Successful SummerLeague Coaching
DON HEIDARY, HEAD COACH ORINDA AQUATICS, ASCA BOARD
Summer League Certification
COMING FROM ASCA IN 2015
ASCA Info
WOULD YOU BE WILLING TO HELP
WITH A SURVEY OR OFF-SITE
MEETING TO HELP US PROVIDE THE
BEST OFFERING POSSIBLE?
EDUCATIONAL
PERFORMANCE
OTHER
What exists for you as a SL coach?
MOTIVATIONAL TOOLS
ALL STROKE ANALYSIS (ADVANCED)
COACHING 8&U
COACHING THE NOVICE
GO SWIM VIDEO’S (ALL)
STEVE HAUFLER
GAMES, GIMMICKS
SPEED COACHING
DRILL BOOK
TAPERING
AGE-GROUP SPORTS PSYCHOLOGY
TRAINING YOUNG CHAMPIONS
WORKING WITH PARENTS
BULLETIN BOARDS AND NEWSLETTERS
THE SWIMMING BIBLE
TOOLS FOR NEW COACHES
WRITING WORKOUTS
COACH ORGANIZATION
NUTRITION
DRY LAND FOR AGE-GROUP
COUNTLESS ARTICLES, TALKS, ETC.
PLUS OVER ONE MILLION WEBSITES
Speaker Background
FIRST SUMMER-LEAGUE HEAD COACHING JOB AT 19
20 YEARS IN HIGHLY COMPETITIVE CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
30 YEARS HIGH SCHOOL COACHING (NORTHERN CA)
20 YEARS WITH ORINDA AQUATICS
THREE TEAM DRIVERS WERE:
RELATIONSHIPS, TECHNIQUE, AND CULTURE
BRIDGED SOCIAL AND COMPETITIVE
A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO COACH MATT EHRENBERGER AND
SLEEPY HOLLOW SWIM TEAM STAFF FOR PHOTO’S AND VIDEO
Who are you as a team?
small, humble, social
or
large, aggressive, competitive
•S I Z E ( 7 5 - 3 7 5 )
•S E A S O N : E I G H T W E E K S O R Q U A S I - Y E A R - R O U N D
•D E M O G R A P H I C S : R U R A L V S . M A N Y I N F L O W S Y S T E M S
•T A L E N T : N O V I C E / N A T I O N A L L Y C O M P E T I T I V E
•C H A L L E N G E S : M A N Y / N O N E
•C U L T U R E : F U N ( S O C I A L ) / H I G H L Y C O M P E T I T I V E
•S T A F F : Y O U N G ( C A S U A L ) / M A T U R E D ( P R O F E S S I O N A L )
•P A Y : L O W ( M I N I M A L ) / H I G H ( L U C R A T I V E )
•F A C I L I T Y : L I M I T E D / E X P A N S I V E
•S U P P O R T : N O N E / E X T E N S I V E
•O B J E C T I V E S : H A V E F U N / S W I M ( V E R Y ) F A S T
•G O A L S : N O N E / W I N
How do you measure success?
TEAM POINTS
TEAM PLACE
TEAM SIZE
RETENTION
EXPERIENCE
RACE QUALITY
DO YOUR SWIMMERS KNOW?
DOES YOUR STAFF KNOW?
DO YOUR PARENTS KNOW?
What is Your End-Game? (for kids)
STAY IN SUMMER LEAGUE
SWIM HIGH SCHOOL
SWIM USS
SWIM IN COLLEGE
WHAT ROLE DO YOU PLAY?
Is it Swimming?
The Unique Nature of Summer-League
SHORT SEASON
TRAINING IS MUTED
SOCIAL CAN BECOME DOMINANT THEME
PARENTS TEND TO CONTROL PROCESS
MANY OF THE SWIMMERS ARE NOVICE
ATTRITION/FALLOUT CAN BE HIGH
COACHING CAN BECOME POLITICALLY DRIVEN
RESULTS DRIVEN (EVERY SWIM MATTERS)
RACE FOCUS AT EARLY AGES RATHER THAN GENERAL
DEVELOPMENT (NO IMX SCORE!)
