year at CAL and had making the Olympic Team. Well, Canada. If she does very well there gone 1:42 in the 200 backstroke. her walls are very weak. She is still that holds her spot, Top 2 and she It was not at NCAA’s but in a dual very weak on land. She has got is going to Worlds. I think it was meet, but he was the best swimmer a bulldog attitude, a race attack at least six or eight months later. she had ever had the opportunity mode that is unlike most, but there Now we are moving. Now there are to swim with. Eric Nielsen from are a lot of things that are going expectations. Northwestern – Jimmy knows him – to need to get a lot better. We end She gets the taste in Canada. he had come home and he was by up going back to Irvine. She is the She goes off to Melbourne without far the best trainer she had ever type of kid if she has a good meet me. It was a first experience for her trained with. Up until this point she at a pool it is her favorite pool. If and a first experience for me. You was pretty accustomed to winning she has a bad swim at a pool, she know she was still 14 in Canada at sets in practice. When these two doesn’t ever want to go back there PAN PACS and 15 in Melbourne. She guys come home and you know – ever again. So, she is excited to go rarely even traveled without her 1:42 in the 200 back – who does back to Irvine. She won Juniors the mom let alone without her mom that? She was probably 2:01 – 2 summer before. It is PAN-PACS and and her coach and then she is going minutes short course. Eric Nielsen World Championship Trials. Again, off to Australia for a month. She could train like a machine. You put on a step to make the Olympic team loved the experience. I remember her behind him and have her start I am thinking she can make the the phone call vividly when she got chasing him. I remember this one World Team. I am thinking 2:11. She all of her stuff “and I got another kind of pretty hard set that I gave can do it and I think that is going to T-shirt and I got another T-shirt the two of them was long course. make the team. I didn’t think she and I got shorts” and I mean she It was one of the few opportunities could beat Margaret yet. I did not went through the whole wardrobe. that we get to go long course think Margaret would go 2:09, which It was about 20 minutes of going training. Eric’s mother actually I believe she did at that meet, but through with everything she got. shared with me later that day that I figured she would go probably She couldn’t have been happier he couldn’t stop talking about how 2:10. I figured there would be a then. In Melbourne she struggled a miserable he was that this little girl whole handful of people that would little bit. I think it was a long time not only was keeping up with him, be in the 2:12 – 2:13 range. If she to be away. I know for sure it was but at the very end ran over him. could drop under that I thought she on my end. I am the type of coach That was kind of what I needed could do it. She tends to be a great that will often (I think Dave talked to do. I had kind of set a goal for prelim swimmer. She, as a young about it yesterday), I will show up myself and for her that I didn’t swimmer doesn’t hold anything to practice with a plan. Sometimes really share with anyone. I didn’t back. She swam I think 2:12 in the it is written down, sometimes it is

8 | Volume 2011 — Issue 03 | ASCA Newsletter not but most often it changes. If I well so we will see what we get fun with this kind of thing. They see the way the kids look, the way here. Now this is not then, this is would swim in the whole group, the first set goes or whatever, I may now. That is her and Laura Sogar. but their weight training and a lot change what we are about to do. It is a little circuit. It is a fitness of their dry land training was done Sometimes I do my best thinking room that we have access to at the a little bit separately. We set up a right there. high school. She got her hands on slightly different schedule. We do It is very difficult to write medicine balls and just a wheel. dry land an hour every day, at least practices for a month while you It is a great infomercial device a five days a week if not 6 or 7 days a are not seeing the athlete. If you slide board. I think that is great for week. You know, anything to engage ever have an opportunity like this breast stroke. Now Laura is not on the core by taking an arm away and here I made a mistake, seek the balls this round. There is some or taking a leg away, make it less out advice from people that had danger to this. We have done it on stable. They have got to hold still the experience. I could have done the pool deck, but that is with mats while still smiling. Elbows directly a much better job with her plan. I and it is not a good idea. About a below your shoulders, left leg up. wrote every workout. She did every year out from the Olympic Trials we See, she is not perfect. She is not workout. If she had been with me, formed a high performance group. a robot. I am looking for a little I probably would not have had her These are some of the kids that more perfect. I think there still is do half of those workouts because were in this group. Basically you plenty of room for improvement, of what I was witnessing, but not had to have a US National cut to be but she is still a kid. If it wasn’t seeing her and the kind of kid that in the high performance group. My fun she wouldn’t be doing it. I am she is she did everything that I good friend and mentor, Dan Flack, very aware of that so I need to wrote down. She swam well. She told me that if you turn the hands constantly make it fun. Okay, the made it through semifinals which is in it works all this much more. It last little part is actually kind of a huge feat, but I do not think that is a lot harder, so as soon as we funny. You see Laura struggling with she did quite as well as she could get back we will be turning the that? She is very, very strong. This have. The other tough part was it hands in. She has never fallen off is very difficult to do and then she is was a 7 day meet. She swam day 7 fortunately, yeah. I hope one of the dancing. She has gotten to the point and it was killing her. She is a racer. things that you will get from this where she can actually do squats. It was killing her not to swim the and towards the end especially is The next thing will be to try to do it whole first six days. a very, very, very, very important with curls and things like that while component. standing on the ball like that. That That was the next kind of was a big jump forward. We were significant factor – OK – if she Especially working with Elizabeth, but I think with all kids is nowhere near that when she got is going to be successful at the back from Australia. International level she needs more that there is always an element of than one event. She hated just fun. I crack the whip pretty hard, So basically, she gets back from going and watching swimming every but I bite my tongue more often to Australia. We have got two years day and not being able to race. The kind of allow the kids to be kids. We out from Olympic Trials. Even after next big push was going to be to are getting the work done and there making Worlds, I don’t think that pick up another event. We still have is a little bit of relaxed atmosphere. she was thinking about making this dry land thing to catch up with. I am very comfortable with that. the Olympic Team two years later. She can’t still do a pull-up. She is Dan also told me that Elizabeth I think that is a good thing. You making World Championships. She needs to do more weight here so we have got to know your athletes. I is making it through semi-finals and will be moving the weight up. Most think, especially with the young she cannot do one chin-up and her of the time I am working with 40 ones the pressure of thinking you core fitness was not good. Maybe I something kids, 40-50 kids with one are supposed to do something or will even show it now to break this or two assistants. I think especially are expected to do something, up. heading into Olympic Trials it made “everyone expects me to do this,” a lot of sense to really put greater is probably the first thing that I will show some stuff now that focus or separate focus I guess makes most kids not do what we all I think is pretty impressive core is a better way of putting it on a expect them to do. I did everything wise. There is some audio to this, smaller group. They had a lot of I could to instill the possibility, but it didn’t really work out that

