Assistant Coaches
By
STEVE HAUFLER
Orinda Country Club Head Coach
INSIDE HIRES
Team Member
Leader
Role Model
Volunteer
Teacher
Look for “The Natural”
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Reliable
Confident
Strong Work Ethic
Positive Attitude/Happy
Passion for Teaching (watch carefully during peer teaching)
Coach
OUTSIDE HIRES
Recruit Coaches rather than Advertise
• Ask for recommendations from coaches and teammates
• Ask your current staff
• Resume should include evidence of interest in working with children
EDUCATION
General Training Schedule (11 Hours)
Reading Material
“Developing Swimmers” by Michael Brooks
“The Talent Code” by Daniel Coyle
Orinda Country Club Coaching Handbook
OCC
Coaching
Handbook
DAY 1
9:00 – 9:50
Lecture
10:00 – 10:50
Lecture
11:00 – 11:50
DVDs of Olympic Swimmers
12:00 – 12:50
Lunch and Discussion
1:00 – 1:40
Swim
2:00 – 2:50
DVD’s of Teaching Progressions, Positioning Techniques,
Turns, goswimtv.com Videos
3:00 – 3:50
Review OCC Coaches Handbook: Explain what to study
DAY 2
9:00 – 9:50
Discussion, DVDs, Lecture
10:00 – 11:30
Written Test
11:00 – 12:00
Detailed Review of Test Answers
12:00
Lunch and Discussion
LECTURE MATERIAL
Orinda Country Club/The Big Picture/Parents
• Service
• Honor
• Your Impact on Swimmers
• Skills You Will Develop
• How to Introduce Yourself to Parents
ON THE DECK
• Safety is #1
• Look professional
• Be Nice
• Smile
• Have Fun
• Make a connection before a correction
• Names 100%, you cannot coach unless you know their name
• Coaching is not a spectator sport, be proactive – always be doing
something: praise, correct, encourage
• Stop swimmers if they are doing something incorrectly
• Pull swimmers off to the side or onto the deck to make a correction
• Circle the deck or focus on your assigned lane(s)
• “Add on” to what the lead coach says
• Challenge swimmers: have them get their time, then ask them to
improve it
• Make a correction, then follow up with feedback
• Make a difference - add value to the workout
• Praise in public and discipline in private
• Don’t talk on a cell phone or socialize
• Communicate any Coach related problems off the deck
TEACHING TECHNIQUES
• Know Teaching Progressions for all Starts, Strokes, Turns, Under
Waters, Breakouts and Finishes
• Demonstration-Explanation-Performance-Feedback
• Know Positioning Techniques
• Understand Different Learning Styles: Visual, Kinesthetic, Verbal
• Be Fluent with Teaching Vocabulary
• How to Teach Private Lessons
• Toys and Visual Aids
• Boys and Girls
• ADHD
DEMONSTRATION SKILLS
• Use Proper Technique when Demonstrating on Deck
• Use Proper Technique when Demonstrating in the Water
• Make sure everyone can see
• Present from many angles
• Direct attention to what they should be looking at
• Include Explanation
EFFECTIVE EXPLANATIONS
• One Topic
• Be Concise
• Short and Sweet (10-30 seconds)
• Include Demonstration
COMMUNICATION SKILLS and DELIVERY
• Command their attention
• Have a topic
• Keep it short
• Avoid “OK” and “Like”
• Age appropriate
• Repeat Key Phrases
• Call for Action
Command the Workout
Have Presence on the Deck
• Look Professional
• Come on the deck like you are stepping onto a stage
• Be Prepared - It will give you confidence
• Be enthusiastic and fully engaged
• Learn to direct your voice so you can stop a swimmer mid-pool
• Have eye contact with your swimmers as you are speaking - don’t look
over their heads
• Don’t bring attention to disruptions, praise attentiveness
COACHING SKILLS
Describing and Coaching a Set
• Explain design of the set and any patterns
• Describe the purpose and define the benefits
• Use quick reminders and challenges during the set
• Walk the Deck
HOW to WATCH SWIMMERS during
GROUP STROKE TECHNIQUE
• Choose a swimmer first
• Take mental and internal snap shots and remember
HOW TO CORRECT A SWIMMER
• Ask questions first
• Don’t “sugar coat” constructive criticism - give it to them straight
• Be specific
• Confirm their understanding
• Say “next time…”
• When to praise
HOW to TALK to EVERY SWIMMER in a WORKOUT
• Pre-workout
• During workout
• Post-workout
GENERAL
• Good Employee/Bad Employee
• Parents
• Officials
• Other Teams (Coaches, Parents and Swimmers)