tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-54676277546174719742012-02-12T18:17:27.785-05:00Coach Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15683532681384738571noreply@blogger.comBlogger991100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5467627754617471974.post-80250813516797371312012-02-12T18:16:00.001-05:002012-02-12T18:17:27.801-05:00

Aim higher than you intuitively think you can go. That’s important because the mind is stronger than the body. If you think you can do something, you can push your body to certain limits beyond what you are capable of doing physically. Your mind can mentally override what the body can do. It’s the same thing with training and with racing. Be able to concentrate. You have to be able to isolate

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Posted by Glenn Mills on Dec 30, 2011 www.goswim.tv If there's one thing I'd like young swimmers to grasp, or understand, it's how brief their athletic life is going to be. I'm sure many people would argue that as we get older, we get better...that athletic pursuit doesn't have to end when college (or high school) ends.    There are thousands of Masters swimmers, triathletes, runners, open-water

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Feature by Tonya Nascimento, Swimming World intern  TALLAHASSEE, Florida, September 10. CHLORINE runs in your veins; it's your perfume. You are a competitive swimmer, and perhaps you have been as long as you can remember. Perhaps your friends make jokes about how you were born in the pool, already knowing how to swim. If you are honest with yourself, perhaps sometimes you are still just doing it

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BY DR. LENNY WEIRSMA//SPORT PSYCHOLOGIST One of the greatest mental skills an athlete needs to learn is to focus. The ability to focus—to be in the right place at the right time, mentally—is such a critical aspect of swimming success. Whether it be to focus on your goals, on a specific part of your stroke, on certain parts of your body during warm-up, focusing is a skill that that is probably as

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Goal Setting Process This is not the only way to work when setting your goals. It is, however, a proved process and we suggest you consider the steps before moving forward. You will need a paper and pencil and a little time. You can begin whenever you want, take a pause in the steps, and then return as time allows. We do know this for certain, no one in history has ever made a significant

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BY DR. AIMEE KIMBALL//SPORT PSYCHOLOGIST I had a coach one time who told me, “Potential means you haven’t done it yet.” I’m not sure if he stole the line from someone else, but for whatever reason this always stuck in my head. I never wanted to be someone who had a lot of potential. I wanted to be a person who consistently performed at her peak. However, it’s hard to be that type of athlete all

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BY AIMEE KIMBALL, PHD//MENTAL TRAINING CONSULTANT You may think it’s odd to find an article about team building for swimming, a supposedly "individual" sport. However, many swimmers perform better when they feel a sense of team and believe that the individuals with whom they train are there to support them and wish them well. As such, team building is a very important topic for swimmers and

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Posted by Glenn Mills on Sep 13, 2011 09:53AM The new season is upon everyone.  How you approach how you're going to reach your goals will be an important aspect of starting your season. Swimmers will typically start each season either excited for the training, dreading the training, or with goals so lofty that they' maybe a little bit tentative with what's upon them.  Starting the season with a

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Reprinted from Competitive Advantage – Sports Psychology Services and Resources http://www.competitivedge.com/questionnaire_athletes2.htm If your parents are too involved in your sport, they can make your life miserable, kill your enjoyment and absolutely ruin your athletic performance. Pushy parents can cause choking and other performance problems, and turn you into a sports dropout statistic.

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Coach Paul Yetter of T2 Aquatics and former coach of swimming great Katie Hoff wrote this and I wanted to share this with all of you. He has a very active blog called “Developing the Champion Within”, check it out! To train well takes imagination. Simply showing up to practice and “working hard” does not accomplish preparation for high level performances in meets. Why? The answer is simple:

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Reprinted from poweressence.com. If you have issues with labels, such as winners and losers, then you probably already believe that you are a loser and you hate it and you hate it even more when others put you into that category. You are responsible for how you see yourself. Learn to take any criticism constructively and to use it to your advantage. So what if you think you’re a loser? Do you

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Posted by Glenn Mills on May 30, 2011 12:51PM (0 views) I've written and re-written this a few times.  I'm not really sure the right tack to take to get this point across, so I'll make it short. There is a harsh reality of athletics: There is a direct relationship between work and reward.  With that said, and don't just read these next words, understand them - your competition and the clock

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BY DR. ALAN GOLDBERG//SPORT PSYCHOLOGIST There's no question that success in the pool on race day is 95% mental and 5% physical. By the time that big race rolls around, all the hard work has been done. That lifetime best swim is already inside of you, just waiting for you to release it. Make use of these ten mental toughness tips to help you get that fast swim out when it counts the most: 1. 