10 | Volume 2011 — Issue 03 | ASCA Newsletter the belief in herself, the belief in We will just go to Olympic Trials I took that to heart. Elizabeth was what we were doing, but we are once. Knowing her as an athlete, there in the backstroke. She was not talking about going to Beijing. if we had gone there and she had certainly within 10 seconds in the We are talking about doing what is not swum well, now she is going to 200 free, but she wasn’t within right, doing the best you can and think, oh that is not my pool, etc., 10 seconds in the 200 breast and being the best that you can be and etc. So my whole mode, every time was not with the 200 fly. I think whatever happens, happens. USA Swimming or Swimming World Jon might agree, I haven’t asked The next summer we had spent or anyone wanted to do a piece on him, but I think that needs to be probably that entire spring and her or have her highlighted in any amended. I think you probably need summer doing up to two hours a way, shape or form I said, “No way.” to be within 5 seconds of the world day of dryland a day. I actually gave She is just another swimmer. We are record in each 200 and probably be up some of the swimming time for just training to be the best we can even closer in several at this day that because I really felt it was that and we are not going to have any and age with the way people are important. That summer she was of this stuff that is going to start swimming. much better in the 400 IM. I think putting pressure on her, having her OLYMPIC YEAR: you know I did she dropped from 4:50 to 4:44. It think oh, I am expected to do this. talk about Olympic Trials. I talked was very significant. She was not You know thank goodness that about people making Olympic Trials. quite a player, but on the cusp, she wasn’t one of the people they I told the team I think probably at just on the outside of a player in picked to do the Olympic hopeful the time over and over we were the 400 IM. 200 back stayed about kind of piece on. You know it is going to have 10 people at Trials. the same and about three or four great to read. It makes for great At the time we probably had 3 or other girls jumped in ahead of her stuff for everyone, but my best 4 people and I would leave it up to so she was no longer Top 2 in the advice to anyone that ever has an them. I would talk to the team on a US. In hindsight I think that was athlete that is in this potential regular basis. I do not know who the the best thing that could have range where that stuff seems neat, other six people are going to be, ever happened. I say that because where it makes them feel like a but we are going to have six more immediately she was upset that treat when it is happening; you because…do you want it...do you that had happened. Her parents do not want to walk into Omaha want it? It started to become in our were upset that that had happened. thinking you have already made the senior group of about 40 kids if you I thought it was going to happen. team. You haven’t. For anyone that didn’t have Olympic Trial cuts, you She opened up the flood gates. 2:11 has been there it is crystal clear in suck. That is a pretty cool place to was now the Nelson Diebel story. this country even be. Basically my plan was successful There was a whole bunch of girls has to still put his hand on the wall in terms of keeping the pressure in the country that looked at her first or second to make that team. off. and said – hey – if Elizabeth can It is not a given and anything can I apologize that I am going go 2:11, I can go 2:10 – 2:11 and a happen. Anyone can come out of to jump around here a little bit whole handful of people jumped in the woodwork. Anyone can be off because I am going to give up the under her. She stayed at that 2:11 at any time. It is not over until the notes a little bit and try to just talk. and there were some 2:09’s – 2:10’s fat lady sings or however that goes. In regards to our program, whether that got in ahead of her, but that Having Laura Sogar in the it is an Olympic year or not, it is immediately took the pressure off program, a great breaststroker, focused on long course excellence. of “everyone expects me to make was a huge weakness for Elizabeth. From September 1 we are focused the Olympic Team”. She is a racer. I gave them the on long course excellence. We do Gregg Troy gave me huge advice opportunity to race on a daily basis. race short course. I think kind of the about a year to maybe 8 months For breaststroke I think she is a new short course over December is to a year out from Olympic Trials. 2:32, 200 breaststroker. It is not brilliant. We race short course. We You know, USA Swimming has that bad. had told me train short course-minded through Test Meet in Omaha and all these that in order to be World Class in December. After a particular meet other very big meets leading up the 400 IM you have to be within in December the entire focus is to the Olympic Trials. I figured we 10 seconds of a World Record in all long course. If you are on the senior do not go to Olympic Trials twice. four 200’s. Jon would know and so team, it doesn’t matter what level