YOU MUST KNOW WHAT YOU ARE DEALING WITH
Is it Coaching?
BABYSITTING
PARENT DIRECTED
CAMP
SOCIAL ACTIVITY
TEACHING
COACHING
TRAINING
TEAM-BUILDING
“THE MAIN REASONS THAT COACHES LOSE THEIR JOBS
HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH COACHING OR SWIMMING.”
USA SWIMMING CLUB DEVELOPMENT
Strengths of Summer-League
BEST INTRODUCTION TO THE SPORT
TECHNIQUE/SKILL DEVELOPMENT
SOCIAL (INVITING) ENVIRONMENT
TEAM FEEL/TEAM BONDING
RACING SKILLS DEVELOPED
LIFELONG RELATIONSHIPS (4-18 YEARS
POOLS ARE CONDUCIVE
OLD)
Drawbacks
RACE (STROKE RATE) ORIENTED TRAINING VS.
DPS/EFFICIENT DEVELOPMENT
TOO SOCIAL REMOVES TRAINING/DISCIPLINE
FOCUS
SYSTEM CAN HOLD KIDS TOO LONG OR
THROUGHOUT CAREER
Challenges
•S H O R T - T E R M O R I E N T A T I O N
•S T A F F C O N T I N U I T Y
•P A R E N T C O N T I N U I T Y ( H I G H T U R N O V E R )
•P A R E N T I N T E R F E R E N C E / B O U N D A R I E S
•O L D E R S W I M M E R R E T E N T I O N
•Y O U N G E R S W I M M E R I N F L O W
•G E N E R A L D I S C I P L I N E
•W O R K O U T M A N A G E M E N T
•M E E T E N T R Y M A N A G E M E N T
•V A C A T I O N S / S U M M E R C O N F L I C T S
•F A C I L I T Y
Keys to Success
? (rank 1-10)
GETTING BIGGER?
TRAIN HARDER?
BETTER TECHNIQUE?
BETTER COACHING?
BETTER CULTURE?
BETTER PARENTS?
MORE SOCIAL?
MORE SERIOUS?
MORE ORGANIZED?
MORE LESSONS?
“LEADERSHIP IS ALL ABOUT
PAINTING THE VISION, GIVING
PEOPLE SOMETHING
WORTHWHILE TO FOLLOW.”
Cornerstones of
Summer-League Success
STRUCTURE/ORGANIZATION FOR SUCCESS (DRY)
TEACH/TRAIN FOR SUCCESS (WET)
CULTURE FOR SUCCESS (GLUE)
“AN ORGANIZATION, NO MATTER
HOW WELL DESIGNED, IS ONLY AS
GOOD AS THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE
AND WORK IN IT.”
DEE HOCK
What is Structural Success?
CREATING A SYSTEM AND ORGANIZATION THAT BREEDS
AND PERPETUATES ACCELERATED DEVELOPMENT,
SUCCESS, AND CULTURE
COMPONENTS ARE:
WORKOUT/TEAM STRUCTURE
STAFF MANAGEMENT/TRAINING
PARENT SUPPORT/MANAGEMENT
Workout Management
GROUP ORGANIZATION
(HEATS, STROKES, INTERVALS, RANDOM, ETC.)
MAXIMIZING FACILITY
(LENGTHS, WIDTHS, DIVING AREA, ON DECK)
MAXIMIZING EQUIPMENT
(FINS, PADDLES, SNORKELS, TEMPO TRAINERS)
MANAGING LARGE GROUPS/WORKOUT DISCIPLINE
AGGRESSIVE COACH FOCUS
GROUP MEETING/SWIMMER EXPECTATIONS
Swimmer Expectations
“BUT I CAN’T TELL TIME YET”
“NOT A PROBLEM!”
Glue or watch – you choose
Staffing
HIRINGWITHIN/OUTSIDE?