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BY CHELSEY WALDEN SCHREINER For this week's Speedo Tip of the Week, we bring you five little things you can do right now to help yourself swim faster right away. Streamline. Streamline. Streamline. Streamlining upon entering the water and off your walls may be obvious, but it is often overlooked or the first thing to go when your arms tire and muscles scream. However, it is one of the most

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Well, we are going out on a limb here…all of us already know what the big deal is about goal setting. If you don’t know where you are going two things will happen for certain: 1) you will not get there, 2) you will get lost. As we approach our first LC meet of the season we have stressed the importance of writing goals down. It helps focus. Practices become livelier. Stroke technique is being

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BY AIMEE KIMBALL, PHD//MENTAL TRAINING CONSULTANT Stress is something that everyone will experience at some point in their lives. However, some stress is unavoidable or, at the very least, manageable. What I find is that many athletes have high levels of stress because they have never been taught ways to cope with or manage the events causing stress in their lives. This article will provide

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Posted by Glenn Mills on Mar 25, 2011 07:22AM (0 views) Obviously, this article isn't for everyone, but the ideals can be applied BY anyone.  I'm writing this to remind those individuals who talk about being the best, or reaching their potential, but who don't really get it. In each heading listed below, there is someone who IS... and the rest who AREN'T.  Can you be the ONE?  Chances are slim,

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Speedo Tip of the Week Olympian and 2010 Pan Pac gold medalist Chloe Sutton’s Keys to Success: Be there! Don’t miss practice. You have to make it a priority. We all have lots of things going on in our lives. We have school, friends, family and hobbies, on top of trying to become a champion swimmer. Juggling it all can be hard at times, but if you make swimming a top priority, then getting there

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3/14/2011   BY MIKE GUSTAFSON//CORRESPONDENT Imagine Doc Brown from Back to the Future came up to you and said, "Today you're going to set a world record. The only thing you have to do is race." You'd swim that day, right? You'd be the first person in the pool, warming-up, excited and ready to swim?World records aren't broken every day. The opportunity is rare. You'd take advantage of it.

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Posted by Glenn Mills on Mar 07, 2011 08:36AM (0 views) I have to imagine it's going to be tough to put down my thoughts on this subject without sounding like an angry old man who talks about how it used to be. With that said... what's the deal these days with swimmers, people, not showing up to practice on time?  Have we got to a point in society in which we're so important, so egocentric, that

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BY AIMEE KIMBALL, PHD//MENTAL TRAINING CONSULTANT Mental toughness is as much about our reaction to an event as it is our preparation for that event. There are going to be times when your race doesn’t go exactly as planned. There are going to be times when you fail, you struggle, or you have to return from injury. This newsletter focuses on resiliency, a necessary mental skill that can help

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BY DR. ALAN GOLDBERG, SPORT PSYCHOLOGIST Let me ask you what may seem like a really silly question. How fast do you think you’d swim if you went into your best events with a 150-pound weight strapped to your back? Obvious answer: You’d be so weighed down that you wouldn’t be able to get off the blocks.   Believe it or not, this is exactly what a lot of swimmers unknowingly do at many of their

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Posted by Glenn Mills on Jan 11, 2008 09:03AM (2,683 views) If you knew that the work you were doing today would reap rewards tomorrow... would you do it? If you knew that something you SHOULD do today COULD reap rewards in the future... would you do it? Therein lies the problem with life. Nothing is guaranteed. There is a direct relationship between work, and reward. For the most part, reward

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BY DR. AIMEE KIMBALL//MENTAL TRAINING CONSULTANT  Often when people talk about being mentally prepared, the focus is on competition. However, when you stop to think about it, you spend more time practicing than you do competing. Therefore, it is essential to make sure you aren’t just going through the motions at practice, you have to make each training session a quality one. Let’s Call it

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December 3, 2010, Feature by Tonya Nascimento, Swimming World intern TALLAHASSEE, Florida, December 3. HAVE you ever thought about how your actions affect the team? Swimming is categorized as an individual sport, and you do get awarded for individual performance, but do not be deceived into thinking you are on your own or that your actions affect only you. Think back to your greatest race. Could

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Posted Sept. 29, 2010, by John Leonard at http://www.swimfastteam.com/ Yesterday we had some thunder and lightening at practice. We had to get out. As children will do, a few cheered and acted very happy that they got to get out of the water. This drives me crazy, so i asked them all to come around, sit down and here is what i told them.....I ask you as parents to consider this, and support

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Posted by Glenn Mills on Feb 22, 2008 06:26AM (8,752 views) One of the toughest things to find out is what do you do instinctively when you swim. It's not until you see a video tape of yourself, or hear a coach tell you, or catch yourself doing something you didn't know you did... that you begin to realize just what you do without thinking. You may never realize what you do in the water until

