Champions stand out
I remember the day I understood for the first time the importance of teaching my young athletes to stand out, to be ok with being in the spotlight. Up until that day, it had never occurred to me that it Read more…
How coaches choose which race to do at a meet
This is an email I sent to the parents of my young swimmers (13 and under at the regional level) to address a situation where parents would hesitate signing their children for a meet or would sign them up for Read more…
Letter to a well meaning parent
Dear Sher, I recognize that you are well meaning and that you want to make sure you’re doing all you can to help your daughter be as good as she can be in our sport. This is why I have Read more…
The type of lessons your child will learn in our club
One evening, a mother arrives with her 11-year-old boy to get assessed. Due to an error in scheduling, I end up doing the assessment which consists of swimming a few lengths to determine the best group for the swimmer. After Read more…
Phelps on sacrifice, an activity with your child
In my most recent years of coaching, I would email a weekly report to all the families of each of the groups I coached. These reports were a way for me to engage the parents in the process their children Read more…