Listen to the Episode
Key Takeaways
- Consistent dedication to the mundane—like streamline—builds habit and instills discipline (hard work and precise body control).
- Everyone develops an excellent streamline habit, all the time without thought. To NOT do a streamline would make the swimmer physically uncomfortable.
- Create a feeling that excellence is expected, with allowance for failure, improvement, and progress.
- Swimmers feel watched, celebrated, and encouraged to improve through feedback, attention, and coaching.
Related Episodes
See “Finding Deliberate Practice,” “SIP 052: Swimming is a Habit,” and “SIP 067: Deliberate Practice.”
Framework and Routine
Your framework and routine should reinforce the key things you want to accomplish with your swimmers.
My Number One Goals
- Everyone has an excellent streamline habit (all the time without thought). To NOT do a streamline would make the swimmer physically uncomfortable.
- A feeling that excellence is expected, with allowance for failure, improvement, and progress.
- Swimmers feel watched, celebrated, and encouraged to improve through feedback, attention, and coaching.
Coach Behavior on Deck
- If you see something to fix, you must say something.
- Avoid socializing and standing in one spot—unless resting.
- If you are expecting excellence, then excellence is expected of you too.
- Enforce what you want done; non-enforcement signals acceptable behavior.
- Know when to back off. You can still say something without demeaning or making someone feel bad.
Example Coaching Moments
“You didn’t streamline. Next time streamline.”
“You forgot the streamline.” They nod and agree. “Next time.” You and they smile.