MAKING CLUB SWIMMING A TEAM SPORT Jeff Pearson Sierra Marlins Swim Team

Team Background Formed in 1983 Formed in 1983 I started in December 1995 I started in December 1995 –40 members Moved to Folsom in April 2001 Moved to Folsom in April 2001 Currently: Currently: –185 year round members –7 training groups

Recent Team Accomplishments: Top 3 finishes at Sectionals 04, 06, 07, 08 Top 3 finishes at Sectionals 04, 06, 07, 08 1 st place – Sierra Nevada Junior Olympics 1 st place – Sierra Nevada Junior Olympics spring 02, 03, 04, 06, 07, 08 summer 04, 06, 07 8 current and past Marlins at O-trials 8 current and past Marlins at O-trials

The need for serious team building –As our team grew, so did the interpersonal problems within our team. Bigger talents meant bigger egos. Bigger talents meant bigger egos. Parents didn’t get it. Parents didn’t get it. “I” came before team with many of our best athletes. “I” came before team with many of our best athletes. Unhealthy hierarchy. Unhealthy hierarchy –We have an improved team environment. Kids encourage and support one another. Kids encourage and support one another. Coaches, swimmers and most parents have bought in to our team goals. Coaches, swimmers and most parents have bought in to our team goals. Kids perform more consistently in practice and at meets. Kids perform more consistently in practice and at meets.

Can club swimming be a team sport? I believe the answer is “yes”, but we have built in challenges. I believe the answer is “yes”, but we have built in challenges. –How do we incorporate a large number of athletes into our “team concept”? –What percentage of our meets include our swimmers top to bottom? –Can we build a team concept swimming against 20 other teams with no relays and no score to judge the team’s success? –Can we set team goals that include everyone?

Benefits of a team environment: Accountability Accountability –30 teammates have the ability to see more than 1 coach. –Peer pressure can be a good thing. kids will do more for each other than they will do for themselves. Support Support –Genuine interest in others. Environment where kids learn to think about others. Coaches shouldn’t have to make teammates cheer at meets. Swimmer retention. Swimmer retention. –Why do we lose kids to soccer and baseball? Team sports are more fun.

Suggestions for Team Building: Set team goals. Set team goals. –Multiple competition levels, all inclusive. –Define success in terms of group accomplishments. –Give older athletes a say for better buy in. –Teach the relationship between individual goals and the team’s success. –Make your team goals public knowledge.

See your meet schedule as a series of opportunities to teach your team concept. See your meet schedule as a series of opportunities to teach your team concept. –Have a “Championship” with which to judge your team’s success. This should include multiple age groups. This should include multiple age groups. This doesn’t have to be a season ending meet. This doesn’t have to be a season ending meet. Travel together whenever possible. Travel together whenever possible. –Dual/ tri/ quad meets, distance challenge, relay meets, girls vs. boys Team sports keep score…why don’t we? Team sports keep score…why don’t we? Seek out and demand that team scores are posted. Seek out and demand that team scores are posted. –Recognize relay results with more importance than individual results

Hire employees that buy into the team concept. Hire employees that buy into the team concept. –Coaches have to protect the team environment –Consistency –Communication Build a board and/or parent group that supports the team’s direction. Build a board and/or parent group that supports the team’s direction. –Teach parents that the top drives all levels of the organization. Foster productive rivalries. Foster productive rivalries. –All great teams have a rival…are there other teams you can use to motivate your athletes?

Establish standards of membership. Establish standards of membership. –Make your team/ group prestigious. –Champions won’t be proud of something that everyone can be a part of. Establish a team uniform. Establish a team uniform. –Successful teams look the part. –Uniforms instill pride. –Keep your uniform simple and enforce a uniform code both at practice and at meets. –Team caps at practice –Coaches wear team gear at practice and meets Have team captains. Have team captains. –Serve as a conduit to the coaches. –Provide additional leadership when the coaches can’t.

Teach athletes how to be good teammates. Teach athletes how to be good teammates. –Accountability without conflict. –Commitment Buddies (Thank you Coach Bob Ladouceur - De La Salle) –Reward good team behavior (Marlin of the Month). Deposits vs. withdrawals (Thank you Teri) Deposits vs. withdrawals (Thank you Teri) –Do not tolerate behavior destructive to the team concept. Addition through subtraction. Addition through subtraction. Establish teams within the team. Establish teams within the team. –Teach in smaller groups Relays Relays National Team, Senior Team, Distance group, etc… National Team, Senior Team, Distance group, etc… Tour de Folsom Tour de Folsom Intersquad dual meets Intersquad dual meets

Schedule frequent group/team meetings Schedule frequent group/team meetings –Small group meetings Training groups, gender, stroke, common goals, etc... Training groups, gender, stroke, common goals, etc... Board Board Coaches Coaches –Larger group meetings. Seize opportunities to address your whole team. Seize opportunities to address your whole team. –Resist the need to control every meeting. The coach’s role is to ask good questions. The coach’s role is to ask good questions. Allow team leaders to run meetings. Allow team leaders to run meetings.

Other Ideas… Concepts of the Week Concepts of the Week Buddy day/ poster contest Buddy day/ poster contest Wall clinic Wall clinic Team challenge sets Team challenge sets –Use creative games. 150 member relay 150 member relay Put together team building activities away from the pool. Put together team building activities away from the pool. –Dinners, beach day, ski day, movies, go-karts Gradual move-ups Gradual move-ups Mixed practices Mixed practices

QUESTIONS???