ASCA's first seminar in Dubai, UAE. Coaches Ernie Maglischo and Rick Shipherd conducted the clinic.

Posted: 2/26/10

BLEEDING ORANGE – FOR THE LAST TIME
Team Kuba assembled behind lane three. When Kuba Kotynia walked from the ready room the chants began, “Kuba! Kuba! Kuba!” This was the last swim for the ninety-two year Syracuse men’s and women’s swimming and diving team.  There were “Team Kuba” swimmers from Syracuse, but also from Providence, Georgetown, Seton Hall, UConn, Pittsburgh and other team’s in the Big East Conference. Perhaps fittingly Team Kuba included the Rutgers women’s swimming team. Of course no men anymore, since they suffered the same fate. Termination. Although a rich past, death to their future. The cheering swimmers looked like a rainbow in their variety of Team Kuba uniforms chanting “Kuba!” and in unison, sharply giving the tomahawk sign normally saved for Florida State football games. One minute and fifty-eight seconds later, Syracuse’s last swim was done. But bleeding orange went on.

The awards for the 200 breastroke were fittingly given by Syracuse Coach Lou Walker, in his thirty-third year as coach for the Big East school. But before Walker could give one out he was an award recipient. The coach stood on the elevated balcony extension of the Tress Pool at the University of Pittsburgh, facing a jury of 750 parents, alums and fans packed in to watch the swimming competition.  In the crowd was a Supreme Court judge, and other wonderful people from the sport who had supported their kids through age-group swimming clubs and high school programs to help facilitate their participation in Division I swimming. Many families reaped the rewards of their kid’s hard work with millions of dollars of scholarship money funding part or all of their child’s education while they learned lessons for life in the pool, supported by coaches, trainers, academic counselors and administrative staff. For some it meant the only way they could afford to send their kids to an outstanding university. For others it meant early retirement, glorious vacations and perhaps homes by the water. But would they walk away from the sport or sustain its future? The Big East coaches presented Walker with flowers, a bottle of bourbon, hugs, handshakes, gratitude and good wishes. As the coaches exited the cathedral like stage, the soon to be unemployed Coach Walker stood alone, and waved as the crowd gave him a long, thunderous ovation.

But the Orange bleeding goes on. It’s blended so much with the red from St. Johns, the scarlet from Rutgers, the navy from Washington, the black from Duquesne, the green from Miami, the blue from UCLA that it looks like mud. Statistics show that fencing and sailing have had more success growing their sport in the NCAA over the last twenty years than men’s swimming. So who is next?

We have calculated that if in 1975, perhaps the heyday of men’s NCAA swimming, each swimmer had joined their classmates to give back as a class just $1000 per year there would currently be 2.88 billion more dollars of endowed coaches positions, scholarships, or operating budgets. If you are a swimming or diving alum reading this document the question needs to be asked, “How did your collegiate swimming experience enhance the quality of your life and ability to earn a good living?” We like to say the best, most successful people come out of the sport of swimming. People of excellence such as doctors, attorneys, business owners, teachers and the like. That’s certainly true at Syracuse swimming and diving, with iconic swim Coach Frank Comfort a swimming grad, as well as one of the most influential people in the swimming world, ASCA executive director John Leonard. But after the announcement to cut was made even they couldn’t head up a group to change the decision. What if you acted now, before it’s too late to help underwrite the cost of your experience for someone else?

Jessica Barnes, Penn State team captain 2007, recently became ‘class leader’ of her alumni class for her alma mater. Her task is to communicate with her fellow alums and keep track of giving levels for her class. Although never a swimmer with a large scholarship, she’s committed to endow a scholarship one day. What about you? Even if you are struggling to pay bills month to month, you can make a statement to your school by giving something every year and being counted among all of your fellow alums that are showing they care about their program and value the experience they had. Still better, become involved in your school’s alumni organization and you may very well become head of your class group, which at many schools has as its next step being named to the school’s Board of Trustees. If you are sitting in a room when sports are discussed to be cut you may be the voice that saves your swimming and diving program and it won’t cost you a dime – just your time. Perhaps that’s where the bleeding stops, the mud clears and your kids or grandkids will have a sport to learn in, grow with and pass on to future generations for their benefit. Today isn’t too early to start. Put it off a bit and you may have the chance to join the next “Team Kuba” and bleed orange for the day.

Posted: 2/22/10

WHY DO IT?

By: John Leonard

I got a letter the other day from a coach in a foreign country, who wanted to know how the USA recognized all the contributions made by its “ordinary guys”…in coaching….who give clinics, write articles, take care of swimmers who are not on their own team and don’t score any points for them, help parents who are in need, (and not on their own team) and generally “did good in the swimming world”.
   
I thought about it, laughed and said, “In the USA, we do that stuff because we want to, not for awards, money or recognition”.
              
He sent me back a note implying that not only was I lying, but I was hopelessly naïve.  Well, I’m not lying and I’m definitely not naïve.
           
So I thought about it some more. Why didn’t he get this?
And I realized why swimming coaches in this country make contributions like the above.
First, we love our country and the incredible privilege of living in such a remarkable place (not flawless, surely, but…..remarkable….) where we have the freedom and support to be what we want to be and do what we want to do. MOST other places in the world, we couldn’t do that. So we feel blessed. And when you feel blessed, you have no issues in need of further recognition.
Second, we love our sport, and the incredible privilege of working in such a remarkable field. (not flawless, surely, but….remarkable..) where we actually get paid something for doing an activity most of us would do for free if someone couldn’t pay us.  Because we feel the privilege of working in swimming, we want to contribute back and feel a deep responsibility to do more than take….and it feels SOOOOOOOO good to contribute instead of taking.
Third, we love the other people in our sport, and the incredible privilege of working with such remarkable people. (not flawless, surely, but….remarkable).
When you love the people around you, you want to help them, contribute to them, make them feel like family and without thought of benefit, gain or recognition, just “do the right stuff by them.” American Swimming IS a team, as Chuck Warner (Head Coach of Rutgers Women) constantly reminds us, and because it is, it’s not a corporation, (though there are corporations who are a part of it) it’s not a business (though lots of business is involved) and it IS a Family.
And we are all thrilled to be a part of the family. Most families don’t hand out awards to each other. They hand out hugs and knowing and appreciative smiles to each other.
And that’s plenty.

 JL

Posted: 2/12/10

Analyzing Improvement in the Olympic Final in the Men’s and Women’s 100 Meter Freestyle and the 400 Meter Freestyle

By: John Leonard

In the modern era, beginning in 1956, we analyze the average time in the top 8 in the Olympic Final, through the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing.

In the Men’s 100 Free:
From 1956 through 1968 – (4 Olympiads) – the improvement in the average of the top 8 swimmers was 3.5 seconds.
From 1972 through 1984 – (4 Olympiads) – the improvement of the average of the top 8 swimmers was 1.7 seconds.
From 1988 through 2004 – (5 Olympiads) – the improvement of the average of the top 8 swimmers was 1.1 seconds.
Comparing 2004 to 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing – the improvement in the average of the top 8 swimmers was  1.1 seconds. (in one Olympiad!)
In the Women’s 100 Free:
56 to 68 – improvement is 3.8 seconds.
72 to 84 – improvement is 2.9 seconds.
88 to 04 – improvement is 1.6 seconds.
04 to 08 – Improvement is .4 seconds.

In the Men’s 400 Free:
56-68 – Improvement is 17.9 seconds
72-84 – Improvement is 10.2 seconds
88 to 04 – Improvement is 2.7 seconds.
O4-08 – Improvement is 2.2 seconds.

In the Women’s 400 Free:
56-68 – Improvement is 22.6 seconds.
72-84 – Improvement is 11.8 seconds.
88 to 04 – Improvement is 2.0 seconds
04-08 – Improvement is 2.4 seconds.

Discussion: In the Men’s 100 free, 400 free and women’s 400 free, the outlandish influence of either Technical suits or doping (or both) is very clear.

