{"id":575473,"date":"2023-12-29T11:07:56","date_gmt":"2023-12-29T18:07:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/?p=575473"},"modified":"2023-12-29T11:08:50","modified_gmt":"2023-12-29T18:08:50","slug":"how-to-build-a-winning-team-culture-coaches-from-around-the-country-discuss-key-factors","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/how-to-build-a-winning-team-culture-coaches-from-around-the-country-discuss-key-factors\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Build a Winning Team Culture: Coaches From Around the Country Discuss Key Factors"},"content":{"rendered":"

How to Build a Winning Team Culture: Coaches From Around the Country Discuss Key Factors<\/strong><\/p>\n

Coaches around the country weigh in on the many factors that can help their swim teams build a winning culture.<\/em><\/p>\n

Prior to becoming head coach at the University of Florida (2010 women\u2019s NCAA champion), 2012 U.S. Olympic coach Gregg Troy<\/strong> established a dynasty at the Bolles School (1977-97). In his 20 years at Jacksonville, he won 15 boys\u2019 and 11 girls\u2019 Florida high school state championships as well as five girls\u2019 Swimming World<\/em> national prep titles\u2014a winning tradition that continues today.<\/p>\n

\u201cTo inspire swimmers and test limits successfully, you have to create a group culture looking for certain goals,\u201d says Troy. \u201cThose goals might differ from individual to individual, but the culture has to be goal-and-performance-oriented. If it is, then each individual can figure out their niche.\u201d<\/p>\n

By 2010, Bolles coach Sergio Lopez<\/strong> had a squad that starred Ryan Murphy<\/strong>, Joseph Schooling<\/strong> and Santo Conderelli<\/strong>. All future Olympians, the three helped break national high school marks in the 200-400 free and 200 yard medley relays.<\/p>\n

As Murphy told Swimming World<\/em> in 2013, \u201cThat talent level is hard to find on the college level, and we were lucky to have it in high school. It was cool because everyone had different strengths and weaknesses and completely different personalities. The way that all meshed was really cool\u201d\u2014and it was an extension of the school\u2019s winning culture that includes 63 Olympic swimmers!<\/p>\n

ESSENTIAL INGREDIENTS<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Don

Don Heidary<\/p><\/div>\n

Don Heidary<\/strong>, current board member of the World Swimming Coaches Association, is a high school coach of 35 years, co-founder of Orinda Aquatics and an internationally recognized expert on team culture. Character pursuit is a foundational Orinda mission, and Heidary is adamant that good culture begins with good character. He avows the five key elements required for a winning culture are integrity, leadership, mentorship, support and service\u2014traits that will have life-long benefits.<\/p>\n

For a winning culture to work, it must be sold daily, says Heidary. \u201cThat means setting a vision, defining it, selling it to the team\/leaders\/parents\/board of directors, reaching out to problematic kids and introducing it to younger swimmers. Culture must be the anchor in the organization,\u201d he asserts.<\/p>\n

That starts with coach expectations.<\/p>\n

\"arizona-state-800-free-relay-\"

Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick<\/p><\/div>\n

Prior to his present success at Arizona State, Bob Bowman<\/strong> was head man at North Baltimore Aquatic Club. There his big thing was discipline in the pursuit of excellence: \u201cThat meant having a structure, a clearly defined way of going about our business and clear communication with parents and swimmers regarding goals and expectations. When everyone is on the same page, it is fun, and you get great energy and buy-in,\u201d says Bowman.<\/p>\n

GREAT EXPECTATIONS<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cWe are very clear and aggressive about expectations,\u201d says Heidary. That extends to outward and visible signs such as attire.<\/p>\n

Bill Rose<\/strong>, when at Mission Viejo, was a stickler about the Nadadores \u201cshowing their colors\u201d on and off deck. At ASCA World Clinics, when gathered for post-session wrap-up meetings, the MVN coaching staff was an imposing presence, sporting the team\u2019s blue and gold.<\/p>\n

\u201cTeam attire is and should be a statement of pride,\u201d says Heidary. \u201cWe believe there is a correlation between one\u2019s commitment to wear team attire and one\u2019s general feeling about the team. Our swimmers do not compete in a meet or travel with the team if they are not in team attire. It is not about the clothes or the rule, it is about the statement they are making with their appearance,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n

Jim Koehr<\/strong> has coached Seton School in Manassas, Va. to 10 VISAA Division II championships. He has founded his team\u2019s success on the catholic principles of gratitude, excellence, meekness and sacrifice\u2014ideals that are central to every team activity.<\/p>\n