ASCA Newsletter | Volume 2011 — Issue 03 | 11 you are, we are focused on long we were there so no one knew the could afford to go for that long a course. We might swim a short times and we swam very well there. time. Probably a lot of people are course meet if you are maybe just Her 400 IM was outstanding. thinking what about school? I think at the sectional level because that Jumping back to the New Jersey we brought about 12. We brought is all we can find for you, but if I meet in January, she went 4:41 in that high performance group, about can bring everyone to long course the 400 IM. Now you know at the 12 kids that first year. Basically meets that is what we are going to time it was looking like 4:39 might we had a school vacation a week do. We do not train long course. have made the Olympic Team. long. I think they had a week and Later at the second talk I will This was just before the suits, just then one day into the next week. talk more about how we train the before the LZR came out. Maybe We have kids from Rhode Island group, but we do 125’s. It is nothing 4:38 could have made the team. and Massachusetts. They had two ground-breaking. It may be even Definitely it seemed like Katie different weeks off but they were more psychological, but I look at it would probably go a 34 and 36 or up against each other so it was not as OK, if we are going to do 100’s 38 was probably going to make the too difficult to see. It was easy to long course, the max heart rate team. Sectional meet in March we sell the kids on it but to sell the type hundreds that we do, Elizabeth go long course, Olympic year, most parents on it - OK – they have got is going to go on a really good set, of them are. Hopefully, moving a week off – it is not going to cost she will be minutes and 1:01’s. On forward, all of them will be every you very much money – basically an off set she will be no slower than year. a flight. Take another week off 1:04’s while 125’s she can hit 1:07’s from school. We would normally, so her heart rate is where I want it This was the absolute best thing back in the day, be going to a to be for approximately the same I have ever done and I will share National Meet at this time of year. amount of time. I got lucky for sure. this with all of you. Anyone can Would they be missing a week of There was absolutely luck involved do it. You have got to fill out some school? So it is a couple of more in it. I thought and I ended up being stuff however. We did a three week days. Most swimmers are very good right. or just under three week training students and with the internet the camp in April in Colorado Springs kids were getting assignments, Every November we go to a at the Olympic Training Center. meet in New York City. It is Brian handing in work. It was no problem. Do not ask me about the altitude. I think probably all of the kids Brown’s meet. It is long-course in I have no idea what that does for the morning, short-course at night that were there were all A’s and you. I have absolutely no idea. I B’s students and it didn’t affect in November. That is our second know what people say and actually meet of the year and we are racing them in a negative way. We did the people say all different things, but same thing this year. We brought long course. December we always it is an environment of excellence. take a training camp and we go a slightly larger group and another You are eating lunch with Olympic coach and it has now become in our somewhere and we swim long Gold Medalist ice skaters. You course and we swim long course program an expectation that we will have the opportunity to talk to do this. Kids really want to go. every day and we swim long course people that are the best at what twice a day. January, we go to Jim they do in their field.You have a The funny thing is that it is Woods’ meet. I forget what it is great facility. You are living there. really kind of miserable when you called now. It was Bergdorf then You are eating there. The food is are there. I mean as a coach I had and Bergdorf probably in my mind good. It is a perfect situation. If to really put on funny hats every forever although his new sponsor your athletes are fast enough it is day just to keep the morale up probably would not be happy with funded. If they are not it is still a because I recognized that they that. It is a long course meet, trials very good deal. I am not exactly are going to be dead tired. We all and finals in New Jersey at Rutgers. sure what the price is today, but know about emotions and what not I searched to find somewhat low it is a great experience. I think for when you are tired. It is real easy key long course meets, any where the altitude supposedly to get the to get upset. It was going to be that we could get to. We went up to benefit you have to be there for I very important to keep everybody Toronto in February and raced long think six or more days or seven or positive and excited about what course. It was awesome. I don’t more days, something like that. For we were doing even though we think anyone in this room knew us it was the only place that we were basically just swimming. Out

12 | Volume 2011 — Issue 03 | ASCA Newsletter of that, I think it was probably would lift for about an hour. The She doesn’t even take vitamins any about 21 days we swam doubles or lifting we brought on a year before more with the kind of the scare of probably swam doubles 19 days and the Olympic Trials basically. The what could be contaminated and a single those other two days. Saturdays will be anywhere from that nothing is guaranteed to be There are probably a lot of three to four hours in the pool and taken safely. She eats better now people wondering how much does then an hour of dry land. If it is than she did, but the one thing Elizabeth train? She trains singles three hours in the pool, it is two that maybe has helped her stay on a regular basis. She is a regular hours of dry land. If it is 4 hours in so healthy is she drinks. This is high school student and has been the pool, it is one hour of dry land. actually not an exaggeration. She since I have been coaching her. She Sundays are anywhere from 2 and ½ drinks a gallon of orange juice a is a senior in high school this year. hours to 3 and ½ hours in the pool day. It was a big concern on her Her school starts at 7 AM. She lives and usually about 20-30 minutes of mother’s part, when Elizabeth went 45 minutes from the pool. There just kind of real routine ab work. to Beijing and Australia that she is no possible way to have her I talked to Sean Hutchinson would have enough. This is funny, swimming with me in the morning. about this and it is really whenever we travel to a meet her We tried for about three or four interesting. I came from this kind of suitcase is always too heavy so we months where I got a Y membership Chris Martin super tough training. I have to pay extra for it or she just down by her about 5 minutes from mean with Chris we trained 7 days kind of looks cute and they let her her house and met her there every a week, 4 mornings a week. On put it through without paying. The morning. Having to start school at Wednesdays and Saturdays when reason it is so heavy is because it 7 AM she still had to get up earlier we did a double they were 5 hour is filled with orange juice. Now, than I wanted her to be getting practices like Elizabeth does on fortunately, I have been able to up. The Y had a swim team or has Saturday and on Sundays when we stop this from happening when we a swim team. They felt that if she now have 3 or 4 hour practices. go to California or Florida because I was going to swim she should just Elizabeth is doing a lot but she tell her mom; I am pretty sure they join their team so I couldn’t stand is not doing anywhere near that have orange juice there, but just in there on the deck and coach her. I much. One of the things that I have case she always brings a couple with had to get in the water and swim learned from her and some of my her anyway. with her. I have not swum since my other elite swimmers that do not I think I have one other good last day of swimming in college. I do doubles, (but were still getting story that I will share with you. hated it. She loved it. I don’t think in about 70,000 yards a week) is This story that I will share with you she got that much out of it because they show up to practice in the probably many of you know. At the she would just splash me and swim afternoon happy, excited to be Santa Clara Grand Prix it was the away meanwhile my legs were there. They are not walking in like first time she had the opportunity to completely shot. I had no authority this which is what I remember most put on the LZR. I am going to make with her in the water. The one of my swimming career. That is how a quick aside. I am not a fan of the benefit was that every day when I existed. suits by any stretch. I am giving we got to practice in the afternoon We do not get sick very often you something that I kind of came of course everyone else wanted and this is obviously unique. to think of; we all have our own to know how it went. I would tell Elizabeth has not missed a single philosophies. We all feel a certain everyone that I was beating her and day of practice for illness in the way about the suits and what not. that would piss her off. four years that I have coached her. I think many, many coaches out She swims basically 2 hours That is incredible and she has really there did different things with them and 15 minutes Monday through not missed a single day of practice and did the right thing for their Friday. She does an hour of dry for anything. She has probably a program and the right thing for land Monday through Friday before violin concert twice a year. When their athletes. Now I looked at it that. She would swim more in the that happens I gave her a practice as OK, these suits are out. At first I afternoon, but we do not have the and she would swim at the Y on her didn’t believe how they could be as pool availability. She does dry land own. I think she has had the sniffles fast as they were being marketed to for 45 minutes to an hour every day once or twice so obviously she has be. I figured it was just marketing. and Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday a pretty unique immune system. Then, some times around the world started coming in and it started