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Posted by Glenn Mills on Dec 29, 2010 06:00AM (0 views) This article is meant for competitive swimmers who have expressed their desire to be great at this sport. This does not apply to everyone and I don't mean it to. I do NOT carry this level of intensity with me anymore in my swimming, and only wish it on those who do choose it. I've toyed with writing this article for a few years. I've

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Posted by Glenn Mills on Dec 28, 2010 04:51AM (0 views) This starts with a question:Is it better to appear successful when you had to cheat to do so, or fail while following the rules and trying your hardest? While this post could easily be extrapolated to pro sports, or the Olympics with steroids or blood doping, this is simply about practice. Coaches across the world spend countless hours

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By Dr. Aimee Kimball, Mental Training Consultant Wouldn’t we all like to be perfect and live a Ferris Bueller type of life? Of course we would, but reality makes perfection pretty hard to achieve. I know far too many swimmers who, when they don’t have the perfect race, are extremely hard on themselves. This article will focus on the concept of perfectionism and how to encourage individuals to

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Speedo Tip of the Week Tyler Clary won the silver medal in the 400m IM at the 2009 FINA World Championships. Here are the keys to his success: Perseverance: It’s hard to come into every practice and work yourself to exhaustion day in and day out. The perseverance is what helps get you over the hump to your next goal, especially as far as the day-in and day-out routine is concerned. It’s also

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Speedo Tip of the Week Set goals. It doesn’t matter what it is, in practice, in school, in X-Box or anything – you have to set goals. If your coach gives me a set in practice of 10x100 all out, my goal is to hold 50 the entire time. That’s a short-term goal. The short-term goals should help you achieve long-term goals. Don’t be afraid of change. You definitely have to be able to handle change.

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Speedo Tip of the Week National Teamer Teresa Crippen helped the University of Florida to an NCAA Championship title in March of 2010. Later that summer, she earned a silver medal in the 200m butterfly at the Mutual of Omaha Pan Pacific Championships. Here are the keys to her success: Determination. This is one that belongs in “Keys to success” for sure. If you’re not willing to put in extra

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Getting a Good Night's Rest Makes a Big Difference by: Garrett Weber-Gale 11/13/10 As a young swimmer I never really paid attention to how much I slept. I’d go to bed when I finished everything for the day and generally I would always wake up tired. On occasion, during my taper periods of the year, I would wake up naturally and feel like a million bucks. This year the thought came into

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What is the Pike Syndrome all about and what are the implications that we can learn from it? Firstly, lets learn about the Pike Syndrome. The pike is a fierce carnivorous fish that eats smaller fishes. In an interesting experiment, scientists took a pike and placed it into a large tank with many smaller fishes. The pike however, was separated from these smaller preys by a layer of glass,

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by Sonya Derian “Don’t wait for your feelings to change to take the action. Take the action and your feelings will change.” ~Barbara Baron A few months ago, I challenged myself with Adventure Boot Camp. I thought, “What would be more challenging than waking up at five in the morning and working out with a group of ladies for an hour, four days a week?” And I have to say, it was tough! I couldn

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How Mom and Dad Might Talk To Their Child at a Swim Meet By John Leonard Swim Meet conversation between parent and athlete can be either highly productive, or highly counter-productive. Your goal as a parent should be to contribute to a positive swim meet experience for your child. This is the same goal as shared by the coach and the athlete. It is important that all three sides of the

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“Freedom isn’t worth having if it doesn’t involve the freedom to make mistakes.” -Mahatma Gandhi The worst disappointment doesn’t come from making mistakes; it comes from expecting you shouldn’t make any. To err is human. It’s how we learn; it’s how we develop and understand who we are and what we want; it’s how we make progress. Time you spend feeling bad about a mistake is time you could

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By Dr. Aimee Kimball//Sport Psychologist Physical exhaustion, sore muscles, mental fatigue, moodiness – what swimmer hasn’t experienced this before? While most swimmers are accustomed to wearing themselves out, too much exertion with not enough rest can lead to what’s often referred to as “overtraining.” This is a very common problem with swimmers and the physical and mental aspects need to be

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Pieces of advice, tidbits of knowledge, even just awkward running-dialogue by: Mike Gustafson, Senior Analyst Getty Images Reflect back and write a letter to yourself. Who knows what you will learn! 07/15/10 On NPR last week, I heard a story that piqued my interest. Americans are writing themselves letters. They sit down at their computer, type in, "Dear Former Self," and begin to

