THE MYTH OF AN OVERNIGHT
SUCCESS ~ THE BUILDING BLOCKS OF
LONG TERM DEVELOPMENT
BY NANCY
HENNESSY,
GATOR
When Mary was 12 she qualified
first in the preliminaries
championship
meet.
had she qualified
final.
"WOW!"
of nowhere"
at the
"That
Never before
came out
Such were the comments
received.
excited,
--
that Mary
Her coach, though very
was not at all surprised.
Mary's "overnight
success" had been
a long term developmental
process
in the making for 6 years.
Only
now had Mary begun to tap into her
potential.
at the
age of 6. When she turned
she began swimming
year round club.
7
at the local
In her first year,
the next developmental
technique
group where stroke
was the primary
focus.
group
her year round program.
FL
new challenges
aerobically.
in
She was
and up the ante
She was now practicing
3-4 days a week for 1 and Y2 hours
per practice.
Most of the stroke
now legal in all four (4) of the
drills were repetitious
competitive
but there were added steps to
strokes and displayed
the strength,
desire and ability
to
each drill and more conditiomng
while
swimming
first season with this group, Mary
3 days a week.
emphasis
remained
The
on kicking
and
performing
had 100% attendance
stroke drill work with a bit more
holiday
intensity aerobically
commitment
and lots of
the drills.
training
another
repetition
At this level Mary was now
for Mary. As she grew
becoming
more accountable
Mary was able to do the stroke drills
swimming,
more frequently
for longer durations
stroke corrections
proficiency.
a review
with greater
In a sense, this was
for Mary, only a bit more
She spent 2 years in
this group.
consistent
fit,
She maintained
attendance
without
request,
knowing
intervals
and beginning
During the long course season,
the recommended
enjoy her rewards
practices,
with her summer club
but still continued
to practice
was drying.
coaching.
the consistency
Mary remained
in
in this
group for 4 months following
the
end of the summer season- building
upon her skills and aerobic
league
The second layer
base
continued
training.
this cycle in
her 2nd year with this group adding
developmental
Due to her
one day per week more consistently.
and much
The foundation
group.
consistent
attendance
repetition
in the previous
the transition
group,
into this group went
her foundation.
entered
she was able to take on the
group program.
ASCA Newsletter
was growing ever
stronger.
but with sound fundamentals,
Issue 02
of long course
season, Mary moved into the next
smoothly.
Volume 2011
to train due
She repeated
while laying down the first block of
20
to Improve and
and aerobically
her ability
to the challenges
In the fall of the next
attended
number of
learn stroke drills,
improved
with
her year round club 2 days a week
to encourage
in summer
of cement
to log and
very
dunng both
Mary, again, regularly
primarily
a coach's
know her best times.
the short course and long course
as well.
for her
making
and staying on
seasons while still berng able to
swimming
added
block to her foundation.
of kicking and drilling
In the summer Mary swam
With this
she immediately
FUN! Most of the stroke drills were
and more aerobically
In her
over the
period.
The group was designed with a lot
and FUN!
in nature
move up. At this time she began
demanding.
Mary swam 2 days a week with
the beginner
GAINESVILLE,
In the early spring of her
stronger
Mary began swimming
CLUB,
second season, Mary moved to
for a championship
"Unbelievable"
SWIM
It was quite challengmg,
In Mary's 5th season, she
the top group in the age
Her stroke drills
were very proficient though she
continued to improve them and
make stroke corrections. Shewas
aerobically very fit coming off a
summer of long course training
and high attendance percentages
throughout her time in the sport.
Because of these, she was very
well prepared for the rigors of the
training at this level. At this time
she stepped up her attendance to
5-6 days a week and in her first year
in this group won an award for 90%
attendance for the year. This was
a big goal and accomplishment for
Mary.
Now in her 6th season and a
top 3 finisher at a championship
meet, it comes as no surprise. All
of Mary's coaches have participated
in her "overnight success" over the
past 6 years. Each season she has
made all the necessary adjustments
and raised her level of commitment
.Some came more easily than others
mentally as well as physically. As
she grew and matured, as she
became more aerobically fit, and a!
she faithfully built her blocks and
securely cemented them into place
Mary's "overnight success" could
only be explained as PREPARATION.
Mary always participated in
meets along the way and usually
improved yet never set the pool
on fire for many to notice. She
was patient, she had very loving
and committed parents, and she
listened to her coaches. She quieti
and cheerfully built her blocks, wit
a broad base, one on top of anothe
that has become a solid foundation
for many successesto follow.
Congratulations! !