Posted: 2/5/10

Swazi Swimming:
Vision and Reality
By Don Heidary,
Orinda Aquatics, USA Swimming

I recently learned that there is a swimming world outside of the one we know, that in small pockets around the globe there are kids with dreams, coaches with passion, and communities in need of the core benefits that this sport offers. There are challenges and triumphs that may not resemble our own, but they are equally significant and inspirational. And that the formula of pools, kids, and coaches equals the great sport of swimming, anywhere in the world and in all of life’s circumstances.

Background
A former Orinda Aquatics swimmer went on a six-month church mission trip to Swaziland, Africa after her high school graduation. That was the first time I had heard of this small country. In early correspondence, she described her experience as invaluable and life changing. After a few months, I received an email from her saying that there was a local swim team and that she was excited to swim and compete with the group. She talked to her coach about our team, Orinda Aquatics, and asked if we would be willing to help their team. A plan was formed for the coach to travel to California to spend a few weeks with our staff and our broad summer-league network. At the last minute his visa was denied, and in his email he asked if I would consider coming there. After a few weeks of consideration, I thought that it was the right thing to do. I asked Christina Risso, a dear friend of twenty-five years and a learn-to swim guru, if she would have an interest in going. “Are you kidding me!? I am so in!” was her reply. The trip was planned for the last week in January.

Swaziland
As I mentioned, I had virtually no knowledge of Africa beyond what one would read in the newspaper or see on television. The country of Swaziland has a little over one million citizens and can be driven through in a day. It is comprised of breathtakingly beautiful green country side, rolling hills, and the most gracious people I have ever encountered. The purpose of our trip was to help educate this humble swimming community, and as is all too often the case, we were the ones educated.

Welcome Nhlabatsi (the coach)
Four pools, over seven hundred children, no staff, no parent support, no heat, no pace clock (one in the country), no lane lines, a coach with no home (he stays with a friend), no car, no split stop watch, no manuals, books, DVD’s, no computer, email/internet, no briefcase – and no stopping him.

Welcome to Welcome. He is a man on a mission. He seems to know everyone in the nation that has put their toe in a pool. It is almost like he is the “chief” (a reference to the head of the large family units in the rural areas) of this nation’s swimming family. You are one of his kids or are somehow related to him in a swimming sense. The main request he makes of his pupils has nothing do with dues or streamlining, but to just show up. He moves from pool to pool by foot, friend, or bus. He will arrive at a lesson two hours early because school bus transportation at 7:00 AM is the only way - so long as he, and they, are there. One morning he made or received at least ten calls trying to confirm lessons for first to third graders because it had been raining. He looked at us after each call and said he hopes they do not cancel. When it was confirmed, we drove an hour in the rain to the small pool. For this he is paid a modest hourly wage that I can image barely covers the gas and the prepaid phone minutes to confirm the session. He arrives, greets the teachers, gets in the pool, shuffles six groups from fifteen to fifty children in thirty to forty-five minute sessions. He directs the kids with motions and phrases, transitioning language from local Swazi to English, of which all kids are fluent. They move quickly and always obey. There is no discipline problem and no question as to who is in control. As for this man’s giving nature and moral code, it is rock solid and embedded in family and religion. He started a swim school at an orphanage and he plays the organ in church on Sunday (the one he grew up in, an hour and a half away). And with regard to the kids, he never turns a child away. He is here to teach, to promote swimming, to serve, and in a very real sense, to save lives.

Mdu Xaba
He was with Welcome when we were picked up from the airport. I soon found out that he was a swimmer. He was one of the finest young men I have ever met, anywhere. He is overwhelmingly impressive (in the sense of, is this guy for real?). I was immediately impressed by his maturity, humility, and gentle nature. He had handsome, chiseled features, was very muscular (with no weight lifting), looked you in the eye when he spoke, and seemed to always know the answer to questions before I could ask. You could feel the loyalty that he had to everything important in his life. As the trip went on I learned more. He is twenty years old. He lost his mother and his father to TB while in high school. In a later conversation about grades, he said, “I didn’t do as well as I would have hoped during that time.” What swimming means to him, “it has become my mother and my father”, he says. And who looks after him now? Of course, Welcome. He taught him how to swim at eight years old and has never left his side. This young man could represent the sport of swimming or the nation and anyone would be impressed. As a swimmer, he has smooth strokes, a beautiful butterfly, a relentless work ethic, and unwavering discipline. He speaks with purpose and clarity, whether talking about losing his parents, a better streamline, or his dream of swimming in the Olympics and then coming back to help swimming in Swaziland. This young man could be a team captain on any collegiate team in the United States, and I would hire him on the Orinda Aquatics staff today.

Big Bend
I was told of the main swimming site at Big Bend – the Blue Whales. We drove an hour and half through rural countryside and came to a humble community that surrounds a Sugar corporation. The company provides modest housing and schooling for the employees. A part of the school is the community pool. There we met James. His schedule looked similar to Welcome’s – all day, all ages, over 800 kids in a week – one guy. Another salt-of-the-earth man, painfully humble, and appreciative of everything. We had brought one of the new TYR stop watches for James. When we gave it to him, he reacted as if he was just handed the keys to a new car. He was overwhelmed. He clutched it to his chest with both arms. He would not even let go of the plastic packaging.

I asked about equipment. He said they had some and were trying to obtain more. He took me to the equipment room. My eyes welled up as looked into a wooden structure that leaned to one side with a few kickboards and pull buoys scattered on the muddy floor. The lane lines were ropes that James explained were OK but the ends had frayed so much that they could not get them into the hooks on the deck. The pace clock was a small, older, worn, box, with a clock face with no motor or sweep hands. He said they were trying to find an old wall clock to use as a motor and paint some plastic strips for the arms. I asked where there is a pace clock. Mdu pointed up with one finger (for north), “Mbabane”, he said, “the capital”. I asked where you get a pace clock, “Durban, South Africa”, he replied. The black lines were completely worn out in part of the pool. With no lanes lines and faint black lines, swimmers spent most of the lap looking for their oncoming teammates. Backstroke was a challenge and even streamlining posed a risk. But as with every other group, these kids, from twelve to eighteen years old, were disciplined, talented, motivated, and appreciative. I ran the workout that afternoon.

The Pool Bar
There were several sessions at the public community center. Welcome explained that as well as a local center, the main aspect of the building was a community bar. This was the home pool for the government school program. The pool was located behind the bar. The patrons and music began at 10:00 AM. The grounds around the pool were littered with beer bottle caps and a resident chicken roamed the grounds and the pool deck. I felt a little uneasy as we waited for the kids. Soon, a stream of young students, ages 5-8, came running into the gate. School was a ten minute walk away. Here they came, in uniform, excited and adorable (see photo). There were over sixty. The pool is humble but good for teaching. Welcome has a brief meeting and the kids begin changing. Changing is actually not accurate because they have nothing to change into. The boys and girls remove their clothes to their underwear and again wait for instructions. No suits or goggles, but neither affects their eagerness or ability to learn. Welcome has them sit on the deck and wait their turn. No complaints. It was raining. They floated, did “bubble, bubbles, BIG breath” and “big kicks” with “Auntie Christina”, and finished with two minutes of pandemonium, AKA, “free time”. And as quickly as they were in and organized, they were out, dressed, and on their way back to school. The talent, enthusiasm, potential, and adorability overload would be any coach’s dream.

Visit Summary
The four of us, Welcome, Mdu, Christina, and myself spent each of the five days together. For some (not me), the day started at 5:30 with a morning run. My day started with a morning coffee. We met for breakfast and talked about the day ahead. We had extended meetings on Learn-to-Swim progressions and on the “bigger picture” of adding vision and structure to their challenging daily routines. We were at private schools which were beautiful and extremely nurturing, public pools, and a pool at a club that Welcome uses for the Dolphin team. Christina got in the pool with Welcome during each session. She did her patented “suit, circle, squeeze” for breaststroke kick (works every time), and Mdu followed her lead. By the end of the week, Mdu was a bona fide assistant and I believe a national role model. One night in our room, we watched the American Record breaking DVD by USA Swimming. They were mesmerized.

We also had the good fortune of meeting with Cobus Louw, the president of the Swaziland National Swimming Association. He is a volunteer in this position and he drove an hour and a half to meet with me. Another startling reminder of the real need, “resources, knowledge, and costumes (their term for swim suits)”. “Don, it’s not money, we need costumes for these kids. We will take anything, no matter the condition. We will patch and sew”.