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SPEEDO TIP OF THE WEEK BY Dr. Alan Goldberg, Phd, Sport Psychologist “I'm so nervous. Oh my god, I can't wait for this event to be over! If I don't get a good time, I'm going to hear about it all the way home! Every time I swim slow, I have to go through the ringer with my dad (mom) and listen to everything I did wrong. According to them I don't work hard enough, my turns suck, and I

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Yes! In fact, it happens all the time. Let me explain how this is possible. Many times I have worked with swimmers who have been technically better and faster than another competitor, yet they were consistently beaten by these competitors at meets. Even more frustrating, they quite often put in better training times than their competitors, only to find themselves battling to catch them in the

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By John Leonard It was a great teachable moment. Out of the mouths of young people come things that “set up” the coach for an opportunity to do some great education. When an athlete came over to me and started with the sentence at the top of the page, here was my response. “Really? You didn’t already know how you did?” “Well, I was sixth the 100 fly and 5th in the 100 back and….” “ No,

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BELIEVE in yourself and in your dream through impossible things may seem someday, somehow you’ll get through to the goal you have in view Mountains fall and seas divide before the one who in her stride takes the hard road day by day, sweeping obstacles away. BELIEVE in yourself and in your plan, say not – I cannot – but, I CAN. The prizes of life

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swimtelligence.blogspot.com Here's an excerpt from Dara Torres' book Age is Just a Number. "When I was training for the 1984 Olympics at Mission Viejo, a sociologist named Daniel Chambliss watched us practice nearly every day. Chambliss then wrote a book called Champions: The Making of Olympic Swimmers. That book totally captures the details-matter mind-set... swimming is sort of like one of

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SPEEDO TIP OF THE WEEK BY KATHLEEN WOOLF//Correspondent Did you know that behaviors are found in “clusters?” Engaging in a healthy behavior, such as eating fruits and veggies, increases the likelihood of adopting additional healthy behaviors. On the flip side, trying a cigarette (or another unhealthy substance) increases your risk of taking on multiple risky behaviors, even later in life.

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swimtelligence.blogspot.com One of the trends of the last several decades often lamented by coaches in many youth sports is that parents and administrators have become consumed with making sure that each and every child NEVER experiences failure. I spoke to one coach recently who told me about his son's little league baseball experience. Apparently, it takes four strikes to strike out. If a

Coach Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15683532681384738571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5467627754617471974.post-36173472920917818352010-05-18T09:22:00.002-04:002011-01-05T11:46:49.228-05:00

swimtelligence.blogspot.com 10. Don't miss practice. Want to be the best swimmer you can be? Showing up is a good start. As a coach, our primary chance to help you is at practice. If you are not there, we simply cannot help. 9. If there is a legitimate reason why you will miss practice, contact your coach beforehand, explain the circumstances, and ask how you can make it up. Connecting in

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“You are awful!” “Quit now!” “You’ll never win!” Have you ever caught yourself saying these things to yourself? How do you feel when you think like this? Do you let yourself get away with it or do you put a stop to these thoughts and try to be more positive? In this article I will address something almost everyone has been guilty of at some point in their lives—allowing that voice in their

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BY STAN POPOVICH Sometimes, fear and anxiety can get the best of us in swimming. The key is to know how to manage that fear and anxiety. As a result, here is a brief list of techniques that a swimmer can use to help manage their fears and every day anxieties. Occasionally, you may become stressed when you have to swim in an important event. When this happens, visualize yourself doing the task

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Five Keys to Success with 2009 World University Games medalist Whitney Sprague 1. Determination. When you come up against an obstacle, you just have to keep on going, otherwise, you won’t end up achieving anything. I had so many obstacles the past year. It was obvious I would not succeed if I did not push through them. 2. Set really good short-term goals. My entire 2009 was short-term goals,

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Gabe Mirkin, M.D. Your muscles should feel sore on some days after you exercise. If you go out and jog the same two miles at the same pace, day after day, you will never become faster, stronger or have greater endurance. If you stop lifting weights when your muscles start to burn, you won't feel sore on the next day and you will not become stronger. All improvement in any muscle function comes

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Keys to Success, with 2008 Olympic medalist Margaret Hoelzer 1. Have fun. I think people start doing a sport because they love it. Keeping it fun and keeping that love alive is extremely important because otherwise, you will ultimately hate it and you will quit. There’s a mistaken idea out there that if you are successful at something you will enjoy it. I think it’s the other way around – if you

Coach Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15683532681384738571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5467627754617471974.post-20852452212209787272010-03-01T10:04:00.004-05:002011-01-05T11:51:37.284-05:00

