By Dave Denniston<\/p>\n
CONCORD, California. March 15. Each year leading into the Olympics USA Swimming Recognizes swim clubs around the country with the National Club Excellence Program. SwimmingWorldMagazine.com will feature one of the Gold Medal Clubs each week observing the characteristics and dynamics that have taken these clubs to the top of our sport. <\/p>\n
Head Coach Ray Mitchell founded the Terrapin Swim Team in 1989 in conjunction with Paul Stafford. Ray was the USA Swimming developmental Coach of the Year in 1998, 1999, and 2003 the Pacific Coach of the Year in 1998 and developed Natalie Coughlin, Laura Davis, and Lauren Rogers. As the Terrapin Head Coach, Ray\u2019s teams have racked up over 30 top 10 team finishes at Junior and Senior nationals since 1990 including National Championships in 1997 and 2000. His Swimmers have qualified for USA National Teams including the Pan Pacific Games, Pan AM Games, World University Games, Short Course World Champs, National Jr. teams, Goodwill Games, World Championships and USA National "A" and "B" teams. The Terrapins are recognized by USA Swimming as a Gold Medal Club.<\/p>\n
In Concord, California Terrapin swimmers learn training philosophy and exercise physiology from an early age. The program is built around an understanding of swimming and training from the beginning. Eleven and Twelve year-olds learn how to monitor their heart rate during practices. By the time they\u2019re thirteen on up to fifteen they understand Aerobic training, An-aerobic training and lactate training. Once Terrapins are in the Senior level group they monitor their own lactate testing and have a full grasp on what sets mean and how they are helping them become better swimmers.<\/p>\n
With a team of around 200 swimmers, this much education of every athlete would seem like a daunting task. Head Age Group coach, Paul Stafford has made this education fun and simple by giving each swimmer a log book. Every swimmer has a log book and is expected to document all of their workouts. Each swimmer religiously records their times, heart rates and by the time they are seniors their lactate levels on a daily basis. <\/p>\n
Additionally, the swimmers are tested twice a year on the different training levels, techniques, and philosophies involved with swimming. <\/p>\n
\u201cWe do the tests for our benefit as coaches,\u201d says Stafford. \u201cThis way we know how much they are really grasping and where we need to improve as coaches. The log books and little tests have really enhanced a clearer communication between our swimmers and us.\u201d<\/p>\n
Log books and tests are two of the tools that have helped make the Terrapins Swim Team a USA Swimming Gold Medal Club.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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