[CLOH-News] busy times

[Mark Rauterkus]

Hi,

Welcome to some new ISCA members!



Hope all is going well for this championship season, so far.

ISCA's West Coast Age Group meet is happening this weekend. It ends on
Monday, due to the holiday.

+ + +
With ISCA's Meet, I'm not able to reach Doug to ask about banquet tickets
-- and as we owe a reply to Dr. Maglischo.
+ + +

Just edited and uploaded a video interview with Jack Simon, ISCA Hall of
Fame Inductee this year, and Steve Friederang. This content is going to go
out to the world via his e-magazine, Competitive Swimmer. But, I wanted
Jack and you here to get a peek first. The first is a 10-minute clip on
Trans Swimmers, newsworthy discussion. Then comes the full discussion,
1-hour, 38-minutes.

https://read.swimisca.org/courses/global-library-for-isca-members/lessons/jack-simon-isca-hall-of-fame-coach-speaks-with-steve/

More highlight clips are able to be edited from the main interview. Plus,
the transcript, now at 18-pages, would be valued too, after it is better
formatted.

+ + +

Tip: Might be good to do a little more season-ending goal setting,
especially with the kids new to the team who have yet to experience a
dramatic taper. What is obvious to the coaches and the seasoned swimmers is
often overlooked for the newest members on the squad.

The next edition of the ebook, Readings from the Book of Coach Mark, gets a
new entry. How would you respond to this anxious parent? Here is my
approach, with names and locations removed.

Question:

My son is a swimmer who is having trouble translating his hard work in
practice into success in races.   He had a great long course season but
this year he has added time.  He is searching for solutions, and I hope he
will be open to some mental coaching.  Do you offer it? What kind of time
commitment are we talking about?

Coach Mark's first reply:

Where are you located? How old is he? What times did he do and how is his
time this year? When does he taper for the short course championships? What
were his times ONE YEAR ago?  What does his coach say? Is he interested in
doing some reading on his own?

More from the Question asker.

We live in US, location removed.

He is 17. Last summer July 2021, he swam a long course 200 free 2:01.62.
That converts to a short course 1:46. In the following December, he swam a
short course 200 of 1:48 and in Feb, just a week ago, he swam a 1:53. A
year ago he swam a 1:50.

His coach is planning a goal review after the short course season ends in
early April. It’s the swimmer’s first year with this team, so the coach is
still trying to get a handle on the swimmer.

Reading? Maybe.  He actually seems in a good place. Like he wants to figure
it out.  He has a last chance meet in two weeks, his last chance to qualify
for sectionals, which is at the end of March.

Reply from Coach Mark

Thank you for the information.


Plateaus are part of senior swimming. It is hard. He is fast. He may drop
yet as the taper is where it is at. Stay the course.

A goal meeting now may be in good order. Transition from practice to meet
times, test set performance. Data can give confidence. Coach has insights
and waiting for them may be hard. Can a swimmer and coach appointment be
set up in a calm time away from the grind of practice? Phone call even.

The cover of a swimming in college opinion may also be worthy.

The biggest thing you wrote is that he is in a good place. Great. Nuff
said.

Cherish these days w the kid. They end in a blink. Support and parental
love by the truckload.

Peace

Last follow-up: Thank you Mark! Beautiful thoughts. All the best


--
Ta.


Mark Rauterkus       Mark at Rauterkus.com
Webmaster, International Swim Coaches Association, SwimISCA.org
412 298 3432 = cell