BY AIMEE KIMBALL, PhD//CorrespondentIf you asked most people if they wanted to wake up before 7 a.m., exhaust their body, and then do it again in the afternoon after a day of classes, most people would laugh and wonder who would actually want to do that. Well, if you are a swimmer, you’ve seen many days like that and may actually wonder yourself why you stick to this regimen. The fact is, to

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Aaron Peirsol was the 2009 U.S. World Championships men's team captain. (Photo by Al Bello//Getty Images). By Aimee Kimball, PhD//Correspondent “The great teams of the past all had great leaders within the group...Each had his own style but they all demanded excellence from the people around them. Not just once in a while, not just when things were going good for them, but all the time.” –

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Cary, NC – Three-time Olympic gold medalist in swimming Ryan Lochte visited with young athletes on Friday at Triangle Aquatic Center (TAC). Almost 1000 kids and parents showed up for Lochte’s inspirational chat and to get autographs from one of the hero’s of the ‘08 summer games. Lochte, who lives and trains in Florida, is sometimes over-shadowed by his USA teammate Michael Phelps. But the

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Keys to success with 2008 Olympian Scott Spann Motivation. This has been my personal key to success the past two years. I have found a variety of ways to motivate myself, and I have made sure to accentuate these. I have favorite songs, movies, posters, quotes, clothes, articles and records that all get my heart pumping fast and make me want to compete at a higher level. Most importantly, I have

Coach Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15683532681384738571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5467627754617471974.post-60435584431297623802010-01-25T13:34:00.002-05:002011-01-05T11:55:10.550-05:00

While it would be nice to get along with everyone all of the time, you are eventually going to have differing opinions with teammates, coaches, parents, or other individuals you encounter. Thus, developing the ability to effectively resolve conflict is an important skill to have both for your sport and for your interactions in life beyond athletics. This article will discuss the keys to keeping

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BY JENNY SUSSER, PhD//Sport Psychologist Dealing with distractions is something we all must do on whatever level we compete, whether it be the Olympics or sectionals. The higher the competitive level, the higher the pressure of the distractions. Making good decisions when under pressure is a life-long challenge. You will still make mistakes, but that’s part of being human. An important part

Coach Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15683532681384738571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5467627754617471974.post-49380015493697627492010-01-05T09:44:00.007-05:002011-01-05T21:58:45.609-05:00

BY CHRISTOPHER CARR, PhD//Sport and Performance Psychologist As I observed the 2008 Summer Olympic Games, I was reminded that athletes who win medals have, for years, had the goal of winning a medal. Yet, it was the daily work and effort that pays off at the Olympic Games. In the men’s 4x100 freestyle relay, the USA team trailed France going into the last 100. But Jason Lezak came from behind

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ScienceDaily (Sep. 28, 2009) — A study of Oxford rowers has shown that members of a team who exercised together were able to tolerate twice as much pain as when they trained on their own. In the study, published September 16 in the Royal Society journal Biology Letters, researchers from the University of Oxford’s Institute of Cognitive and Evolutionary Anthropology found the pain

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Five Keys to Success with 2008 Olympian Caroline Burckle BELIEVE: I know this sounds cliché, but if you do not believe in yourself and what your mind and body are capable of, then there is no chance you will be successful. You have to buy into what you are doing and believe that the instruments you are given to work with – in this case, your body and mind – are exceptional and will be trained

Coach Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15683532681384738571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5467627754617471974.post-44467279346309286112009-12-14T10:21:00.002-05:002011-01-05T11:56:47.925-05:00

By Garrett Weber-Gale // Swimnetwork Olympian Blogger “Experiencing some hardship in life along the way is good so that when we really achieve success it will be that much sweeter.” - My Grandpa I try to keep this quote in mind when I’m not swimming as well as I may like. We all are aware that life is full of ups and downs, success and some struggle. What I think is most important during these

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BY AIMEE KIMBALL, PhD//Sport Psychologist Athletes are dedicated. They are committed. They are willing to make sacrifices in their lives to help their sport performance. However, when you take this commitment to their sport and add a similar level of commitment to their academics, social lives, work and family, it can lead to a very difficult juggling act. Take “Christina” for example. She

Coach Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15683532681384738571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5467627754617471974.post-24044167055362607072009-11-23T09:50:00.002-05:002011-01-05T11:58:16.268-05:00

By Paul Tenorio If you can even touch the work ethic the great ones, like Michael Phelps, use to be the best, then, even if you're as slow as Paul Tenorio, you can maximize your potential. (Photo by Gero Breloer/AP) Diving Back In Archive Follow Paul Tenorio on Twitter In order to truly be successful, in my opinion — and this extends beyond sports — you can never be satisfied. What makes