We did visit a beautiful Game Reserve nearby, coming within twenty feet of a lion that seemed more interest in a nap than an early lunch (us). And we spent the afternoon on Friday driving around the panoramic countryside, visiting the major cities of Manzini and Mbabane, the King’s Palace, as well as a local marketplace. The drive had brief interruptions for unescorted cows, sheep, and donkeys crossing the road.

Less may really be more
The most significant thing that I have taken away from the country and my experience is not the rate of aids or TB, not economic strife and limited means, or the overwhelming challenges facing the swimming landscape, but the incredible kindness, sincerity, and humility of the people. From children to adults, men and women – there is an ironclad respect for everyone. We did not hear one word of profanity, see one altercation, see anyone lose their temper, intimidate anyone, or have an attitude about anything. There didn’t seem to be a presence or a psychology of crime, gangs, violence, theft, drugs, alcohol, or depression. When they receive a gift, they accept it with two hands and a subtle bow. When they shake your hand, the opposite hand supports the elbow of the shaking hand as a sign of respect, again with a subtle bow. The family unit is the country’s foundation. While they may live in the communities, there are homesteads in the rural areas. Everyone has an extended family unit which offers structure, authority, love, and support. You are connected. At the schools, the children all play games and sing songs – not typical playground activity but these have national and cultural significance. There is a true sense of pride. We watched several and it was a precious site. The children, to a person, were polite respectful, appreciative, and bursting with energy and excitement. All children wear a uniform to school (public and private). When I asked why, Mdu said that if a child has two shirts to wear to school for the year, they should not feel less of a person. And they don’t. In high school all students, men and women, wear a tie. On most roads you could see children (in uniform) walking for what I was told was one to three miles each way to and from school - no doubt a reason for the fitness and discipline of these children. But most significantly, these kids seemed content, if not happy. There didn’t seem to be a material chase that never ends or constant competition with each other. I feel that a lot can be learned from this humble country, their rich culture, and yes, evening their swimming community.

The Reality
I went there to talk about club development, staff training, parent structure, training plans, stroke drills, race strategy, to stand on the deck and assist with training groups and to talk about the subtleties of swimming in the United States. The reality was that they had little or no exposure to the world of swimming and the vast and indomitable resource of United States Swimming. Our conversations quickly centered around club survival, getting kids into a used swim suit (as opposed to their underwear), getting kids to the pool as most families do not have cars, surviving financially as most cannot pay, and just keeping children from drowning. There was no staff, parents, or finances to manage.

I met with a woman who ran a team and who was very well versed in the community’s swimming. I started the conversation with the need to establish a parent committee, website, and a dues evaluation. She leaned toward me, looked me in the eye and said, “let me tell you about the swimming community, most can’t or won’t pay, most can’t or won’t transport their children, soccer is the national sport and it is free. Good luck.”

I replied with something I do know - great teams and great swimmers can be created with water, motivated kids, and passionate coaches. That they have. There is hope and I firmly believe that there is great potential. I would go as far as to say their future is exciting, and I would be honored to be a part of it.

Why help?
I know there are countless needs and causes in the world and they exist in our own communities as well. This is not a humanitarian effort and it is not monetary. To me this is about supporting children to enjoy the immeasurable benefits of our great sport. Here are my thoughts, recommendations, and vision.

A Vision for Swimming in Swaziland
Overview
  • There is extraordinary talent, potential, and opportunity.
  • The children are athletically fit, talented, disciplined, motivated, respectful, and love the water.
  • Although not heated, the pools are available at little or no cost.
  • The schools offer and support swimming.

Support Recommendation
  • Establish a national marketing campaign and brand, “SWAZI SWIMMING”
       -Free advertising, stickers, pencils, etc.
  • Create a strong organizational structure with facilities, staff, programs
  • Determine the Sports Council’s commitment and budget
  • Establish willingness and commitment of Boost (a willing sponsor)
  • Enhance and update the SWAZI SWIMMING website with links to each pool (see USA Swimming site)

Program Structure
1. Create a “No Child Left Behind Policy” for all children to learn to swim in;
  • “Government” Schools
  • Private Schools
  • Clinics in rural areas (free of charge)

2. Create an Introduction to Competitive Swimming (Swazi Swimming)
  • Technique – Fundamentals and Progressions
  • Training – Principals and Education
  • Competition (healthy)

3. Incorporate the Education of Life skills
  • Work ethic/discipline
  • Character/Integrity
  • Teamwork

4. Create a National Development Group
• Men - fourteen plus, Women - thirteen plus
• Offer Year-round training (at separate sites and at the new athletic facility)
• Create a year-round dry land program for this group
• Hold this group as the pinnacle of swimming/role models for the nation
• All swimmers receive a “National Team” jacket (note: you have an excellent captain in Mdu)

Vision: Five- Year Plan

100,000 Children Taught to Swim

Training Sites
  • Seven to ten throughout the country
  • Progression plan (3-8 Learn-To-Swim, 8-13 develop technique/efficient training, 12+ increase training,
race development)
  • Staff of five to ten (Head Coach, Assistant Head Coach, Assistants, LTS staff)
  • Staff is ASCA (American Swim Coaches Association) certified
  • Staff is outfitted (Jacket, stop watch, etc.)
  • Staff has email, internet access (communication and research)
  • Swimmers have caps and T-shirts
  • Standard pool equipment (pace clock, kick boards, paddles, etc.)
  • Lane lines at each site for training (makes technical development much more efficient)
  • Standardized teaching techniques, training principals
  • Parent support at each site (one to three: Membership, Treasurer, Misc.)

A National Development Group of 100 swimmers
  • With a Head Coach and site assistants
  • Mbabane Training Center is home pool
  • These athletes will be leaders in and out of the pool

Out of the Box Thought
Purchase or lease the “Bar/rec center” in Simunye for the home of Dolphin Swim Club
  • Do some mild cosmetic upgrades
  • Add equipment to pool – lane lines, flags, equipment, etc.
  • Turn it into a positive youth center for swimming and the community
  • Develop it as a training/athletic center with a dry land facility, meeting room, day care, offices, etc.
  • Create a facility that would build champions and high-character athletes

Boost Request (one time for each site/ongoing annual support would be minimal):
  • Equipment – kickboards, paddles, fins, etc. ($1,000)
  • Pace clock ($350)
  • Used laptop ($100)
  • Coach outfitting – Jacket, brief case, watches ($500)
  • A team banner for team recognition ($100)
  • Team caps ($250)
  • Lane lines (needed for training) - $500
  • ASCA (USA Swimming) clinic for one coach a year (flight $1,500 – OA would provide hotel)
  à Investment per pool ~ $3,000/E24,000 (covers 500-1,000 kids/four coaches at each site)
  à Total investment ~ $12,000/E96,000 to jumpstart National Program
  à Orinda Aquatics would consider supporting this process

Other Observations (misc.)
  • The coach to swimmer ratio challenges safety and productivity
  • Staff development is critical. Each site should have at least five. Current staff size and turnover cannot support swimming development on a broad/competitive scale.
  • SNSA should examine each site and help head coach with compensation to avoid turnover and to anchor a full-time coach.
  • Technical development should be standardized and will be the key to future long-term success
  • Training should be broadened (see USA Swimming guidelines) and include dry land
  • Emphasize more fin swimming, stroke drill progression, dives, turns, and streamlining
  • Build swimming library
  • Join ASCA and utilize resources

Our Offer

Donnie Heidary/Orinda Aquatics would volunteer as a Club Development Advisor

Christina Risso would volunteer a Learn-to-Swim Development Advisor

I will approach the following organizations for assistance:
• USA Swimming for educational materials
• ASCA for possible assistance to the World Clinic
• NIKE – for possible help with suits, etc.

