Psychology in Age group swimmers

FINA Clinic

Antalya October 9-12, 2014

2 important questions

1. How did you start coaching?

2. Who was your biggest inspiration?

Thank you for your inspiration

Coach Phill Hansel, University of Houston, ASCA founder, Olympic coach

Professor Dale Peace, University of Houston, Human Performance

Professor Glyn Roberts, University of Illinois

Fernando Canales

Bob Bowman

Jon Urbancheck

Keenan Robinson

Mook Rhodenbaugh Dallas Mustangs

Steve Mateer City of Plano Swimmers

The sport commitment model

Sport Enjoyment Involvement

Alternatives Personal Investment Involvement

Opportunities Social Constraints

Tara Scanlan et.al. 1986

Sport Commitment

Sport enjoyment

Social achievementSocial recognitionInterpersonal relationshipsFUNEnjoyment

Dallas Mustangs in Mexico

Involvement alternatives

What activities are availableIndividual sportsTeam sportsSchool activities

Club Wolverine goofy girls

Personal investment

Time Sacrifices self and family

Goals Friendships Future plans

Dreams CAN come true

Involvement opportunities

Level of commitment to the sportPractices CoachesGroups

Club Wolverine practice at Eastern Michigan

Social Constraints

FamilySchoolPeersCivic dutyBoyfriends/girlfriends

Olympians & All Americans reading at elementary school

Sport commitment

Stay in shapeNational levelInternational levelOlympics

Make it magical!

Research on Texas age group swimmersQuestionnaires developed in conjunction with Dr. Glyn Roberts UI Champaign/Urbana & Dr. Tara Scanlan UCLA

Swimmer questionnaire Enjoyment

Feeling of accomplishment

Personal goals

Personal achievements

Level of competition

Swimming is a life style

Swimming Provides

Place to belong

Friendships

Accomplishments

Time management

Common goals

Individual goals

Ability to deal with success & failure

I LOVE PAIN! Learning to go past your comfort level

Excuses are like raindrops, how big is your umbrella?

Create an inclusive environment

Groups according to age

Common goals for each group SELL IT TO THE GROUP!

Embrace hard training and swimming all strokes & distances

Individual goals for each swimmer & coach

Practice fun and challenging

Talk with each swimmer every day, make them feel special

12 & under 2008-2010

Common goal for the whole program get back the State Championship and bring back National rankings for the age groups

Group goal for 11-12 group, everyone will swim every event and we will help each other get there

Everyone will swim 200 butterfly at our December invitational ultimate goal: how many will swim 200 butterfly at the State meet in March & August?

Individual goals such as top 10 & under girl at the State meet, 200 butterfly finalist, win 200 freestyle two years in a row.

Every swimmer filled out a goal sheet with 3 focus goal areas; personal, practice/meet goals & goal times

Short term goals for group (46)

No breather to turn 25s from a dive

200 fly, 400 IM, 800 & 1500 free

Fast turns every day

Increase CORE strength (thank you Keenan & Colleen)

Leave your day behind focus on swimming

What did you do to get better today?

Did you help a team mate today?

Did you help your coach today?

Olympian Klete Keller visit with young swimmers

Olympic Champion Tyler Clary

Swimming is family