by Dr. Paul Hutinger
Question: Although I have coached at USA and high school levels, I am a new Masters coach and realize Masters swimmers have different needs. What suggestions do you have for my team, which has many novice swimmers, to encourage them at workouts and to enter meets?
Answer: I commend your realization about Masters swimmers! Learning new strokes and improving techniques, encouragement as simple as, "good streamline on your pushoff" does wonders for a swimmer.
The 1st level for recognition and motivation is PERSONAL RECORDS. Use fins as a stroke and kick enhancer with sets for personal records. As a world record holder, I use a set of 10 x 100 m back @ 2 min, trying to keep my time under the world record. Adjust times to suit your swimmers. A novice swimmer who takes 30 strokes for a 25 yd. free, can learn to stretch out the stroke and cut the number of strokes to 25 or less. Also use this technique for the other strokes to improve efficiency.
Encourage the use of a personal log or planner, such as the one supplied by USMS. At the start of the year, or other appropriate time, have a planning session. Instruct your swimmers how to set personal goals and swim times. This calendar planner is an excellent place to keep track of swim activities, workout schedules and meets, including PERSONAL RECORDS or PR's in workouts and meets. Beginning in 2003, to receive this calendar, you must request it. Contact Tracy Grilli, PO Box 185, Londonderry, NH 03053.
The 2nd level for recognition is TEAM RECORDS, each age group and stroke. With new teams, it is possible for more swimmers to own a record, from meets. Records only motivate if swimmers are aware of them, which is one aspect of good communication. If your team works out at one pool, post them on a bulletin board. Alternatives are to send them to all members or post them on your web site, if you have one. Encourage your swimmers to give credit to teammates for PR's and team records at each meet you attend.
The 3rd level is to achieve a FL LMSC TOP 5 TIME in at least one event. These results are published every year for all three courses and postal events.
The 4th level is a FL LMSC RECORD. Some age groups are more difficult to attain, but all should be given recognition. If you have older swimmers, stimulate them to enter an event which has no records. I encouraged our 90 year old to swim the One Hour Postal and he won it, in addition to setting a team and FL record.
The 5th level would be to achieve a USMS TOP TEN TIME. It is difficult to achieve an individual or 200 relay top ten time. Look for meets with the 400 and 800 relays, as sometimes ten teams have not swum that event.
Use all the creative ideas you can think of to have fun and achieve the goals and objectives of Masters swimming, which should be an integral part of a good program. The key to a successful team is to provide motivation and recognize their efforts, at whatever level they can achieve. Each year, do a critique and use these ideas to improve and establish your Positive program.
Anyone wanting additional information, or having personal questions, please send a large SASE to: Dr. Paul Hutinger, 1755 Georgia Ave NE, St. Petersburg FL 33703. You can e-mail me at phut@usms.org.