Additionally, we will begin a community campaign to collect 1,000 suits and goggles in our area (which we feel is possible)

In December of 2010 we will consider returning for a Club Development/Staff Clinic (at our expense) at the National Sports Center
  • Training/Workout organization (one day)
  • Technical Development (one day)
  • LTS progressions/staff training (one day)
• Parent/Staff support (one day)
  • And spend one day at each site

The following was donated by Orinda Aquatics, NorCal Swim Shop, Moraga Country Club, or Don/Ron
  • Four Nike coach’s jackets - OA
  • Fifty (Dolphin Swim Club) team t-shirts – OA (NorCal printed at cost)
  • Four stop watches - OA
  • 100 youth goggles and caps- donated by NorCal Swim Shop in Napa
  • Forty Nike water bottles - donated by Moraga Country Club
  • Forty Nike draw strip bags - MCC
  • Forty used swim suits - MCC
  • Four navy polo’s - OA
  • A snorkel - OA
  • Temp trainers - MCC
  • Ten new OA suits - OA
  • DVD’s – USA Swimming American records, Dry land, Total Immersion DVD’s - OA
  • USA Swimming Program Development Manual – USA Swimming
  • OA Handouts
  • A Cal Swimming T-shirt
  • A used car for Welcome – paid for by Orinda Aquatics staff
  à Estimated value of donations/support: $7,000/E55,000
  à Financial commitment of trip (donations, support, and travel): $12,500/E100,000

Donnie,
Thank you SOO much for sending me that article. I cannot even begin to describe to you how ecstatic it makes me to hear about your trip. I am overwhelmingly happy that you and Christina visited Welcome, and even more excited to hear that the trip was a success. Welcome is such a special guy, and I know that you can see that now. He is never giving up, and I am so, so happy to see that things are headed in the right direction. And that you have been able to join in this wonderful experience
Lindsey!

Check out the History of Australian Swimming Training on the WSCA website.
Posted 1/15/2010

Posted 1/6/2010

More on Swimsuits

By John Leonard

Now that 1/1/2010 has come and gone, we are on the new swimsuit rule from FINA, which is, simply put, Textile materials only, and suit silhouette is navel to knees for men, and upper body (nothing over the shoulder but straps) to knees for women. Essentially, we’re wearing jammer length suits once again.

A miniscule number of highly respected coaches (I only know of one, personally) are continuing to push that we go back to FINA and demand that we go to brief suits for men and remove the leg covering in women as well. This based on the FINA rule (also pushed through from USA Swimming in July 2010, and not existing prior to that, as it relates to swimsuits) that we ban anything that “may” aid speed and buoyancy. Well, suits over the legs “may” aid buoyancy and speed….so does suits over the torso, so if you follow that line of reasoning, our suits better get a “lot” smaller. Be careful what you ask for….

It is worth a review from a person who was involved at every live step of this fight in July, 2008, of what went down, and how, and why. Then its worth understanding what is at stake. I shall provide both hereafter.

In Nov. 2008, USA Swimming, driven by its coach  led International Relations Committee, submitted legislation to FINA to insert the phrase “and swimwear” into the rule that discusses “may aid” etc. etc. etc. Without this insertion, there was no philosophical basis for changing FINA’s existing set of non-rules about suits. USA-Swimming also submitted legislation restricting the suits to  textiles and a shape that would mean suits “to the hips” in women and men….ie..briefs.
That legislation was before the Congress in Rome.

On Thursday, the Swimming Congress approved, by an overwhelming margin, the inclusion of the phrase “and swimsuits” into the rulebook. This set the stage. On Thursday evening, in an effort  to understand the issues involved, FINA Executive Director Cornel Marculescu met with the head coaches of seven leading nations in the competitive swimming world, and myself.  The discussion revolved around where we wanted the legislation to go the next day. All coaches supported the USA-proposal, with the modification that the length of the suits come to the knees….essentially jammers for men, and legs of similar length for the women. This modification was proposed by Coach Alan Thompson of Australia, and supported by every coach in the room.

On Friday morning in the General Congress, Mark Schubert, speaking for the USA, modified the existing USA proposal, (which was for briefs) in accordance with the agreement from the night before of the world’s coaches. The vote in favor of this Legislation was overwhelming, in opposition to the Bureau position, and that of the Executive of FINA.

Hence we arrived where we are today.

In the meantime, a few manufacturers  have continued to insist that this is “an error” (whatever that means) and they want FINA to override the Congress decision and return to the plastic bag suits of full length.

To the Eternal Credit of new FINA President Julio Maglione, he is on written record  as stating that the decision of the Congress is the ultimate authority of FINA and no further changes will take place until the next Congress, if then proposed and voted for. Executive Director Cornel Marculescu has made similar statements. This is wholly and completely compatible with the FINA Constitution.
We should all be very grateful that our President and our Executive Director accept the rule of law and constitution, and we have a democracy in FINA.

Calls for coaches to now go back and disrespect the decisions of its most significant group of national team coaches and the entire FINA Congress, and demand briefs, totally miss the point. Which is, we should all want the FINA Congress to be the ultimate authority within FINA, as the Constitution states, and the President has reinforced with his comments.

The alternative would be for a much smaller group, the Bureau, to be able to overturn a decision of the entire Congress, on a motion from within themselves. Of such movements is a totalitarian governance structure created.

Good governance is good governance. No Coach should be wishing to overturn good governance when it results in a decision they do not agree with. To insist otherwise, is to become the bad governance model that so many of us have accused FINA of being, for so long.

IF there is a problem with Jammers, and a poor decision was made in Rome, we will have opportunity to correct it at the next FINA Congress in three years. Meanwhile our athletes know what they will be wearing for most of a whole Olympiad.

Personally, since Jammers have been used in competition since approximately 1982, with no great surge in records until the advent of full body suits and plastic bag suits, I have serious doubts that there are any real concerns with suits to the knees being significantly performance enhancing. At least, no more than women covering their chests with their suits. I don’t think we’ll tackle that one, either.

            Thank you Mr. President and Mr. Executive Director.

JL

Posted: Dec. 17, 2009

The ASCA Awards of Excellences are bestowed annually to the coaches who have swimmers reach the top-8 at various national championship-level meets. The meets for the 2009 list are:
 -2008 USA Swimming Short Course National Championships,
 -2009 NCAA Swimming & Diving Championships (Division I, II & III),
 -2009 NAIA Championships,
 -2009 USA World Championship Trials, and
 -2009 USA Swimming Short Course National Championships.

2009 Excellence List

Check out the 2009 Olympic Head Coaches Reunion Dinner in its entirety!

American Swimming Coaches Association Board Establishes New Objective.

         In its Board Meeting of  Sept. 9, 2009, the ASCA Board established a new working principle and objective to develop.

  “Our Board has always monitored organizations and their effectiveness in our sport, and last week decided that we feel that FINA can benefit by having direct technical input at the highest levels of the organization, which is the FINA Bureau. “, said Executive Director John Leonard while reporting on the Bureau actions. “We believe that many of the recent FINA decisions from the Bureau could have benefited substantially from having direct input from coaches in our sport, and coaches in the other aquatic disciplines. We’ll be looking for ways and seeking allies, to promote the finest coaches and the elite athletes in every aquatic sport, onto the Bureau level of FINA decision making”.

“While a few people may consider this a revolutionary idea, it is in fact simply a reflection of what is already best practice in both Australia and the United States. Promotion of both coaches and elite athletes to decision making roles has been a historical part of the governance of USA-Swimming from its very beginnings and both the ASCA and WSCA Boards strongly believe it is a great model to transfer in some form to FINA, our international governing body. Far from revolutionary, it is evolutionary, and a natural outgrowth from the FINA Coaches and Athletes Commissions, and clearly much needed. Swimming is now a professional sport. A segment of the highest decision making body in the sport also needs to be professional and not composed entirely of amateurs”.

The World Swimming Coaches Association Board of Directors endorsed the same set of principles last week as well.

Dear Mr. Leonard:

It was my great pleasure to be with you in Rome on the occasion of the 13th FINA World Championships, and I express my appreciation to you for your excellent work as a member of the FINA Coaches Commission from 2005 to 2009, which was and is invaluable for swimming and undoubtedly we will continue working together in the future.