KEY CHARACTERISTICS LIKE-MINDED, PASSIONATE, PERSONABLE, ROLE MODEL
TRAINING ORGANIC, EDUCATIONAL, FORCED
MANAGING EXPECTATIONS, SUPERVISION, ACCOUNTABILITY
Staff Guidelines
•B E P R E P A R E D , O R G A N I Z E D , A N D E N T H U S I A S T I C
(NO SITTING, EATING, SOCIALIZING)
•B E A P R O F E S S I O N A L ( A G E I S N O T A N I S S U E )
•B E A R O L E M O D E L ( A G E I S N O T A N I S S U E )
•K N O W T H E S Y S T E M , L A N G U A G E , A N D P H I L O S O P H Y
•K N O W T E A M V A L U E S , M I S S I O N , A N D O B J E C T I V E S
•A L W A Y S R E S P E C T T H E H E A D C O A C H A N D T H E S Y S T E M
KNOW CHILD PROTECTION GUIDELINES
(LINES CAN BE BLURRED)
Coaching
•A R R I V E E A R L Y
•B E P R E P A R E D
•B E E N G A G E D / D E M O N S T R A T I V E
•K N O W K I D S
•K N O W N E E D S
•H A V E A S E N S E O F U R G E N C Y
•T A L K T O E A C H K I D S ( P E R S O N A L / T E C H N I C A L )
COACHING IS A PRIVILEGE
YOU DIRECTLY AFFECT AND IMPACT YOUTH
Real Coaching?
“THERE ARE TEACHERS WITH A RARE
ABILITY TO ENTER A CHILD’S MIND;
IT’S AS IF THEIR ABILITY TO GET
THERE AT ALL GIVES THEM THE
RIGHT TO STAY FOREVER.”
MICHAEL LEWIS, COACH
Staff/Management
Hire from within (all things being equal, if you can’t…)
Hire great people
Hire role models
Hire character and integrity
Hire leaders not swimmers
Have a progression plan
Have a succession plan
Have a back-up plan
Delegate – sell/teach leadership
Have regular staff meetings
Have pre and post meet meetings
Have workout meetings
Head coach should spend time with all coaches (continuity)
Hold Pier Reviews
Address internal (staff) conflicts quickly and privately
Meet Entries
•O N T I M E
•T R I P L E C H E C K F O R A C C U R A C Y
•C R O S S C H E C K F O R “ I S S U E S ”
•R E L A Y C L A R I T Y / T R A N S P A R E N C Y
•B E S T E V E N T S V S . O T H E R E V E N T S
Meet Management
•C O A C H E S M E E T I N G
•T E A M A R R I V A L
•T E A M A T T I R E
•T E A M A R E A
•T E A M M E E T I N G
•S H E P H E R D S ( 8 & U )
•R A C E A C C O U N T A B I L I T Y ( 1 0 + )
•S T A F F A S S I G N M E N T S
•W A R M - U P
•P R E - R A C E
•P O S T - R A C E
•S W I M M E R / P E R F O R M A N C E M A N A G E M E N T
•E M P H A S I S O N R A C E Q U A L I T Y A N D T E A M A N D N O T T I M E
•R E C O V E R Y
•C O A C H M E E T I N G
Inflow/Developmental Systems
•T E A M L E S S O N S
•F A C I L I T Y L T S P R O G R A M – C L U B R U N
•F A C I L I T Y L T S P R O G R A M – T E A M R U N
•L O C A L L E S S O N P R O G R A M S
•S C H O O L S / D E M O G R A P H I C S
•F A C I L I T Y A M E N I T I E S
•H I G H S C H O O L P R O G R A M S
Parent Management
• COMMUNICATE EARLY AND OFTEN
• ATTEND BOD/COMMITTEE MEETINGS
• MAINTAIN BOD/COMMITTEE SUPPORT
• CONNECT AT MEETS AND WORKOUT
• KNOW POLITICS AND “POWER PLAYERS”
• SELL PARENTS ON STAFF AND PROGRAM
• HAVE A (WORKING) PARENT LIAISON
• DAMAGE CONTROL
• TALK TO KEY KIDS ABOUT POTENTIAL PROBLEMS
(KIDS TALK TO PARENTS)
Safety
•M O V E M E N T O N D E C K
•T H R E E - P O I N T E N T R Y ( A L L )
•O N E H A N D O N W A L L – E Y E S O N C O A C H
OR SIT ON DECK
•H A V E A S C O U T O N D E C K I F N O G U A R D
•D O N ’ T T U R N Y O U R B A C K O N 6 & U N D E R S / N O V I C E
•B R E A T H C O N T R O L
•D I V I N G
•S T A F F O R J U N I O R C O A C H E S I N W A T E R ( O N E P E R L A N E )
•T A L K T O O L D E R K I D S W I T H Y O U N G E R K I D S ( B E H A V I O R )
The Wet Side
“THE SECRET TO BECOMING CONFIDENT IS
PREPARATION. BY PRACTICING WE COME TO
A POINT OF COMPETENCE. WE FIND
OURSELVES ACCOMPLISHING OUR GOALS
GRACEFULLY AND CONFIDENTLY. IT IS THEN
THAT WE DO THINGS THAT WE NEVER
DREAMED WE COULD DO. WE DISCOVER
POWERS WE NEVER KNEW EXISTED.”
