Swimming World Presents “What Coaches Can Learn From Swimmers – Part 1”

What Coaches Can Learn From Swimmers – Part 1

At first blush, education might appear to be a one-way street. Teachers teach, students learn. Same with sports—coaches give instruction, athletes absorb and, hopefully, execute. But time on the job often reveals a different dynamic.

In the first of a two-part series, Swimming World shares epiphanies where swimmer interaction fundamentally altered coaching behavior.

Jon Urbanchek

University of Michigan head coach, 1982-2004; 6x Olympic coach

“Gary Hall, Rod Strachan and the Furniss brothers (Chip, Steve, Bruce and Craig) all started with me as age groupers, and I coached numerous Olympians at Michigan. What I learned from Tom Dolan (world and Olympic champion) was that he had a lopsided galloping freestyle. I wanted to change it to a more symmetrical stroke, and after about six months of training, he looked like he was progressing—but something just didn’t feel right. He went to a meet, got beat, came back and said he would be going back to his old stroke. He was a freshman then, but very confident in his abilities. He went back to his old stroke and became the world’s best swimmer in the IM.

“So, I learned there are some things you don’t break up—especially a swimmer’s efficient and rhythmic body movement.

Gregg Wilson

(University of California Santa Barbara, 1975-2016)

“Katy Freeman was an out-of-shape walk-on with a bad shoulder. She didn’t say five words on her recruiting trip. She ended up being an NCAA All-American and being on a winning medley relay at the World University Games.

I learned so much working with her and about breaststroke. When you spend so much time with someone, you find what makes them tick, and you can apply that to other people.”

Next month in Part 2, coaches discuss the importance of feedback.

To read more from these coaches and Mike Onstott, Joel Shinofield, and even Jason Lezak,
check out the full article in the March 2019 issue of Swimming World Magazine, available now!

Swimming World subscribers can download this issue in the Swimming World Vault!

[PHOTO CREDIT: PETER H. BICK]

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FEATURES

016 BUCKLE UP!
by Dan D’Addona
It has been four in a row for the Longhorns, but last year was the closest yet—with no less than three teams having a mathematical shot to win the team title heading into the final relay! Expect more of the same at this year’s men’s NCAAs.

020 STILL STANFORD
by Dan D’Addona
Stanford dominated last year’s women’s Division I NCAAs, and even though the Cardinal are favored to win their third straight championship, this year’s meet should be different.

023 ELITE TO REPEAT?
by Andy Ross and Cathleen Pruden
In NCAA Division II and III swimming and diving, the same elite teams seem to battle it out for the national championship each year. Both the Queens women’s and men’s squads have realistic shots at winning five titles in a row at D-IIs, while in D-III, Emory’s women will be looking for their 10th straight title, and Denison’s men are poised to win their third championship in four years.

026 BLUE-COLLAR SWIMMER
by David Rieder
Cal’s Andrew Seliskar has put in the hard work to enable him to swim at a higher level. He loves the sport, and he knows that if he wants to be successful at swimming, he has to be fully invested into it.

COACHING

010 LESSONS WITH THE LEGENDS: GUS STAGER
by Michael J. Stott

014 SPECIAL SETS: SEASON-LONG AND CHAMPIONSHIP PREP FOR 10-AND-UNDERS
by Michael J. Stott
When an elite swimmer shines, sunlight occasionally falls on the athlete’s coach. In the ensuing excitement, what is often overlooked is the contribution made years earlier by the 10-and-under coach who set the foundation for success and possible stardom by teaching proper mechanics, motivation and a love of the sport.

030 WHAT COACHES CAN LEARN FROM SWIMMERS (Part 1)
by Michael J. Stott
At first blush, education might appear to be a one-way street. Teachers teach, students learn. Same with sports—coaches give instruction, athletes absorb and, hopefully, execute. But time on the job often reveals a different dynamic. In the first of a two-part series, Swimming World shares epiphanies where swimmer interaction fundamentally altered coaching behavior.

040 Q&A WITH COACH JEAN-PAUL GOWDY
by Michael J. Stott

042 HOW THEY TRAIN: MADDIE KAUAHI
by Michael J. Stott

TRAINING

013 DRYSIDE TRAINING: EXERCISE EQUIPMENT SERIES—DUMBBELLS
by J.R. Rosania

JUNIOR SWIMMER

045 UP & COMERS: DANIEL BRANON
by Taylor Brien

COLUMNS & SPECIAL SECTIONS

008 A VOICE FOR THE SPORT
009 BEYOND THE YARDS
019 OFFICIAL WORD
025 DID YOU KNOW? TRACY CAULKINS
032 2019 SWIM CAMP DIRECTORY
044 HASTY HIGH POINTERS
046 GUTTER TALK
048 PARTING SHOT

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Jennifer Parks

5 years ago

Yes, am interested in what Gus Staged had to say. He was the Michigan coach, when I was a kid, coaching the ’60 Olympic team. At the Trials in ’60, I was swimming with Bill Milliken in the warm-up pool, Gus let me come over and kick with the guys in the competitive pool, ’cause women could kick as fast as men! Saw him later, when I was coaching MSU, and he told me what a great stroke my 500 swimmer had, even though she got 2nd to a UM swimmer. Interesting coach!