14 | Volume 2011 — Issue 03 | ASCA Newsletter looking like okay, there is something had to tell them, but we just kept her Gatorade. She had the same to this. I have an athlete who is everything as light as possible. The experience that I did. Fortunately stubborn. She is a creature of approach was it doesn’t matter. she didn’t have it during the race. habit. In Melbourne she refused to Yeah, this is Olympic Trials it is It was kind of bizarre because she wear Nike’s top suit because she just another swim meet. It is a was not nervous for the morning was comfortable with their next big swim meet. It is a great swim swim. I was because as far as I was level suit. The other Nike athletes meet. It is a fantastic venue. It is concerned that was going to show there made fun of her because what we all love. It is the best of whether or not I had done my job. I she wouldn’t wear their top suit. the best, but it is just another swim knew she was going to do her job. She was comfortable in this other meet and whatever happens here To my surprise she was a wreck suit. So I recognized it – okay – this number one, Elizabeth, no one can before the final. I was like; wait suit exists – it is legal – people are take away from you what you have a second, I am the one that could wearing it. It is better. I have got already accomplished. It is yours have screwed this up. You are fine. to get her comfortable in it. I have you own it, no matter what happens Just do what you do. It really was got to get her in it and I can’t get you still went 4:36. That is still one her teammates that really helped one. None of us could get one, but of the best times ever in the world. her out. I won’t tell the story at certain meets you could have an We have done a great job. We, I, exactly because many will probably opportunity to try these suits out. you, everyone in our program has think it is inappropriate, but she Probably more than anything at done a phenomenal job. Whatever was so nervous that she actually that time that was why we went to happens here, if you make the threw up five minutes before she those meets. You know the Speedo team, fantastic. If you don’t we are was headed for the ready room. people. I was a bulldog until Speedo just going to go home and continue I was like, Oh my God everything would give me one of those suits for to do a great job. has come to this and now we are her to try on and wear and warm Morning swim is the 400 IM. throwing up. It was her teammates, up. We were out there a couple of Now, I am a wreck. Basically, my one in particular, that actually days early. mind is thinking she has been that made fun of her for throwing up So anyway at Santa Clara she 4:36. She should do something which took her mind off of that. goes 4:36 in the 400 IM – Hello. No pretty incredible here. If she She started laughing and giggling. longer can I keep her and anyone doesn’t it is my fault. She is a Ultimately if she is struggling, tell else from thinking she is going to racer. She is going to dive in that her she looks funny or whatever and make the Olympic team so we kind pool and she is going to do what she she will give it right back to you and of survived to that point. Went to was made to do. I had a month and she is all set. Charlotte and swam great again but a half to screw things up between I do not know if I should show didn’t swim the 400 IM. I did this Santa Clara and now so standing any more video or not. Is there as kind of a psychological thing by there watching the swim, am I O.K.? anyone here that should tell me not have her wear the Lazar in the She is out in her best time in the if I should? Yes? I think this is an backstroke. I thought OK, lets not 100 fly. That is one way to do this. ab routine. You know, there is so show the world what you are going Backstroke, she is 2 seconds under very little that is new and original to do in this with that suit on. Let’s World Record Pace. I nearly threw out there. We were talking about just go at it and have that be kind up. I was sweating. I think I was this earlier. It is a combination of of the “shave” so to speak; that we crying. There was water coming putting together different things used to kind of have. So anyway, we out of my eyes and I was like, Oh that different people are doing. I get to Trials. my God! I had to sit down. I was think this is a great routine. I will We are out at Omaha a couple about to pass out. You know the share anything with anybody. I of days early. I am doing everything crowd was going nuts cheering for got this from the men’s CAL team I can to not show any nervousness her. After the race she said, why when some of my boys came home. myself and just have fun. We got were they making so much noise in Elizabeth has really taken this there four days early. The kids the breaststroke? She was drinking to heart. She kind of owns this. were having a stretching contest Gatorade and I said, “because you I think this is straight out of the with Pablo who? They didn’t even were 2 seconds under World Record Barrowman book. We will do 25 – 30 know who was. I Pace at the 200.” She spit out of each of these exercises in a row.