I am grateful to you for extending a kind invitation to me to attend the American Swimming Coaches Association (ASCA) World Clinic in Fort Lauderdale next month. It would give me great pleasure to have discussions with swimming coaches from the United States and throughout the world, and I regard the role of coaches to be very important in the promotion, development and improvement of our sport.

However, upon my election as President of FINA, I have been requested to attend the IAAF World Championships in Berlin, to lead an evaluation team for ODEPA of three candidate cities for the 2015 Pan American Games (Toronto, Bogota, and Lima), and to attend the ODEPA Executive Committee meeting in Mexico City.

Therefore, with great respect for ASCA and with deep regret to the coaches who will attend the World Clinic, I must decline your invitation, but instead, I suggest that I visit the United States in early 2010. This will allow me the opportunity to meet with the leaders of your organization, as well as those of United States Aquatic Sports (USAS). As you know, USAS supported my candidacy for FINA President, and I am deeply indebted to American swimming leaders who helped me so much.

I extend my best wishes to you, to ASCA, and to all of the coaches who work so hard for the benefit of the athletes and the sport.

Best regards,

Julio Cesar Maglione

FINA President

For Swim Parents – “The Big Deal About SwimSuits”.

 by John Leonard, Executive Director, American Swimming Coaches Association.

             Over the past 18 months, the swimming world has been a frenzy of controversy over the emergence of technology in swimsuits. At the recent World Championships in Rome, the constant and overwhelming refrain about suits, echoed the volume and intensity of the last time we were in Rome for a World Championships,when the topic was doping....drugs distorting our sport...in 1994. Fifteen years later, the emotional topic was the new high tech suits that have swept through the sport from the World Championship level down to the local park district championships in the summer league. The parallels were impossible to miss.   

           FINA, in an unprecedented move at its Congress in Rome, banned the use of all “non-textile” materials from suits beginning in 2010, and limited the coverage of the body to “knees to navel for men” and “knees to shoulder straps” for women. 168 nations voted in favor of the restrictions, against a mere 6 in opposition. (who apparently did not understand the word “textile”) This in the face of strong opposition to the move by the sitting President and Executive Director of the FINA organization. Amazing and never seen before.  The USA delegation initiated the restrictions and led the opposition. Why such a strong reaction in opposition to the existing plastic and rubber suits?

           A parent new to the sport, from a middle class background, might well say “hey, why not? Technology marches on! Equipment gets better. Why not let my son/daughter wear one of the fancy new suits and swim faster?”

             Its a valid question that requires a thoughtful answer. Here it is.

            The answer revolves around two words, with of course, a considerable amount of “side data” that adds to the intensity of the discussion and the strength of the resolution to end the problem worldwide.

          Those two words are “Maximizing” and “Enhancing”.

      Quality lane lines “maximize” the opportunity of the athlete to swim fast, with minimum turbulence in the lane. (you should have seen the waves in the pool back in the 60’s and 70’s.)

      Good Goggles allow the athlete to see the turns, see their competitors, and comfortably compete.(to say nothing of allow them to train hard for hours....impossible in the chlorine pool without goggles...in the old days, yardage and performance was a fraction of what it is today.) Goggles Maximize the opportunity of the athlete to work hard.

        Evolution in coaching techniques in training and biomechanics allow the athletes to Maximize their ability to benefit from their time in the sport.

         Swimsuits, up until approximately the year 2000, and certainly until early 2008, were designed to maximize the opportunity of the athletes to go fast....the manufacturers designed suits to “get out of the way of the water”. Less suit, less friction with the water, less drag, tighter fit, and better materials MAXIMIZED the ability of the athlete to perform to their highest earned level.

          Beginning in 2008, manufacturers took advantage (and must be applauded for doing so, within the existing rules, which were close to non-existent) of the idea of designing suits to ENHANCE the ability of the athlete to swim faster. A line had been crossed. Designed suits incorporated plastics, rubberized material and new design criteria, to enhance the ability of the athlete to be buoyant in the suits (riding higher makes you faster), wrapped more tightly (compressing the “jiggly parts” makes you MUCH faster) and shed water from the plastics and rubber materials much more effectively, thereby reducing the drag of the suits remarkably.

            Since February 2008, 158 world records have been set by elite athletes. Their ability to perform has moved from being “maximized” by their swimsuits, to being “enhanced” by their swimsuits. This rate of improvement is absolutely farsical in the historical context of over 100 years of our sport. At the world championships, new world records were receiving polite applause akin to the “golf clap” for a good shot, rather than the historical roars of appreciation that a swimming crowd used to provide when a human barrier went down, as it infrequently did, by great athletes at the peak of their power.

            How does this translate down to the local pool?

Pretty simple. The manufacturers don’t make any money by selling suits to the elite athlete. They give the suits away to them. They count on age group swimmers watching the “big guys” and wanting the same suits and equipment.

              And lo and behold, the same miraculous benefits accrue to 12 year old Sam and Samantha when they put on the “magic suits” in their local championships. The time drops are miraculous, the smiles are, literally, “priceless” and child, mom and dad are all happy.

               Wait a second. That suit just ripped. wow. How did that happen? How much did it cost? Wow! You paid $500 for a suit that Sam just put his foot through, rendering it a $500 broken garbage bag? Uh-oh., well, honey, get him another one....we can’t have Joe Jones’s son Pete beat him in the 200 free tomorrow. Teeth Grit. This is a kids sport? We now have $1000 in suits so far.

                And of course, all those magic benefits only last 7-15 swims, so good for maybe 2-3 meets, unless its a championship and your child swims 6 events and makes finals in all events...in which case its $500 a meet.

               Lets see, $500 a meet, we go to 2 meets a month, 10 months of the year....Honey, its gonna cost us $10,000 Just for Samantha’s suits this year!

             Well, the solution is simple....just wear the suits for the championship meet and wear your regular suit the rest of the time. OK. Good.

           But, Samantha’s 58.5 100 free with the magic suit on, just became a 1:02 100 free with the old suit on. Smiles gone. Gone. From Samantha, from Mom. From Dad. Oh well.

            And of course, there are some other objections as well.

First, the magic suit deal is like paying for your child to have instant improvement. Is that what you want your child to learn from the sport? Or do you want them to learn to persevere, EARN improvement with hard work, attention to detail, paying attention to the coach and, shall we say it again...”Working Hard”. Or do you want them to learn that you can always “pay your way” with cash to what you want?

         “Earn it, or buy it”. Which do you want to teach? Answer carefully, parents.

Second, the suit does not affect everyone the same. The thin, fit swimmer will benefit marginally by it. The overweight swimmer will swim like a young seal in it. Spending the same $500 on two children will yield radically different results. Not a fair competition at all. Is that what anyone wants?

Third, and its seems unnecessary to say this...but if you just buy 3 suits a year, that’s $1500 or MORE. (Today, purchasing one of the great European suits online from the USA will cost you $900...with no guarantee of fit, durability or return-ability, and about 30% of them RIP on the first attempt to put them on...no refund, folks.) Do we really want age group and high school swimmers to have to spend that kind of money to BUY success rather than work for it? It doesn’t make our sport a middle class sport, it makes it a sport for wealthy families.

       Are you pooh-poohing that? Wait till your son or daughter gets beat the first time by someone whose mommie or daddie could afford a more expensive piece of plastic and rubber than you can. The bitter taste in your mouth is not fun. Not much in the way of “sport” there.

        So, in answer to the local official who asked “Why are “they” (FINA officials) wasting time with worrying about THAT? Don’t they have better things to do?”

           The answer is no, the suit debacle is the most important thing that any of us can attend to. It preserves the heart and soul of our sport....which is reverence and appreciation for the hard work, attention to detail, courage and teamwork required to be a fine competitive swimmer and to learn to succeed with those life-skills. Instead of with your Daddy’s wallet.

           The Congress (not the Ruling Bureau) of FINA took the rules into their own hands after the Bureau had time and again failed to establish the rules necessary to keep our sport vital, credible and important. Bravo for them.

               All the Best, John Leonard

The Following Coaches are Nominees to Date for the American Swimming Coaches Association Board of Directors Positions for the period September, 2009 through Sept. 15, 2012.

