1. No Weak Links in the Long Red Line - Constant and Continual Progress
Mike Adams
Head Boy’s Swim Coach -
Naperville Central High School
78th Annual NISCA Convention and Clinic – Minneapolis, MN
March 25 – 26, 2011

2. Philosophies and Opinions
Everybody is Important and Valuable
It is important that everyone swims fast
And BY A LOT
Team Motto – Work Hard, Swim Fast, Have Fun
Coach the whole team – not just one or two good swimmers

3. Doing it all in 3 Months We try to do it all in 3 months.
There are no guarantees in the off season.
We MUST get much done during our season to prepare for the end of the year.

4. It’s all about the end of the year!
Focus on the End of the Year
Regular season is preparation for playoffs
ALL of our swimmers are going to the playoffs

5. It’s all about the end of the year!
DuPage Valley Conference (First Round), Sectionals (Second Round) and State Finals (Third Round) are ALL important meets.
DVC swimmers are point men for our end of the year success
ALL of our swimmers are excited about our JV Swimmers competing at DVC. In turn, each swimmer on a team is also excited for our Varsity swimmers at the State Meet.

6. A Tradition to Uphold
We have many alums and future Redhawks who follow our season closely online and in person.
We OWE our fans and followers our best throughout the season and at the end of the year.
We had a talk after the 2002, 2006 and 201o and will have this talk again about what it means to swim for Naperville Central.
We swim for the past, present and future!

7. The Past Does Not Matter
It really does not matter what we did last year: it is this year that counts! Our Fans, followers, coachers and swimmers expect us to be good.
That may mean competing for:
a State Title
Top 5
Top 10
Lifetime Bests

8. Everybody Needs to be Ready to Contribute
We are as strong as our weakest link
We stress the importance of preparation and readiness for all of our team members

9. Accepting the Coach’s Direction
I like to put swimmers in pressure situations all year so there are no surprises
When a swimmer has a good set in an off-stroke, I am encouraged and enter them in that event at the next meet. It works our to our advantage.
Our team is like a beautiful marriage – they do what I want when I want, how I want.

10. Accepting the Coach’s Direction
Don’t sweat the small stuff
Don’t yell all the time – treat them with respect and dignity
Swimmers know that I am truthful and don’t embellish
They know that if I set goals for them, they can usually accomplish them with hard work.

11. It all starts with you as The Coach
The swimmers know that for every hour they are there, I am there three.
Be Demanding AND Positive
Never ask for more from them than you would put in
Be behind your athletes 110% - Win or Lose

12. It all starts with you as The Coach
Dave Salo – Mystery Coach
If it matters to you – it will matter to the team
Be credible and have commitment to your athletes
Live and breathe the sport.

13. Lead by Your Examples If things go wrong, the coach is accountable
Don’t yell at the kids after their championship meet
LISTEN, then talk to your athletes

14. Lead by Your Examples Don’t play favorites Be Prepared
Get to practice early (30 minutes) and leave late (45 minutes).

15. Lead by Your Examples ALWAYS have an open-door policy after practice
Most kids respect my experience and understanding of the sport.
Athletes are motivated by my commitment, not my talk

16. Communication Both Ways
ALWAYS encourage input from swimmers, not necessarily parents
We talk realistically about us as a team and the swimmers as individuals:
How they can do it
Not how they must do it.

17. You MUST come to practice
The swimmers NEED to be at practice
Our boys do not miss practice
If they do, there is an excellent reason

18. You MUST come to practice
If fatigue is a factor, we adjust their schedule
We become more cohesive as a team the more we talk

19. The Courage of Convictions
Have the courage to stick to your convictions:
No matter what the press may say
No matter what bloggers may say
No matter what parents or critics may say
Have the courage to change your plan when you need to get better
Richard Quick, New Orleans, Days before 9/11

20. Don’t take anything for granted
George Haines – Don’t take anything for granted
Be patient and calm in time of crisis
You as the coach are the rock of the program
Nobody can coach the team better than you.

21. Don’t take anything for granted
Given an aura of confidence, no matter the situation
Don’t BS kids – they will see through it immediately
Always reexamine what can be better in the coming season
Don’t let good be good enough.

22. Goals Process of getting there –
Weight rooms
Quality
Underwater Work
Stay on task – we usually do pretty well
Our Captains keep everybody on track
Individual and Team

23. Goals Monday Meetings Goal Sheets State Team meetings
Individual meetings

24. Goals As a result – everybody swam well BY A LOT
95% Lifetime Bests in
Sometimes you don’t achieve everything in a given season
Re-invigorate – Come back stronger next year
Vince Lombardi – It is not whether you get knocked down, it’s how quickly you get back up.

25. What we do in the water – The Long (Short) Season
The first week of the season is a volume week
We rotate between various strokes and speeds throughout the week and season.
Greg Maddux

26. The long (short) season
Having a plan
Weekly structure

27. Breaking Down the Long (Short) Season
Week 1-4: Pre-Competitive, Build each week
Week 5-6: Christmas Break: Maximum yards and quality
Week 7-11: Competitive, Pre-Taper
Week 12 – 14: Taper

28. Training the 9 Strokes Freestyle Distance Mid-Distance Sprint
Backstroke
Breastroke

29. Training the 9 Strokes
Butterfly
Individual Medley
Underwaters

30. Training the 9 Strokes Kicking Drills / Feel the Water
Starts / Turns/ Finishes / Relay Exchanges
Where races are won or lost

31. Putting Swimmers in the Proper Training Groups
Usually 4-6 Cycles going on at same time
We change speeds and distances, just like Greg Maddux
Swimmers assigned a lane by Coach

32. Putting Swimmers in the Proper Training Groups
If problems present, stagger
If athletes are too tired, change the send-off

33. Weekly Structure Mornings: Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays
5:15 – 7:00
Saturdays 8:00 – 10:00
Afternoons:
Monday – Friday 3:30 – 5:30
Saturday : Competition

34. Drills Freestyle Catch-up 12-Kick Switch Pacman Backstroke
6-strokes and switch
L-drill
Tea Cup
Spin Drill
Double Arm

35. Drills Butterfly Breastroke Catch-up Right-Left-Both-Both Angel
Double Underwater pull through
One-Arm
Breastroke
Kick-Kick-Pull-Pull –Breathe
Pull – Kick - Glide
Right-Left-Both Arms
One-Arm Breastroke Pull
Cobras
Spear Kick