ASCA Newsletter | Volume 2011 — Issue 03 | 15 It takes 20-25 minutes and it has you really don’t want to do on a – no bucket. So there is our broken made a huge impact on her core. hard surface. 225. I like doing it right after the Right now, just because I wanted This looks awful, but it is bucket. So finishing up with the to film it she is in the office doing because she is pulling a 5 gallon buckets, they would do two 100’s this whereas the rest of the team bucket. Dave said our pool was…I recovery and now they are going is doing the exact same thing out don’t think our pool is that bad. It to go three 75’s. What I think is on the pool deck. These mats you is an 8 lane, 25 yard. I like it. It is cool here is that I actually got a can get them at Home Depot or not a nice outdoor, sunny, 50 meter. boy swimming next to her. They are any of the BJ’s or Costco. They are That would be nice, but... on the three 75’s and she is going the cheapest, best mats that I have 42’s on these 75’s which is pretty found. The break is just whatever One of the things with training good for a girl in practice I would movement that the partner has to short course with the focus on long say and she is getting beat. I think go to get to the next exercise. Yeah, course is we do a lot of broken that is awesome. Just prior to the I wouldn’t even call it rest. I mean 225’s. Someone told me 225 yards Olympic Trials her best time added they should be moving quickly from is about, I think it is about 5 meters up for the three 75’s short course exercise to exercise. No, they do a longer than 200 meters. So again was 2:08. She ended up going 2:06.9 certain number. Right now we are with that kind of Nelson Diebel at Olympic Trials so I thought there getting going so they are probably mentality we say, OK, if in practice was a pretty good connection there. doing 15 reps at home right now. you can do a broken 225 and you I think she probably could have We do a lot of these planks whether can do it in 2:06 seconds. Add it up, gone 2:08 without the suit and 2:06 it is on the ball or not, lifting up a the three 75’s. Okay, you get a little with the suit. I think it was a very leg, putting a leg out to the side. rest, you get more turns, you are good measure for her. Leading up You know, you could really make not in a suit, you are in training. It to Worlds she was going 2:03’s in it tough and lift the opposite arm. is longer than 200 meters. It is three this same set, thus I thought she I don’t think I have a video of her 75’s with the bucket and two 100’s could have gone faster at Worlds. doing that. That is another one that recovery; pull and then drill and Thank you very much. If there are then three 75’s – prime stroke race questions feel free to ask me later. Letter to the Editor from Daniel O. Thompson

Hello, John! hand anchors, it also requires what One reason is that young Coach Bowman refers to in the Colwin swimmers go reflexly to positions of Coach Cecil Colwin, whose article as “scapular manipulation” strength – and the high elbow is not pursuit of truth in swimming is – an upward swiveling and forward a position of strength. For example, lifelong and untiring, would be the tilting of the shoulder blade (for when learning the “submarine” kick, first, I’m sure, to admit the need to details, see my article on the subject kids go to the thighs – and only later question authority – even his own. in American Swimming, 2007-5). have enough strength to undulate the In that spirit, I am writing to core-body. Likewise, when learning Coach Colwin’s view, I’m take issue with his view in the ASCA to grab water, they go to the low afraid, will look to many of us like Newsletter 2010-09, that the open elbow, the position of strength for the a distinction without a difference, armpit, not the high elbow, is the key latissimus, the major pulling muscle because the open armpit, to all to efficient swimming. He says 10 that of the arm. (Try doing pull ups with a appearances, is a byproduct of the we have been mislead into “being high elbow/open armpit , versus a low high elbow. The armpit cannot be obsessed with looking for high elbow elbow/closed armpit, and you will see closed without rolling the elbow in order to be able to grab water” what I mean. Or, observe the pulling downward and lowering the upper and 2) that the real answer “is simply motions of elite rowers – no open arm. Perhaps the term, “high elbow/ to keep the armpit open as long into armpit there.) the stroke as possible, [which is] very open armpit,” would be more When I began coaching age easy to achieve by simply entering the descriptive. groupers, I couldn’t get hold of them arm wide of the shoulder.” These kinematic issues, while of until they were eight, and they all academic interest, are of little use to Please, let’s not demean the high came to me with carrying degrees of swimmers, who need to learn how it elbow too hastily. We lesser lights, the low elbow/closed armpit. It took actually feels to grab and hold onto after years admiring the high elbow, a good year of persistent drilling to water. So, the big question is this – is fighting for it, and learning to coach wedge them away from the habit. it, might be expected to share some teaching the feel of the open armpit So, when my own offspring resistance to surrendering it now. of better effect than teaching the arrived, I resolved that she would It was an enormous breakthrough, feel of the high of the high elbow? I know only the high elbow. I put her after all, and though it should don’t know – but rather than dumping prone on the pool gutter, with her be questioned, it should also be the high elbow, why not add Coach shoulder over the edge and her hand respected for the mental work that Colwin’s concept to the existing mix? and forearm in the water. I stood went towards understanding it and Why not inform our swimmers that in the pool beside her, guiding and the hours of patience that go towards when the high-elbow/open armpit is re-guiding the high-elbow until the coaching it. well performed, the elbow will feel high and the armpit will feel open, movement was grooved. This took The stroke I have in mind, for with a sensation, as Coach Colwin eight months. Then, to build enough reference, is the one performed puts it, “of water rolling like a wave strength in the high-elbow to offset to near perfection by Hackett and under the arc-shaped arm.” the low elbow, we did the same drill Adlington in the distance freestyles with hand paddles. This took another By the way – ever wonder why and by Lenton and den Hoogenband in six months. And since that time the high elbow is so rarely seen in the sprints. her shoulders have not regressed. the age group pool, even among Though, when I see the least inkling The high elbow is nothing more those “entering the arm wide of the of downward drift, back to the gutter than code for what happens when shoulder?” Ever get the feeling that we go! the tip of the elbow is rolled upward the only swimmers ever to do it well and the upper arm is help upward – are the “naturals,” the elite few who Yours Sincerely, resulting in a wider, shallower stroke rise to the top of the thousands of Dan Thompson that directs force more horizontally. kids crisscrossing the pool? M.D. Performed well, especially as the Keller, Texas