Teach/Train for Success
•P R O G R E S S I O N P L A N S
•E F F I C I E N T I M P L E M E N T A T I O N
•T R A I N E D S T A F F A T E A C H P O S I T I O N
•A G G R E S S I V E / P O S I T I V E C O A C H I N G
•R E P E T I T I O N / E X E C U T I O N
•“ T R A I N - I Q U E ”
•R A C E P R E P ( R E H E A R S A L )
Keys to Competitive
Development
A T T E N D A N CE
EFFICIENCY EARLY
CONNECTION TO PROCESS (EARLY)
LEGALITY (STARTS)
WALLS/UW/FINISHES
RACE EFFICIENCY/STRATEGY
Stroke Development
•S L O W T O F A S T
•F A S T T O R A C E
•F U N D A M E N T A L T O T E C H N I C A L
•A G G R E S S I V E D R I L L S
•C O N D I T I O N D R I L L S
•C O N D I T I O N S T R O K E
•S T R O K E R A T E V S . D P S
•P E R F E C T R A C E ( T E C H N I Q U E / S T R A T E G Y )
Racing 25’s - Keys
COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE
•S T A R T S – L E G A L / R E A C T I O N
•U W / S P E E D / B R E A K O U T
•B R E A T H I N G P A T T E R N F O R F R E E / F L Y ( E X A C T L Y )
•S T R O K E C O U N T F O R B A C K
•F I N I S H I N G T E C H N I Q U E ( F L A G S I N )
•S T R O K E K E Y S ( 3 )
Racing 50’s - Keys
•D I V E / U W / B R E A K O U T
•B R E A T H I N G P A T T E R N F R E E A N D F L Y ( E X A C T L Y )
•D I S T A N C E U W / P U L L D O W N
•W I N W A L L / T U R N ( L E G A L / F A S T )
•B U I L D S E C O N D L A P ( B A S E D O N E N D U R A N C E )
•E X P L O S I V E F I N I S H ( O T H E R S F A D E )
Skill Development
•S T A R T S – N O F A L S E S T A R T S ( R O C K B A C K ) - W I N
•T U R N S – L E G A L / F A S T - W I N
•F I N I S H E S – S T R A T E G I C - W I N
•R E L A Y S T A R T S ( T R A C K ) – N O F A L S E S T A R T S
Effective Coaching
Group A – Coach A
• High level - technical
• Coach aggressively
Group B – Coach B
• Mid-level - develop
• Coach to move
Group C – Coach C
• Novice - fundamental
• Coach to move
Lessons
(can be the developmental foundation)
•C L U B R U N
•C O A C H R U N
•P R I V A T E
•G R O U P
•S T R U C T U R E – H O W O R G A N I Z E D
•T I E D T O W O R K O U T ( M A X I M I Z E )
•S I G N - U P P R O C E S S
•R E Q U I R E D O R O P T I O N A L
•I N W A T E R ( K E Y )
•A R E T H E Y M A X I M I Z E D ?