1.     Board Terms are Three Years.
2.     Any ASCA Member may nominate a Candidate to the Board, with a second. Nominations may be sent to John Leonard at JLeonard@swimmingcoach.org.
3.     Nominations will also be accepted from the Floor at the ASCA Business Meeting on Friday, Sept. 11, 2009 at the Marriott Harbor Beach, ASCA World Clinic.
4.     Nominees must be current ASCA Members and Certified Coaches, with a minimum of 5 years of coaching experience.
5.     We elect FIVE coaches each year for a three year term.
6.     Nominees prior to the Clinic should provide to the ASCA office, via the email above, a short paragraph of statement of purpose or interest, and a paragraph of sport biography and service to the sport.

Our Current Nominees are:
Coach Mary-Anne Gerzanick-Liebowitz, Oregon State University
Coach Ira Klein – Sarasota YMCA
Coach Matt Kredich, University of Tennessee Women
Coach Steve Morsilli, Pleasenton Seahawks, California
Coach Mark Schubert, National Team Director and Head Coach, USA.
Coach Gregg Troy, University of Florida, Men and Women.

NEW! Certified Stroke Technician Course Available for download for coaches and Learn to Swim Instructors!

University of Pretoria and the American Swimming Coaches Association formalize an educational agreement

After many months of working on the systems and programs to be offered, a final agreement between the University of Pretoria and the American Swimming Coaches Association (ASCA) has been reached regarding the inclusion of the ASCA Swimming Coaching Accreditation system and materials into the Tuks Bachelors programs for B (Sports Science) and BA (Human Movement Sciences), as well as a continued education system for the TuksSwimming coaching staff.

The University of Pretoria's department of Biokinetics, Sport and Leisure Sciences along with the TuksSport and the TuksSwimming club is committed to investing in their students and coaches through establishing quality education programs for all and ensuring that all are appropriately qualified and internationally recognized when they graduate.

The University of Pretoria, its swimming staff, academic staff and management have used the ASCA materials in a pilot project over the past 12 months. Tuks coaches were accredited by ASCA. Two coaches, Igor Omeltchenko (Head Coach) and Steven Bell, obtained Level 5 accreditation, which is the highest level of qualification within the ASCA structures. Larry Laursen (Tuks Swimming Technical consultant) provides the club with advice and a wealth of experience, also holds a Level 5 qualification. This shows coaches that have the appropriate level of education and experience in working with and coaching of international swimmers, and this is backed by a legacy of performance. At TuksSwimming the coaching staff has a combined total of over 94 years of experience at Regional, National and International levels.

ASCA's program was chosen because it has the academic AND practical program with deliverables, controls, follow-up and continued education emphasis to be THE program which the University of Pretoria would like to embed into its practical curriculum of Sports Education for swimming coaches. ASCA acknowledges the standard of education, reputation, expertise and experience at the University of Pretoria. This agreement sees the University of Pretoria becoming the first university internally to fully integrate the ASCA swimming coaching material within their formalized degree and certificate programs. The University of Pretoria is recognized for initiatives such as these, whereby they look to provide internationally recognized and modern sport relevant technical additions to their students' and coaches' education. This can be seen in relationships already established with various other international sporting federations and organizations, such as the Golf PGA and NSCA CSCS program.

TuksSport (TuksSwimming) is committed to educating our coaches, swimmers and parents and the greater swimming community and supports all initiatives that Swimming South Africa have planned and will implement in the future and all work done through our education programs will be aligned with the requirements of the national body.

Through this unique working relationship with ASCA the University will provide exceptional swimming coaching education to its students and interested outsiders. Academic education and appropriately applied training, gained in an environment where Olympians are training with professional coaches, will produce graduates with the expertise and experience to immediately be full members of the coaching profession. It remains the aim of the University of Pretoria to contribute to and provide relevant opportunities for the development of coach education locally, nationally and to our friends in Southern Africa countries whose swimmers are already part of our high performance swimming program.

TO: All American Swimming Coaches Association Member Coaches
FROM: John Leonard
RE: Licensed massage therapists
Date: June 2, 2009

Let me state this as clearly and simply as possible: If you are not a licensed massage therapist, you have no business providing massages to young athletes at any time or location.

Legal recommendations from a number of cases in recent years have made this very clear..."massage" is on the slippery slope to perceived or real sexual misconduct.

It is not a part of coaching. Please take heed and govern yourself accordingly.

JL

The SwimSuit/Doping War. Current Status
Posted: May 28, 2009
By John Leonard

Here are the facts:

Masters Swimmer Charlie Lydecker Takes on Olympian Ryan Lochte and Comes Out a Winner
Posted: May 6, 2009
www.usms.org

Five years ago, Daytona Beach Community College decided it would become a four-year college and changed its name to Daytona State College. With an enhanced academic offering, college President Dr. Kent Sharples wanted to expand the college's sports offering as well. Dr. Sharples announced in the winter of 2008 that Daytona State College would be starting men's and women's swimming in the fall of 2009. Monumental to this decision was the hiring of Head Coach Steve Lochte. Coach Steve is the head coach of Daytona Beach Swimming, which includes an age-group team of more than 300 year-round swimmers and a Masters program of more than 100. Coach Steve is one of USA's most respected coaches, having produced numerous All-Americans and Olympic Trials qualifiers, and is also the father and coach of 2004 and 2008 Olympian Ryan Lochte.

Charlie Lydecker is a 45-year old Daytona Beach Masters swimmer. Professionally, he is executive vice president for Brown & Brown, a national commercial insurance broker headquartered in Daytona Beach. Charlie was a four-year competitive swimmer at American University and really thrives in open water competitions. When not flying around the country for business, Charlie can be found at the YMCA pool or the beach training with the other Daytona Beach Masters swimmers and lifeguards. Charlie is also fondly recognized as one of Daytona Beach's greatest community ambassadors. He gives generously of his time and money to many causes each year in Daytona Beach.

"We were looking for some PR buzz with the new college swim team," stated Steve Lochte. "The idea of Charlie taking on Ryan in a 200 IM was more of a ‘Wow, wouldn't that be cool' for our local swimming community to see. We thought we could tie it into the new college swim team and maybe raise a few dollars for Daytona State College."

Little did any of them know that the Lydecker vs. Lochte Splashdown would become one of the most successful promotions ever seen in the sport of swimming. "Our initial thought was if we worked really hard and networked, we might be able to raise $25,000," said Lydecker.

"When word started to get out in January of this event, the Lydecker vs. Lochte Splashdown, there was this unbelievable ground swell of interest. Ryan is from Daytona Beach. He graduated for Port Orange high school. Charlie is so incredibly respected and has given a lot to Daytona. You had two magnetic personalities that everyone liked," continued Coach Steve.

Daytona State College got fully behind the event. The university graphics and marketing department developed a Splashdown logo. A promotional poster of the two athletes wearing swim caps and goggles facing each other much like a boxing promotion was also developed. Volunteers placed several thousand of the posters around town. They did media interviews, raising awareness. Tickets were being sold at $100 apiece. The experience would include complimentary buffet dinner from Stonewood Grill & Tavern (where Lydecker is vice chairman of the board), autograph and photography signing with each athlete and of course a ticket to watch the two battle in a 200 IM. Rowdy Gaines was brought in to serve as the master of ceremonies. And Rob Butcher, USMS executive director and a Daytona Beach native, was also brought in to generate enthusiasm.

"At the end of February, we'd sold 200-tickets," said Coach Steve. "Give a lot of credit to Charlie. He was calling everyone he knew getting their support and asking them to make contributions. And here he is 20 years older than Ryan, taking on one of the world's greatest swimmers in his prime."

With each week getting closer, the ticket sales and donations just kept going higher. "Our pool area only seats 500 and we ended up selling nearly 900 tickets, raising more than $150,000. We put chairs along the pool deck and had standing room only," said Coach Steve. The college is applying for a matching state grant that would take the total tally to more than $300,000: an incredible sum of money for the sport of swimming!

As for the swim, Charlie, a terrific open water swimmer and winner of Escape from Alcatraz, was given a 15-second head start. When Masters swimmer and starter Anne Grahams gave Charlie the go, the crowd erupted. It was so loud in the pool, Ryan couldn't hear when he was to go and had to visually watch the starter's strobe.