ASCA Newsletter | Volume 2011 — Issue 03 | 17 ASCA “Working Successfully with Swim Parents” Final Essay: The Ultra-Competitive 10 & Under Parent

By Shawn Squires, Premier Aquatics Club of Klein

The Situation: was still the focus in the Dolphin about moving Jim up to the Dolphin group, it was a larger group with group. I’m sure most all of us coaches less individualized instruction, are familiar with the “wacko” or and more group teaching. In our The Reaction: over competitive swim parent. repeated conversations, I reiterated In my experience this is just as I scheduled a meeting with that Jim needed time in the Nemo prevalent with 10 & under parents Jim’s mother and also brought the group to learn his strokes & work on as it is with elite age group & team’s Head Coach into the meeting fundamentals, and should not move senior level moms & dads. In one with us. We discussed how Jim’s to the more advanced Dolphin group such case I encountered a couple mastery of all four strokes is the until he was ready. of years ago, a parent of a seven foundation of everything we are year old boy named Jim came up Adding to Jim’s mother’s doing in our other practice groups, to me on a number of occasions already competitive nature was and how different swimmers “get after practice to discuss Jim moving Jim’s good friend Spencer, who it” at different times. We also up to the next level practice had been placed in the Dolphin discussed how her competitive group. Jim’s mother had been a group. The boys were the same nature and animosity with successful swimmer herself, and age, and Jim was actually faster Spencer’s mom could be putting always made a point to mention than Spencer in the 50 Freestyle extra pressure on Jim, causing him what an excellent swimmer she had & Backstroke, but Jim was still in to become discouraged and lose been and how she’d won numerous the Nemo group because he hadn’t interest. State Age Group Championships learned breaststroke. This was one The head coach illustrated in Backstroke. Jim was starting of the arguments that Jim’s mother that we make practice group his first year of competition in US brought to the coaching staff, and decisions as a staff, and that there Swimming, and had been on my Jim was indeed quite a bit faster are certain required standards for summer recreational league team than Spencer, but Spencer was our different practice groups for the previous summer. legal in all four strokes. It became a reason. As an example to Jim’s apparent during our conversations When Jim was evaluated at mom, I said “We wouldn’t move that some of Jim’s Mother’s the beginning of the short course Jim for 4 th to the 5th Grade if he competitiveness was fueled by season, he was unable to complete wasn’t ready for it, why would we her dislike for Spencer’s mother. a 50 Breaststroke legally, and want swimming to be any different? I remember her saying “I just was barely (sometimes) legal He needs the foundation of the can’t stand that Spencer’s Mom, in Butterfly. We put him in a Nemo group in order to excel in the she’s so stuck up! I can’t wait for developmental group that we called Dolphin group, just like he needs Jim to move up a group and show the “Nemo” group to help him the skills & knowledge of the 4th up Spencer in practices.” After receive the stroke work he needed grade to succeed in the 5 th .” By repeatedly discussing the situation to move up to our next group. The teaching Jim solid fundamentals with Jim’s Mother, I discovered that next group up was the “Dolphin” now, we were setting him up for she had been going around me and group, and all the swimmers in the future success and creating a the other group coaches, and was Dolphin group could perform all solid foundation to build on in his approaching other coaches on the strokes legally. While stroke work swimming career. staff from different practice groups

18 | Volume 2011 — Issue 03 | ASCA Newsletter ASCA Newsletter | Volume 2011 — Issue 03 | 19 By the end of our meeting, about her concerns in her eyes. Parent Education Jim’s mother could see how moving If in a similar situation now, I In devising a parent education Jim up to the Dolphin group would actually schedule a meeting program, I would stress that would hurt his ability to develop more quickly after the concern different children develop as a swimmer, and concentrated was raised, rather than having a swimming skills at different rates. her efforts on being supportive brief conversation after practice. Parents should be educated on the of Jim in his development. After By doing this, I would signal to practice group criteria, the team’s this meeting, Jim’s mother got the parent that their concern is developmental philosophy, and also him some extra help with his important to me, and that I was what to expect as far as movement breaststroke & butterfly in private willing to devote the necessary between practice groups. Parents stroke lessons, and was much less time & thought into providing should also be educated that critical of Jim after practices. As a an explanation or solution. The just like in any sports training, result, Jim began to see practices conversation would go something there are plateaus in swimming as fun instead of “work”. By taking like this: performance, and periods where the pressure off of Jim, we had Parent: “Coach, I know we kids don’t improve as rapidly as effectively changed his attitude. talked about this last week, but they may have previously. The most Within 6 weeks, Jim had a working when do you think we could move important job that parents can knowledge of all four strokes Jim up to the Dolphin group? All of take during one of these plateaus and was moved up to the dolphin his friends are in that group, and is that of their child’s biggest group on his own merits, not his I hate to see him in this remedial cheerleader. Too many kids will Mother’s begging & pleading with group, he’s just not working hard give up, or quit because they think the coaches. Not only did Jim get enough.” they’ve peaked when they hit one a great foundation to improve on, of these “slow” periods. Most age his confidence rose when he moved Coach: “Mr. Parent, like I said group swimmers are out of the up to the Dolphin group, and he last week, after evaluating your sport before High School & College, excelled in his first full year of child, the staff felt it best for him I believe this is because swimmers swimming. to spend some time improving his knowledge of Breaststroke in the & parents perceive these plateaus Why? Nemo group. If you’d like, we can as “burnout”. By educating the schedule a time to sit down to parents early, I think we can keep I chose this method of response discuss where Jim is currently in more athletes in the sport as Senior because I’ve used it previously his development, and some ideas and even Masters swimmers. The in the business world with great on how to help him along. Would best thing for a parent to do in this success. In this case it was the Head Thursday Afternoon work for you? situation is be encouraging and Swimming Coach, but I’ve found I’d love to have Head Coach Mike let the coaches do the coaching & that bringing any third party into a there too.” guide the athlete through this tough potentially contentious conversation period in their training. tends to defuse the conversation Parent: “Is there something The simple fact that the before it ever has a chance to get personal that is holding Jim back, I coaches ARE acting in the heated. Also, the third party is a know he talks a lot during practice, swimmer’s best interest and good way to have another rational but is this some kind of personality setting the swimmer up for future voice in the matter, and to act as a conflict?” success should be stressed to mediator of sorts should there be a Coach: “No Sir, this certainly parents repetitively. By getting disagreement. isn’t personal, the staff is just these parents educated & involved trying to do what is best for Jim. in their child’s training in a Alternate Reaction When we sit down with Coach Mike, supportive role, young swimmers we’ll all get on the same page When this situation first came will have the coaching & parent about where Jim is now, and ideas up, the parent and I had several support they require to develop on helping improve at a quicker conversations about it after practice into championship athletes, and pace. We’d both be happy to on the pool deck. In hindsight, continue swimming into High School answer any questions you may have these casual conversations may & College.  have painted me to be apathetic about the group criteria, and how to aid Jim in his progress.”

