5 Reasons to Appreciate Your Coaches
A new season is set to dawn for many swimmers around the country. Some have taken a summer break. Others have eased off the pedal over the past couple months. But the time to go full blast is once again on the horizon. A chance to set new goal times. The opportunity to ride last season’s momentum into another campaign. Time to push oneself in a sport that consistently offers challenges.
As this new season calls, certain individuals will play prominent roles. Parents will provide support, both verbal and through their actions. Teammates will push you through difficult sets. Officials will run meets. And, of course, coaches will be by your side throughout the season, working tireless hours to encourage development as an athlete and as an all-around individual.
So, as a new season calls, here are some reasons to appreciate your coaches:
1. Time Commitment
Every early morning practice, double-session meet, dryland workout – you’re not alone. Your coach is there, too, often arriving before the team and leaving after everyone else. Every hour you spend in the water, they’ve likely matched it with their time on deck. Sometimes, it can be easy to get caught up in the busy schedule of the season and feel as though you’re alone in that commitment. But, it’s important to remember that there’s not only a team, but a coach with you every step of the way. A coach’s time commitment is something you won’t find matched by many other people.
2. Support Beyond the Pool
Coaching often extends beyond the stopwatch. While swimming is a physically demanding sport, athletes also have lives outside of the water. A coach often helps a swimmer find balance between the two. Support when struggling academically, providing a positive space to recharge, or offering advice when it’s needed most are all things that good coaches will do for their athletes. In many cases, coaches become mentors beyond the sport itself, offering guidance and encouragement that stays with athletes long past the end of their competitive careers.
3. They Build a Team Culture
While swimmers often focus on their individual training and performance, coaches are responsible for shaping the team environment. From keeping practices positive and productive to encouraging athletes to support one another, a coach can set the tone. That kind of environment is often what will fuel a long main set or give an athlete that extra push to swim a personal best time. A strong team culture doesn’t happen by accident – it’s often built through a coach.
4. They See What You Can’t
Swimmers may notice some flaws in their own performance, but coaches often catch what athletes can’t. Whether it’s a hand slipping too far inward on a stroke or a lack of speed off the wall, a coach will usually spot mistakes before the swimmer does. But their vision goes beyond technique. Coaches also recognize qualities athletes may overlook in themselves: consistent effort, untapped potential, or even a need to take a break. Any athlete can easily get stuck in their own head, but coaches can provide a new perspective and help swimmers see the bigger picture.
5. Their Work Off the Clock
The hours you see your coach on deck are only part of the job. Just as swimmers put in work outside of the pool, coaches do the same. They spend time planning workouts, preparing for meets, analyzing performances, and strategizing plans for each swimmer’s career. Much of their effort happens long before practice starts or ends. It’s a level of dedication that often goes unnoticed, but it plays a vital role in every swimmer’s growth and success.
With a busy few months ahead, it’s easy to get caught up in the hectic rhythm of the season. But it’s worth remembering that your coaches are the ones guiding every practice and every meet. The next time you step up on the blocks, take a moment to appreciate the figure on the pool deck with a heat sheet and stopwatch in hand.