Lesson Cycle (same coach)
Workout
watch
Lesson
teach
Race
Workout
reinforce
Cultural Success
•D E F I N I N G P U R P O S E & T E A M
•T E A M I D E N T I T Y
•C U L T U R A L T H E M E S – P R I D E / L O Y A L T Y / W I N N I N G
•T R A D I T I O N S / A C T I V I T I E S
•C O N N E C T I N G W I T H S W I M M E R S / P E O P L E
•C O N N E C T I O N W I T H P A R E N T S
•B U I L D I N G C U L T U R A L T I E ( R E T E N T I O N )
A Culture of Success –
in Training
•A T T E N D A N C E / D E D I C A T I O N
•O N T I M E
•R E S P E C T / F O C U S I N W O R K O U T
•T R A I N I N G H A R D
•T R A I N I N G P O S I T I V E
•T R A I N I N G S U P P O R T I V E
•T R A I N I N G L E G A L L Y
•T R A I N I N G W A L L S
“PERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS ARE THE
FERTILE SOIL FROM WHICH ALL
A D V A N C E M E N T, A L L S U C C E S S , A L L
ACHIEVEMENT IN REAL LIFE GROWS.”
BEN STEIN
A Culture of Success –
without Winning
•W I N N I N G T E A M C H E E R S
•W I N N I N G W A R M - U P
•W I N N I N G W A L L S
•W I N N E R C L O S E R A C E S
•W I N N I N G A P P E A R A N C E
•W I N N I N G S P I R I T / C H E E R I N G
•W I N N I N G S P O R T S M A N S H I P
•W I N N I N G C L E A N - U P
Culture – How Much Overlap?
Competitive
Social
Competitive
Social
Social
Positive
Builds culture
Bonds Team
Ties to mission
Negative
Erodes discipline
Breads entitlement
WHEN?
WHY?
PURPOSE?
TEAMBUILDING
INTEGRATION
Swimmer Retention - Connection
Role
Models
(15+and coaches)
Leadership
(10-14)
(in and out of the pool)
Athletic skills
(8&U)
(team focus/accountability)
Subtleties/Competitive Advantage
6&UNDERS – BEST POINT MAXIMIZATION
VACATION MANAGEMENT
(RELATIONSHIPS, COMMUNICATION, AND CULTURE WILL KEEP)
15-18 RETENTION
(SAME)
NO DQ’S
Improve Today – Tell Someone
LIST THE THREE BEST THINGS YOU DO LIST THREE AREAS THAT MUST IMPROVE THREE WAYS TO IMPROVE STAFF THREE WAYS TO IMPROVE PARENT RELATIONS THREE WAYS TO IMPROVE CULTURE THREE WAYS TO IMPROVE TECHNICAL DEVELOPMENT -
“Wait until you get in the real world”
NEGOTIATING WITH A FIVE YEAR OLD TO SWIM THE FOURTH LEG OF A
RELAY ON A COLD WEDNESDAY NIGHT AS THE THIRD SWIMMER IS
APPROACHING THE WALL, GIVING A MOTIVATIONAL SPEECH TO BRING A
TEAM BACK FROM A DEFICIT, DEALING WITH TEENAGER THAT HAS
DECIDED TO PUT THEMSELVES AHEAD OF THE TEAM AT THE WRONG
TIME, CREATING A LINE-UP TO WIN A MEET THAT COULD BE DECIDED BY
ONE POINT, OR STAYING COMPOSED AS YOU DEAL WITH AN UPSET (FOR
NO REASON) PARENT. IT DOESN’T GET ANY MORE “REAL” THAN THAT !
WHAT IS THE REAL WORLD?
Being creative
Being challenged everyday
Communicating clearly to (different age groups)
Having a positive attitude - everyday
Dealing with pressure - everyday
Being energetic - everyday
Being analytical (every meet)
Organizing large groups
Supervising large groups
Teaching (various age groups and ability levels)
Motivating (various age groups and ability levels)
Negotiating (with various ages and personality types)
Managing staffs and large groups
Disciplining (various age groups and personality types)
Planning (short-term and long-term)
Goal setting (short-term and long term)
Creating and selling a vision
And it is not uncommon to do ten of these within a thirty minute period!
Questions?