20 | Volume 2011 — Issue 03 | ASCA Newsletter 2010 Awards of Excellence

Each year, the American Swimming Coaches Association (ASCA) recognizes those coaches who coach a swimmer to a top-8 finish at one of several USA national-level championships.

This recognition is the Award of Excellence. The meets used for this year’s list are the:

2010 NCAA Swimming & Diving Championships (Division I, II & III), 2010 NAIA Swimming & Diving Championships, 2010 USA Open Water 5K and 10K Championships, 2010 USA National Championships and 2010 USA Short Course National Championships.

Congratulations coaches.

Arthur Albiero, University of Louisville Bruce Brown, Pomona-Pitzer Colleges Eric Anderson, Pfeiffer University Geoff Brown, NOVA of Virginia Mike Ashmore, Santa Maria Swim Club Steve Brown, Sarasota YMCA Sharks Kathy Aspaas, A.S.K. Swimming Donny Brush, Indiana University Club Paradise Brian Barnes, Notre Dame University Steve Bultman, Texas A&M University Ben Bartell, Minnetoka Swim Club , University of Arizona / Tucson Ford Chuck Batchelor, Bluefish Swim Club Dealers Tony Batis, Palo Alto Stanford Aquatics Blaine Carlson, Waukesha Express Swim Team , University of Georgia / Athens Bulldogs Jon Carlson, Gustavus Adolphus College Marc Benvenuti, Connecticut College Andy Clark, Carleton College Mark Bernardino, University of Virginia Adam Cohen, Depauw University Michel Bérubé, CN Phénix de Gatineau Gary Conelly, University of Kentucky Brian Bishop, The College of New Jersey Dan Cottam, Crow Canyon Sharks Kevin Blum, Rattler Swim Club Dennis Dale, University of Minnesota Alan Boelk, University of Wisconsin, Stevens Point Chris Davis, Swim Atlanta Rob Bond, Illinois Institute of Technology Phillip Davis, University of the Incarnate Word Jose Bonpua, Los Altos & Mountain View Aquatic Club Beth DeLaRosby, Carthage College Ivan Borissov Kirov, Peoria Area Water Wizards Ed Denny, California University of Pennsylvania , University of Michigan / Club Wolverine Nathan Depenbusch, Nittany Lion Aquatic Club , North Baltimore Aquatics Club Rich DeSelm, University of North Carolina Andy Boyce, Grand Valley State University Dawn Dill, M.I.T. Kim Brackin, University of Texas Duffy Dillon, Fort Lauderdale Aquatics Ed Brennan, University of Tampa Liam Donnelly, Simon Fraser University Mary Bretscher, Depauw University Bill Dorenkott, Ohio State University Brian Brown, Asphalt Green Unified Aquatics Ken Dory, Concordia University [CA] Paul Dotterweich, SUNY Geneseo