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Nathan Adrian won gold this summer in the 400m free relay at the 2009 FINA World Championships in Rome. Here are the keys to his success: 1. Do your best to stay focused in practice. Many times practices turn into two or three hours of swimming back and forth with your favorite song stuck in your head. While this is a great way to pass the time, it may not be the most conducive to swimming your

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BY AIMEE C. KIMBALL, PhD//Sport Psychologist When you work hard, push yourself to your limits and engage in physical activity, you are not only competing with other swimmers, you are also competing with your body. If you have ever been injured, you know how stressful and life-altering it can be. Whether it’s the disappointment of having trained so hard and no longer being able to compete or

Coach Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15683532681384738571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5467627754617471974.post-55307394056021753992009-10-27T08:18:00.004-04:002011-01-05T14:31:27.939-05:00

Coach Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15683532681384738571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5467627754617471974.post-65712935791345367482009-10-09T07:58:00.002-04:002011-01-05T14:32:12.626-05:00

BY DR. ALAN GOLDBERG//Sport Psychologist What if you knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that what you did today, in this set, how hard you pushed yourself and how precise you were with your strokes and turns would guarantee a “meet-of-your-life” performance in your events come taper time? How motivated would you be? Would you concentrate more? Would it bother you that you went into practice a

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Set Goals: Know what you want to do before you start doing it. Set goals at the beginning of each season so you have something to work toward. Work hard: Commit yourself to working hard each day. To beat the competition, you must work harder than them. Focus: Remember to look at the big picture and don't be distracted by the little things. Also, continue to learn new techniques for success.

Coach Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15683532681384738571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5467627754617471974.post-2888226250324158582009-09-23T12:47:00.002-04:002011-01-05T14:33:19.347-05:00

BY DR. LENNY WIERSMA//Correspondent The beginning of a swimming season is a great time to start a training journal, which is a written record of your performance and a consistent, positive and concrete reminder to keep you focused. Use the journal to make observations about how you feel physically or mentally, and describe your level of motivation, mood and confidence. By recognizing these

Coach Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15683532681384738571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5467627754617471974.post-24002737726639352952009-08-31T22:00:00.002-04:002011-01-05T14:33:35.899-05:00

This week’s Speedo Tip of the week comes from National Teamer Nick Brunelli. Brunelli offers his five keys to success. Focus on now, but remember the future. You know that workout that slammed you yesterday? It's not only going to help you at your next meet, but also in 15 years when you have a big business meeting your boss puts you in charge of, and you have to work 20 hours in a day to get

Coach Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15683532681384738571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5467627754617471974.post-53505484296443324562009-08-31T19:57:00.002-04:002011-01-05T14:34:44.361-05:00

BY AIMEE C. KIMBALL, PhDI agree with Abraham Lincoln, who said, “People are about as happy as they make up their minds to be.” I think that having fun is, in fact, a mental skill. Most people believe having fun is as easy as getting involved in something you enjoy, which is true. However, what happens when what you enjoy also becomes a source of pressure, anxiety, fatigue and pain? Most

Coach Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15683532681384738571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5467627754617471974.post-15185633538637409822009-07-22T14:17:00.003-04:002011-01-05T14:43:06.285-05:00

Once you get to that big meet, your physical work and preparation are over. You’ve done everything to insure that your body has the physical capability to go fast. Now what you need is to keep your mind in a “gold medal place.” Swimming fast when it counts the most is all mental. The following three strategies will help you maximize your training and go fast: KEEP YOUR RACE

Coach Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15683532681384738571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5467627754617471974.post-55756338856022368592009-07-02T10:50:00.004-04:002011-01-05T14:52:48.018-05:00

This is a quote I took directly from the comments section from an article entitled "After Olympic Struggles, Ziegler Is Back in the Pool". The comment was written by Claire . I couldn't have said this any better myself!"As former world record holder and Olympic gold medalist, Jeff Rouse, once said…swimming is about the journey, not the outcome. Swimming builds strong bodies, disciplined minds

Coach Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15683532681384738571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5467627754617471974.post-9882415661031032192009-07-01T09:12:00.004-04:002011-01-05T14:59:28.843-05:00

Every athlete has a goal. Whether it’s to win races, achieve a personal best, or simply make it through a grueling practice, the goals we set undoubtedly exert influence on our performance. However, there’s a lot more to goal setting than just stating what it is you ultimately want to achieve. To get the motivational support and performance boost that goals can provide, athletes must set

Coach Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15683532681384738571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5467627754617471974.post-23746695907905355482009-06-12T08:53:00.002-04:002011-01-05T21:44:23.116-05:00

