Courtesy of Agustín Artiles Grijalba
Swimming is a stamina sport that requires great effort and dedication, and can sometimes become the victim of monotony. Times have changed. Swimmers want a coach who trains them and looks out for their needs, who has the knowledge needed to improve their performance, who motivates them and pays attention to what they need.
Many of them are young swimmers in constant training and they like to know what they are doing, be told the reasons for doing one thing or another, be considered highly by their colleagues and receive the unconditional support of their families.
The current ease with which young people can choose to participate in other, more entertaining activities should encourage us to seek strategies capable of helping them to choose our sport. Some of those strategies are listed below.
There are many more and I am convinced that most of you already take them into consideration as you strive to make good progress while avoiding those unwanted situations in which young swimmers abandon the sport.
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Setting logical and achievable targets
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Training variety and versatility
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Short, fun training sessions – especially with the youngest swimmers
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Films on motivation and overcoming personal barriers
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Praising effort and perseverance
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Stronger swimmer-coach relations
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Discuss and demonstrate training objectives
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Adapt the schedule to the specific qualities of each swimmer
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Encourage and foster hard work and effort
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Relaxation techniques
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Highlight and correct technical shortcomings as soon as they appear
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Remain calm and do not rush to achieve forecast results
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Work together on designing the training plan
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Show affection and interest in the swimmers
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Show commitment to both parents and athletes
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Instill values in the swimmer
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Set logical, specific and feasible goals
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Stimulate the secondary qualities of the swimmer
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Transmit security and a positive attitude
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Inspire passion and enthusiasm
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Consider the personal motivation of the swimmer
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Show interest in their academic performance
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Consideration and respect for the athlete
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Family support
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Teach them to combine study and sport. They go together
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Treat the athlete as you would anyone of their age, but always with respect and empathy
Agustín Artiles Grijalba has more than 35 years of experience as the head coach of some of the most important Spanish swimming teams. He has been the coach of the Spanish Swimming Team from 2008 to 2012, and has trained the 50 breastroke Spanish National Record Holder, Hector Monteagudo Espinosa, from 2002 to 2013. Agustín has also trained several international swimmers from the Spanish National Team and europe, as well as paralympic athletes with world records in all different categories. In 2006 he was honored as the “Best Competition Swimming Coach” in Spain. You can read his blog here.