For 175 yards, Charlie Lydecker was in the lead. Going into the last turn, Ryan was about half a body length behind. Ryan flipped and put in his patented underwater porpoise kick to pass Charlie with 10 yards to go. The two finished nearly identical at the wall and gave each other high fives. Ryan's time read 1:49, but they both knew this night was something special. It was much more than a 45-year-old Masters swimmer taking on one of the greatest swimmers in the world. It was a victory for everything good about swimming.

"That was by far one of the most fun things I've ever done," said Ryan.

"I've been around a lot of swimming and I'm not sure I've ever seen anything like this. The crowd was electric and I think more people were actually cheering for Charlie," said Rowdy Gaines.

"I'm so proud of Charlie for representing Masters swimming," said Rob Butcher. "I also think this event, and the success it had raising money, can serve as a template for other college university programs across the country."

Charlie Lydecker wrapped it up so well: "The real winner here is swimming and future generations. I applaud Daytona State College for starting a new team. The Daytona Beach Swim Team and the Masters team greatly supported this event. Many in the community who may never have been exposed to swimming got to be part of a great show."

Asked about a rematch, Lydecker, who contributed $10,000, said he wished he would have thrown in another $1,000 for an extra second. For more of a recap on the Lydecker vs. Lochte Splashdown, visit www.daytonabeachswimming.org.

To: Rules and Regulations Committee (Bruce Stratton, Chair)
Posted: March 13, 2009
RE: New Swimwear legislation

Dear Bruce,

The ASCA would like to submit the following legislation to the process for September 2009 consideration.

page 28, Rulebook.

Item 102.9 – (Change to the following)

Swimsuits worn for all 12 and under age group defined competition and for all 13 and older competition serving athletes below the Level of national A time standards shall be: for Males, knees to navel coverage only. For Females, Hips to Shoulder coverage, only.

Purpose: In order to maximize the accessibility of the sport to people of all financial means, we want to limit swimsuits to the most basic design in the developmental levels of the sport, (as defined by both age and performance levels). Limiting design will also limit costs. In addition, we believe that at the age group/developmental level, improvement in the athletes performance should come from increasing athleticism, learning with attention to detail and appropriate training, without technical elements of swimsuit design adding to the enhancement of improvement.

Bruce, thank you for including this proposal in the packet of legislation to be considered.

All the Best,

John Leonard

What’s Up With The Suits?
Posted: March 4, 2009
By John Leonard

OK, here we go. There is good news, OK news, some bad news as well.

First, I was privileged to be part of the FINA Swimsuit manufacturers meeting and a FINA organizational meeting that preceeded it, near the end of February in Lausanne. I was one of three coaching representative, along with Alan Thompson, National Team Director for Australia and FINA Coaches Commission Secretary, and Osvaldo Arsenio of Argentina, Coaches Commission Chair. The athletes were represented by Janet Evans, Athletes Commission Chair, and Alex Popov, who used to swim some sprint freestyle before the new suits came along.

I can report to you with absolute certainty that the coaches and athletes were on the exact same page with regard to all issues relating to the suits, at that meeting and since. It is fair to characterize that the athletes and coaches have the most conservative position in the room with regard to the suits. Good news, that FINA invited us to be in the room, good news that they listen to coaches and athletes very carefully, good news that they adopt many of the things that coaches and athletes recommend, bad news that “you don’t always get EVERYTHING you want” (with apologies to Mr. Jagger.)

Here is the scenario as it exists today:

1. FINA wants to moderate the rules as they exist, in regard to the suits.
2. FINA will moderate the rules in multiple phases.
1. First phase will begin immediately post March and continue through the World Championships, until end of December 08. 
2. Second phase will be KNOWN from late summer or earlier, and will begin implementation on Jan. 1, 2010.
3. Third phase will be post Jan. 1, 2010 with an evaluation period of the effect of rule changes to date and contemplation of what other changes would be good to make.
3. The Major Traditional Swimsuit partners of the world of swimming are happy to adjust their manufacturing to meet the FINA requirements with the caveat that an 18-24 month development cycle for new products will be heavily stressed with our initial phases. This is a hardship for them, financially and operationally. Also no doubt, some newer players in the market that I categorize as “in it for the fast buck”, will be done in by the new rules and will not be happy. And because they are in it for the quick buck and not for development of the sport longterm, they may well take their unhappiness to a court of law to try to find their “quick buck”.  Shame on them if they do.
4. FINA has watched this intrusion of technology into the sport over a period of eight years. FINA recognizes it will not be able to be fixed in a matter of one or even two years....it will take a bit of adjustment and time to “get it right”.
5. By get it right, FINA does not mean a technology free sport....FINA wants to allow manufacturers “some latitude” to create differentiated products to sell themselves to the marketplace. At the same time, FINA recognizes that using the body of the athletes for technological advance, in effect “enhancing” the athlete is undersirable for most, as opposed to the Pre-2000 concept of  the swimsuit “maximizing” the ability of the athlete.
6. FINA “gets it”. But “getting it” and doing things that are legally defensible in court, are not always the same thing. Many of us “know things” that the suits are doing to enhance the athlete’s performance. But there is a far cry from what we know to what we can PROVE scientifically.

And if you’re going to court, you’d better be able to PROVE your points, with scientific measurement.

So here is where the “purists” will be unhappy. We cannot fix all that we “know” that the suits do to enhance the performance, because scientific tests do not exist to measure all that we know. (I’ll return to that later.)

By the way, I consider myself, at heart, a “purist” and proud to be so. But I am an utter pragmatist when it comes to courts, and lawsuits.
Its not enough to “know”, we have to be in a position to “prove”.

So, with those preliminaries out of the way, what’s going to happen?

PHASE ONE –
The BEST news...FINA has employed one of the great laboratories in the world to do independent testing on all swimsuits. Each suit to be approved by FINA will now be tested by this lab prior to the use of the suit in a competitive period. All suits will be tagged with either a “chip” or a barcode, so we know in fact that each used in competition is an approved suit. (FINA will establish a second level of “Ready Room” to do this.

We will have real testing against set standards by an independent tester. Hoorah!

Almost as good. FINA has banned all wearing of more than one suit. Hoorah!

In Phase One – suits will be a maximum of 1 MM thick. This will eliminate a few of the existing suits.
         In Phase One – suits will produce 1 newton (100 grams) of flotation force, or less. This will raise the typical 180 pound swimmer less than 1MM in the water. (materials, amount of suit, etc. become irrelevant...the measurement is on flotation...)
         In Phase One – any design features that trap air will be illegal.
         In Phase One – any design feature that provides Bio-feedback or any related impact on the body is deemed illegal.
         In Phase one – suits will be designed from shoulders to ankles, no arms.

Phase one will affect the Rome World Championships this summer.
All suits (previously approved or not) must be re-submitted for testing according to these standards. A few versions of a few suits will immediately disappear.

The situation will be “a bit better”.

PHASE TWO – will go into effect on Jan. 1, 2010. Both Coaches and Athletes Commission sent near identical requests to the FINA Executive for even stronger regulation than was adopted here. We didn’t get all we wanted. But we got some. Big Thanks to Janet Evans for her passion and voice on this. After conversations with Cornel Marculescu today, it appears that in addition to the above from Phase one, the phase two restrictions will include:

1. a reduction in thickness to .8 from 1.0 MM.
2. a limits on “non-permeable materials” used in the suit...probably to no more than 50% of the suit. And only limited amounts can be “continuous”...which means that permeable materials must exist right next to non-permeable materials to remove the air trapping capability of rubbers and plastics.
3. A possible reduction in the newton floatation forces. (still being studied).
4. A possible ban on zippers as a fastening system. (still being studied).

Phase Three – No date has been set yet for a third evaluation of the changes made by Phase One and Phase two, but Cornel assures that the intent is to give it a little time to fairly evaluate what we have achieved with rule changes in Phases one and two, and then, with a nod to the manufacturing cycle, decide if and what changes should be made in Phase three rules. (projecting, it is likely this evaluation will take place post world championships in 2010)

What has NOT been addressed so far?