He echoes Heidary\u2019s sentiments: \u201cI am an absolute hammer about uniforms on deck and caps in the water. At a meet, you are in your uniform T-shirt\u2014or hoodie\u2014and your uniform shorts. If you are in the water, you are wearing your Seton swim cap. Imagine what it looks like to flood the pool with 113 Seton swim caps all moving together,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n

Koehr, a business entrepreneur by trade, has worked hard over the last two decades to make the swim and dive team the most popular sport in the school. He has marshaled tremendous parental support to help him in this mission.<\/p>\n

\u201cSome generous parents ensure that every kid on the team gets a Speedo swim bag with their name embroidered on it. Envision 113 swim bags piled around lockers in the school. It really makes an impression. We also have a fairly elaborate custom apparel shop on our website, and sell jackets and 1\/4 zips that kids can wear with their school uniforms. It\u2019s fun to see even the beginning swimmers proudly wear their Seton Swim and Dive gear in the hallways,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n

\u201cO SAY CAN YOU SEE\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n

One Middle Atlantic high school coach hands out lyrics to \u201cThe Star-Spangled Banner\u201d at his team\u2019s goal-setting meeting\u2014this, in preparation for singing it at every home meet. One evening, the team was in full voice when the natatorium sound system failed and inspired spectators to finish the anthem with them.<\/p>\n

For Koehr, \u201cthe national anthem is a huge opportunity for kids to feel like they are part of something bigger\u2014not just Seton Swimming, but the USA. Our swimmers form two perfect lines, with everyone at military attention, facing the flag, with their hands over their hearts. The national anthem is a great opportunity to teach gratitude, one of our core values.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs it plays, our athletes have only have two options: Pray for their country or sing along. This is so ingrained into our culture, we practice lining up and singing at our time-trial meet. I am proud to say that I\u2019m starting to see other teams that come to our meets emulate us,\u201d says Koehr.<\/p>\n

WHO\u2019S THE LEADER OF THE CLUB?<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong>\u201cTeam captains affect team culture and performance like few other dynamics,\u201d says Koehr. \u201cIn addition to training and coach and culture continuity, another driving force is perpetual senior swimmer leadership,\u201d says Heidary. \u201cTradition doesn\u2019t graduate, so seniors work very hard in all program aspects and set the tone and expectations, which motivates younger swimmers.\u201d<\/p>\n

Mike Foley<\/strong>, the winningest high school swimming coach in Massachusetts history, agrees: \u201cThe roles seniors play is huge\u2014i.e., carrying on tradition from one season to the next, picking up young teammates and making sure they \u2018trust the process\u2019 from start to finish,\u201d says the Wayland High School coach.<\/p>\n

\u201cSometimes\u00a0it even involves the leader getting on teammates when they aren\u2019t working hard enough or cutting corners. When athletes get praise and\/or an extra push from their peers, it can carry more weight than just the coach saying things. Our leaders are expected to be the bridge between the coaches and the athletes,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n

\"Jeremy

Jeremy Wade<\/p><\/div>\n

Leaders are also people who are trusted and put team first. \u201cMy view of a leader is a servant\u2014and to be a good leader, you must be a good servant,\u201d says Jeremy Wade<\/strong>, whose Woodlands girls are two-time reigning UIL 6A Texas state champions (his boys were second in 2023).<\/p>\n

Woodlands leaders work hand-in-hand with coaches, taking charge leading team stretches and cheers, supervising area and bus clean-up, ensuring team members have rides home, coordinating team fun events, designing team T-shirts and so on. \u201cI expect our leaders to be lions in our hunt for team success,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n

Integral to Woodlands cultural buy-in is an early season team-building\/meet-and-greet day.<\/p>\n

\u201cI view this day as one of the most important events of the season,\u201d says Wade. \u201cIt is the first time a.m. and p.m. kids come together and start getting to know each other.<\/p>\n

\u201cI have a slideshow that goes over our team philosophy, expectations, etc. It\u2019s loaded with inspirational videos that change from year to year. It really sets the tone for the entire season.<\/p>\n

\u201cAfter the hour-long presentation, the athletes set goals. The girls and then the boys present their goals. After that, we go outside and do a fun team activity\/game and learn the team cheers.\u201d<\/p>\n

Another element central to Woodlands\u2019 success is communication with:<\/p>\n