1. Co-Head Coach, Director of Club Development Flyers Aquatic Swim Team
Matching what you know with what your swimmers NEED to know (teaching the right skills at the right time)
Derek Shipp
Co-Head Coach, Director of Club Development Flyers Aquatic Swim Team

2. Introduction
This could also be called: not skipping what they’ll need to know later. Don’t assume swimmers and parents are “all in” from day one. Don’t assume that they know nothing. You don’t know what they don’t know until you communicate with them and find out where the gaps are…then work on filling those gaps. Talking to the parent of a 10-year old about high school swimming or talking to a 12-year old about what college they want to attend does not bear a lot of fruit unless you are setting the stage for a later conversation. It is important to always look at the swimmer now, but at the same time think about that swimmer in two years, five years, etc. Ask yourself: what do they know right now? What will they need to know to be successful in two years? At the same time remember that two years is FOREVER to a kid. You can talk in terms of “right now” for them, but make sure you are keeping the eye on the future. It is our job to turn them into successful swimmer at 11 and 13 and 17 and 20 by teaching them what they need to know now and discuss what they are almost ready for.

3. Keep them in the sport
You cannot teach anything to swimmers who are NOT in your pool
This is a journey, not a destination
While some people are “naturals”, experience always counts!
Sometimes, this is a balancing act that requires compromise

4. 2. Keep an inventory of what you know, what they know and what they think they know (evaluate often)
Technical skills of the sport (another talk altogether)
Increased demands of practice in the future
Increased demand on family in the future

5. 3. Self-evaluate often
Improve pre-education of swimmers for important future events in their career
Improve pre-education of parents for important future commitments in their career
Improve response when pre-education breaks down

6. 4. Coordinate with other coaches on staff regarding strengths and weaknesses of the swimmer
Keep your ego out of it – each coach has different instincts
Allow kids to grow into different people than when you coached them

7. 5. Make sure other coaches on your team are aware of the gaps and progress of the parents.
What are they doing well that helps their swimmer succeed?
What do they still need to learn about our sport to help their child succeed?
If they are acting in opposition to your best educational efforts…who are their experts?
Keep gossip out of it!

8. Thanks for attending!
Derek Shipp