Publish at Scribd or explore others: Presentations & Spre

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This week’s Speedo Tip of the Week comes from 2005 and 2007 U.S. World Championships Team member Whitney Myers. Myers was also the 2007 NCAA champion in the 200 IM and NCAA Woman of the Year. Here are the keys to her success.   Have fun. Everybody says this, but it’s true. If you are not having fun, choose a different sport or hobby, or find a way to make it fun. When people are growing up,

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In this week’s Speedo Tip of the Week, Olympian David Walters offers some advice on what you need to do to become the best swimmer you can be. Practice: We do it all the time without thinking, but we should always think about it. You have to do the work in the pool, and do the work in the weight room. You can cut corners, but it comes back to you, and maybe you’ll get away with it in practice or

Coach Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15683532681384738571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5467627754617471974.post-24448928116405224262009-05-27T14:30:00.003-04:002011-01-05T22:04:47.543-05:00

BY AIMEE KIMBALL, PhD//Special Correspondent One of the worst four-letter words in an athletes’ everyday vocabulary is “fear.” It is an emotion that most athletes don’t admit to, yet when experienced, is constantly influencing their behaviors. This article will focus on rational and irrational fears, how to accept them and keep them from influencing your performance. Slaying the Big Bad Wolf I

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BY JENNY SUSSER, PhD//Special Correspondent Pre-race routines are valuable tools for swimmers that can help with pre-race jitters. A pre-race routine is what you do once you’ve arrived behind the blocks and before the gun goes off. Think about your favorite swimmer right now and try to remember what they do behind the blocks before a race. You might realize that it’s the same each time, race

Coach Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15683532681384738571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5467627754617471974.post-38146003127348297332009-05-21T09:01:00.001-04:002011-01-05T22:10:59.420-05:00

BY AIMEE KIMBALL, PhD//Special CorrespondentWhether it’s yelling at a parent, kicking a bleacher, or letting an expletive fly, most people have lost their “cool” at some point. Emotions are a part of every sporting event, and if we don’t recognize how they are influencing us, emotions can impact our performances. This article will focus on how to control your emotions by recognizing them,

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Kelton Graham, a senior coach with Club Wolverine, in Ann Arbor, Mich., offers a few simple suggestions to help you swim faster right now: Swim deliberate laps. There is always something to work on, whether it is proper hand entry or tight turns. Focus on those things and avoid swimming mindless laps. Streamline. This may seem trivial, but streamlining, along with the underwater dolphin

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BY CHRIS CARR, PhD//Special CorrespondentOne of the greatest challenges for a swimmer is learning how to be a great competitor, especially when the race begins. In my years of experience as a sport psychologist, I have found that there are a few keys to performing well under pressure: See competition as a challenge rather than a threat. If you prepare for your big event with excitement,

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BY AIMEE C. KIMBALL, PhD//Special Correspondent For many swimmers, their sport is more than just a hobby. It’s more than just something they do to get fresh air, meet people and get some exercise. There is nothing wrong if you swim just for fun, but if you treat sport as hobby, it’s hard for you to expect to swim your best. Anyone looking to perform to their potential needs to be dedicated to

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Kate Dwelley was named to the 2007-08 U.S. National Team after winning a bronze medal in the 200m free at the 2007 World University Games in Bangkok, Thailand. Here are the keys to her success: Be happy. You have to be happy. When I’m happy, I use nervousness as excitement, which puts me in a better place. I have fun with swimming. I just swim better when I am happy. I took a class on sports

Coach Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15683532681384738571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5467627754617471974.post-44258270830724054042009-04-28T05:46:00.000-04:002011-01-05T22:29:48.029-05:00

BY LENNY WIERSMA, Ph.D.To reach your goals, you’ll need to learn to deal with stress and keep a healthy perspective. Below is a list of five short reminders about mental toughness that every swimmer should follow: You have to be in control of yourself before you are in control of your performance. Take deep breaths, slow down the thoughts racing through your head and smile. Allow yourself room

Coach Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15683532681384738571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5467627754617471974.post-27572965514540921532009-04-25T05:53:00.000-04:002011-01-05T22:33:59.650-05:00

Pete Rose was being interviewed during spring training in the year he was about to break Ty Cobb’s all time hits record. One reporter blurted out, “Pete, you only need 78 hits to break the record. How many at-bats do you think you’ll need to get the 78 hits?” Without hesitation, Rose just stared at the reporter and very matter-of-factly said, “78.” The reporter yelled back, “Ah, come on Pete, you

Coach Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15683532681384738571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5467627754617471974.post-14616830155379237902009-04-22T07:41:00.001-04:002011-01-05T22:35:59.094-05:00

Coach Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15683532681384738571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5467627754617471974.post-21178149429499759682009-04-15T13:45:00.002-04:002011-01-05T22:37:58.719-05:00