ASCA Newsletter | Volume 2011 — Issue 03 | 21 2010 Awards of Excellence

Dave Durden, University of California / Cal Aquatics Steve Iida, Glenview Titan Aquatic Club Peggy Ewald, Ohio Northern University Ron Jacks, Pacific Coast Swimming Jack Fabian, Keene State College / Greenwood Dave Jennings, Miami University [OH] Memorial S.C. Jeff Julian, Rose Bowl Aquatics Greg Fastrich, Hershey Aquatics Dorothy Kempf, Asbury College Roric Fink, Tucson Ford Dealers Aquatics George Kennedy, Johns Hopkins University John Flanagan, Curl-Burke Swim Club Mac Kennedy, Swim Florida Tim Flannery, Kutztown University , Robert Fleming, Azusa Pacific University Ryan Killackey, Ouachita Baptist University Brad Flood, University of Bridgeport Greg Kincheloe, New York Athletic Club Rafael Forti, Union College [KY] Gary Kinkead, University of Indianapolis Dave Fritz, Grove City College Matthew Kinney, Carnegie Mellon University Cyndi Gallagher, University of California, Los Angeles Rob Klamut, Westminster College Dan Gelderloos, Calvin College John Klinge, Purdue University Bruce Gemmell, Delaware Swim Team Matt Kredich, University of Tennessee Mike Gobrecht, WSY Swimming Kelly Kremer, University of Minnesota Mark Gole, Truman State University Steve Kuster, Williams College Paul Graham, Ashland University Kim Lessard, Washington College Charles Griffiths, Claremont-Mudd-Scripps Steven Lochte, Daytona Beach Swimming Doug Grooms, Missouri S&T Michael Lohberg, South Florida Aquatic Club , King Aquatic Club Ray Looze, Indiana University Eric Hansen, University of Wisconsin Kate Lundsten, Aquajets Swim Team , Penn State University Byron MacDonald, Toronto Swim Club Jennifer Harnett, The College of New Jersey Cashel Mack, West Florida Lightning Aquatics Courtney Hart, Georgia Tech Bruce Marchionda, Western Kentucky University Bob Hauck, St. Olaf College Dave Marsh, SwimMAC Dave Hauck, St. Olaf College Steve Mateer, City of Plano Swimmers , Coak Matthews, Henderson State University Jeff Hegle, St. Cloud State University , Stanford University Brian Hein, Delta State University Scott McGihon, University of California, San Diego Thomas Hodgson, University of St. Thomas [MN] Eric McIlquham, University of Alabama Jay Holmes, Texas A&M University Teri McKeever, University of California / Cal Aquatics Monty Hopkins, University of Cincinnati Pat Mead, Towson University Jon Howell, Emory University Trevor Miele, Stevens Insititute of Technology Adam Hoyt, Tufts University Tom Milich, Cal Poly Swimming Lance Huber, Luther College Paula Miller, Ithaca College Harvey Humphries, Athens Bulldogs Swim Club Kathy Milliken, Kalamazoo College Sean Hutchinson, FAST Swim Team / King Aquatics Mark Minier, Swim Atlanta

22 | Volume 2011 — Issue 03 | ASCA Newsletter ASCA Newsletter | Volume 2011 — Issue 03 | 23 2010 Awards of Excellence

Quin Monahan, Savannah College of Art & Design Matt Sellman, University of Mary Washington John Morse, Nashville Aquatic Club Eddie Shepard, Biola University Garry Nelson, University of the Cumberlands Duncan Sherrard, Florida Southern College Nick Nichols, Amherst College Brad Shively, Washington University Andy Niemann, Mission Aurora Colorado Swimming Richard Shoulberg, Germantown Academy Aquatics Club Terry Nieszner, University of Minnesota Ned Skinner, Virginia Tech Wayne Norris, University of Findlay Peter Solomon, Middlebury College Tom Pardee, Cascade Swim Club Oleg Soloviev, College of Staten Island Gregg Parini, Denison University Ryan Sprang, Nittany Lion Aquatic Club John Patnott, Hope College Mike Spring, Crimson Aquatics Jeff Pearson, Sierra Marlins Swim Team Paul Stafford, Terrapins Swim Team Jeff Pease, North Coast Aquatics Martie Staser, Nazareth College Richard Pein, University of Wisconsin, La Crosse Jim Steen, Kenyon College Craig Penrose, Lindenwood University Todd Stevens, Wilton Y Wahoos Nicholas Perron, Université Laval Rachel Stratton, Asphalt Green Unified Aquatics Sean Peters, Wayne State University Pam Swander, Indiana University Club Paradise Mike Pliuskaitis, Snow Swimming Jake Taber, Olivet College Jeff Poppell, University of Arkansas Susan Teeter, Princeton University Tim Quill, Southern Connecticut State University , Yale University Matt Rankin, Westside Silver Fins Steve Thompson, Lewis University , University of Texas / Texas Aquatics Dorsey Tierney-Walker, Arizona State University Jim Reitz, University of Nevada, Las Vegas Brian Tobin, SUNY Cortland Brian Reynolds, Drury University Greg Troy, Jim Richardson, University of Michigan Jon Urbanchek, FAST Swim Team Peter Richardson, Fresno Pacific University Mark Van Dyke, Clarion University Al Rose, JCC Sailfish Chris Villa, Indiana University of Pennsylvania Bill Rose, Bill Wadley, Ohio State University Dan Ross, Purdue University Andy Waeger, Lock Haven University Rick Rowland, California Baptist University Peter Ward, George Mason University Jamie Rudisill, West Chester University Scott Ward, Eagle Swim Team Bob Rueppel, Franklin & Marshall College , Santa Barbara Aquatic Club Skip Runkle, Mount Hood Aquatics Bailey Weathers, Club Wolverine Kevin Sage, Colorado School of Mines Jason Weber, University of Chicago , University of Southern California / Trojan Josh White, Club Wolverine S.C. Leslie Whittemore, University of Redlands Kirk Sanocki, Wingate University Martyn Wilby, Gator Swim Club Steve Schadt, Whitworth College Chris Wolford, Cincinnati Marlins Steve Schaffer, Grand Canyon University John Woods, Scenic City Aquatic Club Todd Schmitz, Colorado Stars

24 | Volume 2011 — Issue 03 | ASCA Newsletter ASCA Newsletter | Volume 2011 — Issue 03 | 25 Thank You!

For Donations to the American Swimming Coaches Association Advocacy Fund:

The entire ASCA Board of Directors, plus, Fellows Kathleen Prindle and Bill Roberts, and Joseph Zemeitis!

VERY much appreciated.

John Leonard

26 | Volume 2011 — Issue 03 | ASCA Newsletter ASCA Newsletter | Volume 2011 — Issue 03 | 27 The American Swimming Coaches NONPROFIT ORG. Council for Sport Development U.S. POSTAGE PAID 5101 NW 21st Ave., Suite 200 NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ Fort Lauderdale, FL 33309 PERMIT #1