In Clearwater the best swimming clinic is hosting some of the best coaches ever in any sport. What is amazing is the numbers speak for themselves. Over 50 medals, countless world records, multiple national team championships, and a vast history of developing athletes. With an impressive list of speakers: Chris Davis, Dick Jochums, Eddie Reese, John Ivy, Dave Gibson, Lea Maurer, Paul Bergen, and Ra [...]

When I get back from Trinidad I am going to start work on a new book on game changers. What is a game changer? A game changer is a person, idea, method or event that changed or is changing the way we train and play sport. Here are a few that I have so far:Nort Thornton – SwimmingDoc Counsilman – Swimming and training in generalBob Hoffman – Strength TrainingBob Gajda – Functional TrainingL [...]

Who influences you? I am just a guy that listens to many and picks and chooses information and methods I feel are effective. No bias, just information I find works for me. You can learn a lot from many people but I see more and more followers than those trying to be balanced. I will not blog about some trendy business book, but I will share the fact we have too many copycats. I copied workouts an [...]

Just finished reading an outstanding coaching book – Four Champions One Gold Medal: The true story of four swimmers who battled for the same Olympic dream by Chuck Warner. Some real insights into what it takes to compete and win at the highest level. You definitely have to get comfortable with being uncomfortable all the time. Also a clear in depth picture of athlete development. This book has s [...]

"Bergen said his work with horses helped him to better understand what he needed to do as a swim coach. Watching a horse's gait and its expressions helped him learn to read swimmers' emotions better and how they best perform in a workout situation."Tired eyes? Gait? It's all in observation. My goal this summer is to look for non-verbal communication and keep focusing on doing a better job loo [...]

As I have posted and tweeted on middle distance and distance training I have been thinking more about the lessons I have learned along the way. I want to start out by saying that I have clear bias toward the speed the power influence. From speed and power will come more efficient mechanics and optimum force into the ground. Middle distance and distance runners are not just a big heart and lungs wi [...]

I received this comment on this portion of my post from earlier today."the winner is the person who can maintain the highest percentage of their maximum speed for the duration of the race." This is not true. Basic physiology, since the main components of speed and endurance are different energy systems.This is the basic problem, until we get past thinking about energy systems, we will not pro [...]

The research on the benefits of high intensity strength training for endurance runners is becoming overwhelming. If you're an endurance runner and not doing some form of high intensity lifting you might not be running as efficiently as you could be. High intensity resistance training (and to a lesser extent plyometrics) seems to have a profound impact on running economy. With improved running eco [...]

Some of you have asked me to list the journals and periodicals I read for my professional development. The ones in bold italics are the one’s I subscribe to. The others I try to read regularly or at least read the abstracts to see if there is anything of interest. Right now I am behind. When that happens I usually take a weekend day and get caught up in a big chunk. The availability of abstracts [...]

As I write this, my thoughts are centered on Track & Field, but coaching education is important in every sport. I was fortunate to be the first graduate of the UCSB Coaching Minor program in 1969. The professors who developed that program put together a curriculum that has been my model for the ensuing 41 years. They recognized and taught us that the coach was the foundation of the sport system. [...]