Mentally preparing yourself to swim fast can be as easy as A-B-C. Sport psychologist Aimee Kimball brings usaswimming.org her third installment of the ABCs of mental training — “C” is for Confidence. Confidence is a Choice Many people think the only way to be confident is to be successful. While it is easier to believe in your abilities when you have had proven success, it is not the only way to

Coach Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15683532681384738571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5467627754617471974.post-44471607065295727562009-04-07T15:44:00.000-04:002011-01-05T22:40:07.066-05:00

BY DR. AIMEE KIMBALL//Sport PsychologistHave you ever said mean things to yourself like, “You are awful. You are the slowest person in the water,” or “There is no way I’m going to get better, I should just quit?” If so, imagine how you would react if someone else said those things to you. You would definitely be angry and possibly push them in the pool. My point is, don’t say anything to

Coach Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15683532681384738571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5467627754617471974.post-21233182434230683182009-03-23T12:40:00.000-04:002011-01-05T22:41:29.745-05:00

Article by Zen Habits contributor Jonathan Mead; follow him on twitter. We all know that if you’re truly passionate about something, productivity becomes largely irrelevant. You’re naturally motivated and naturally driven, but that’s not always enough, is it? There’s something else and it’s keeping you from pursuing what you really want. It’s the same thing every time … And it all comes down to

Coach Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15683532681384738571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5467627754617471974.post-26620307109350315192009-03-17T10:43:00.001-04:002011-01-05T22:43:29.783-05:00

BY DR. ALAN GOLDBERG, Sport Psychologist One of the key ingredients in swimming fast when it counts the most is to stay focused on what is important and let everything else go. Your focus of concentration on the days leading up to a big meet and right before or during your races will always determine whether you swim fast or not. What’s most important for you to focus on behind the blocks and in

Coach Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15683532681384738571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5467627754617471974.post-91581503911816862382009-03-14T05:49:00.005-04:002011-01-05T22:51:09.838-05:00

Something amazing happens when a kid jumps into a pool.  Besides their hair turning green, they learn to cheer each other on, as much as they compete against one another.  They take on newly found respect and appreciation for “aqua mom”, or whoever takes them to and from practice.  And they begin to understand that swimming is not an individual sport, but rather a collection of friendships,

Coach Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15683532681384738571noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5467627754617471974.post-54163137860594985502009-03-09T09:43:00.004-04:002011-01-05T22:54:44.553-05:00

ScienceDaily (2009-02-26) -- When participants performed a mentally fatiguing task prior to a difficult exercise test, they reached exhaustion more quickly than when they did the same exercise when mentally rested. Mental fatigue did not cause the heart or muscles to perform any differently; instead, our "perceived effort" determines when we reach exhaustion. The next step is to look at the brain

Coach Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15683532681384738571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5467627754617471974.post-8977070439040139972009-02-27T08:05:00.001-05:002011-01-05T22:58:09.519-05:00

This week’s Speedo Tip of the Week comes from sport psychologist Dr. Alan Goldberg. Goldberg offers advice on how to focus mentally on your race.   Goldberg’s Tip: In relays, swimmers tend to focus more on having fun and their teammates, rather than on their time or who they need to beat. As a result, they tend to stay calm and relaxed. However, in their individual events, their concentration

Coach Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15683532681384738571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5467627754617471974.post-88831047073094423112009-02-24T06:43:00.012-05:002011-01-05T22:59:57.770-05:00

Mentally preparing yourself to swim fast can be as easy as A-B-C. Sport psychologist Aimee Kimball brings usaswimming.org her second installment of the ABCs of mental training — “B” is for Building Your Mindset. Check back in two weeks to find out what “C” stands for. How should I think to swim well? Every individual has a unique mental state under which he or she performs best. There is not

Coach Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15683532681384738571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5467627754617471974.post-64386659845007355332009-02-24T06:43:00.011-05:002011-01-05T23:02:17.961-05:00

If you want to swim fast, you’ve got to prepare yourself mentally. That’s not always an easy process. Beginning this week, Sport psychologist Aimee Kimball, PhD., introduces a series of articles on usaswimming.org that makes mental training as easy as A-B-C. The ABCs of mental training will run every two weeks. This week’s topic is Anxiety Why do I have anxiety?Many athletes have anxiety before

Coach Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15683532681384738571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5467627754617471974.post-86473261360682000542009-02-19T12:25:00.003-05:002009-02-19T12:29:42.293-05:00

I just wanted to welcome you to my new coaches corner. Here I will post links of pertinent information, give updates of how things are going, what's coming up, etc...Hope you enjoy...

Coach Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15683532681384738571noreply@blogger.com2