1. The most critical is the issue of “compression”.

While it is unclear what role if any, compression has on physiological effectiveness of muscle cells, what is completely clear to any athlete and most coaches, is that compression is very effective in limiting and reducing the amount of “body fatigue and body line failure” in the last ¼ of races. A simple study of the 110 world record splits in 2008, shows over 70% with dramatic improvements in the 4th quarter of the race in contrast with previous (non-tech suits) world records. Simply put, the suits are holding the body line together and reducing resistance when the normal body fatigues, “sags” and loses its ability to hold the correct low resistance position in the latter stages of the race.

Now here, we have the classic example. We know this is true, but we cannot prove it in any way that is going to stand up in court. My personal quest for 2009 and 2010 will be to find a scientist with a reliable test for how to measure compression values in a swimsuit, so we can take it to the independent lab for analysis and a new rule to be introduced in Phase three. But for the time being, it is a bit of “enhancement” that we cannot prove well enough to take to court when FINA is sued. So we do not create a rule that we cannot enforce.

Botttom Line:

Let me be clear about this. I am a purist in the most absolute sense. I want to see us swim in jammers for men and hip to shoulder suits for women, with no compression to speak of in either.

In phase one, we won’t get there.
In phase two, we won’t get there.
      
In both phases, we will see dramatically improved conditions for “purist” competition, where the enhancements of the suits count for less and less and the athleticism, training and learning of the athlete counts for more and more.

FINA is moving in the correct direction, and in the correct way. It is a pointless and indefensible position to set in place dramatic rules rolling the sport  back to 1999 when it would alienate all the traditional partners who contribute over $100 Million  a year to coaches, athletes, federations and FINA and support our sport, AND wind up resulting in lawsuits from manufacturers whom we have mis-treated by pulling the rug out from under their products so quickly as to leave them insolvent.

A staged, systematic roll-back to the level we decide is correct is the proper way to treat people, treat companies and treat each other. And that is exactly what FINA has put in place.

I will continue to put forth ideas that will be able to be scientifically tested by the independent lab as a way to combat “enhancement” properties of swimsuits. I am certain that the lab and FINA will give each proposal due and proper consideration.

It is critical that athletes as well as coaches work collaboratively with FINA to give their ideas...but also to keep in mind that it is not what you “know”, its what you scientifically measure, that will keep you out of trouble in a court of law. FINA has done a fine job of walking that line.

My personal thanks to FINA volunteer leadership and the professional leadership of Cornel Marculescu, for moving forward on this issue within the first 12 month period when this issue came to the fore.

That willingness to quickly address the issue and consult strongly with its partners, the coaches and the athletes, and implement a solution, speaks very well of the FINA organization.

The blame for eight years of heading in the wrong direction can be placed by those who enjoy the blame game. When the ultimate overflow of bad reviews came about in 2008, FINA jumped to solve the problem.

That’s real progress. If you are old enough to remember other era’s and other problems, this is a great leap forward. At least one of my very good friends will label me a “FINA Apologist” for these comments. I reject that idea. No one in the world has been more critical of FINA at various times in the last two decades than myself. But when an organization does its best to
move in the right direction and solve real problems, they have earned support, not censure. Its important to say “thank you” when some body with which you sometimes disagree, listens, learns and changes. That’s where I am with the suit issue. Thank you FINA. Thank you Cornel. Nicely done.

Your comments are welcome at JLeonard@swimmingcoach.org

All the Best, John Leonard

Its Hard Times.....the Right Time to Raise Your Game.
Posted: February 25, 2009

Each of you know that your families are facing hard times. They are making CHOICES every day about how to spend their dollars. If you want to keep those families in swimming, you need to provide top value of all their youth activities, to keep ‘em coming back to swimming.

One of the most critical areas in providing value, is communicating with and educating the parents as to the nature of our sport.

ASCA wants to help you. We want to provide you with a one page email each week that you can hit “forward” on your computer and send instantaneously to your entire roster of families.

That one page will be “Swim Parent Newsletter” and it will educate them about all of the issues that you and they know come up in the course of a swimming career. (I’ll bet some of what we have covered may even be new areas of consideration for some coaches!)

You know the true-ism...if you say, they half listen....but it sounds self-serving....if an expert says it, its gospel. And the ASCA is a great expert when it comes to educating parents about our sport.

The cost? Just $25.00 annually for each ASCA Member. You can distribute this to your entire roster each time, or, if  you’re not sure you
want to use a particular piece, you know where the delete key is....you make the choice each week.

Swim Parent Newsletter will be in your email box each Monday morning for your use, with something new. One issue, one article, per week.
If you want to download and print it instead, go ahead. But emailing it to your parent lists sounds like a great service at “no time spent” per week, doesn’t it? And with the economy as it is, can you afford NOT to service  your families in every way possible?

Here’s the link.
Pay today, get your first edition next Monday.   

All the Best, John Leonard , ASCA Executive Director

ASCA HALL OF FAME 2009
Posted: January 30, 2009

The American Swimming Coaches Association is proud to announce the members of the coaching profession who will be inducted into the ASCA Coaches Hall of Fame on Friday, Sept. 11, 2009, in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, at the ASCA World Clinic Awards Dinner..

Coach Bill Wadley, Chair of the Hall of Fame Committee, announces the following newest members:

Coach Ron Ballatore – UCLA (and others)

Coach Bob Gillett – Arizona Desert Fox (and others)

Coach Peter Malone – Kansas City Blazers

Coach Jack Nelson – Fort Lauderdale Swim Team (and others)

Coach Dick Shoulberg - Germantown Academy, PA.

We invite friends of the above great coaches to plan now to attend the Induction Ceremony on Sept. 11, 2009.

Congratulations to all of the new members of the ASCA Hall of Fame. (look for bio and other materials to be posted to the Hall of Fame section of this website in the next six months.)

The "Swim Quick Day” Needs You!
Posted: January 26, 2009

Valentine’s Day, Saturday February 14, 2009 is being appropriately promoted as a “Swim Quick Day” for the purpose of raising money in the fight against cancer and for committing our emotional energy toward the healing of ourfriend Richard Quick. Coach Quick is battling an aggressive brain tumor that entered the wrong body, because if anyone can resist it’s damage, Richard can.

We’ve all had or have friends or family that have been effected by this treaded disease so why a day just for Richard? There are many reasons but here are some that I like.

1. Because of Richard’s popularity in the world of swimming we have the chance to raise a great deal of money toward finding a cur for cancer. Richard has done so much for so many that we can mobilize both the USA and the world-wide swimming committee to help by giving a little or a lot to Swim Across America, swimming’s arm for finding a cure for cancer and the endowment in Richard Quick’s name.

2. We can prove to ourselves what Richard already knows and has taught his swimmers for years: the mind and it’s emotional content can change anything if we focus hard enough on a specific task. This will be a day to swim concentrating on our love and well wishes for Richard Quick. If computers can run on “wireless” Richard will feel our energy as will the invasion into his body!

Swim Across America is organizing this special day quickly and needs your help. Coaches, please demonstrate your leadership in the swimming community by mobilizing your team, your LSC and your conference/league and swimming community. If coaches are the leaders of the world of swimming then it will be coaches – YOU! - that ensures the magnitude of success that “The Swim Quick Day” can be. The concept is to swim in practice or competition, devote our energy toward Richard’s good health and donate to http://www.swimacrossamerica.org/Page.aspx?pid=618 in his name. Please check your LSC website in the next week and make sure there is information on how to give money and the motivation to ive our emotional energy.

This author has been coaching swimming for 38 years and never led a prayer at a practice or around a competition. It never seemed like an appropriate intrusion into the personal values of my team members. We will have a prayer, or something like it, on Valentine’s Day Feb. 14th. The reason is that Richard Quick is not just my friend he is a friend of everyone who swims on the planet earth. Although a ferocious competitor with his own swimmers and teams Richard has made time for the rest of us. Coach Quick never let his competitive nature slow him from giving back every year, on committees, in volunteer work to make our day at the pool a better day than it would have been without his time, his smile, his yell and his effort. Richard’s mantra of “athletes first” has helped plow the road for clean sport, his creative training and stroke concepts integrated physiologists and biomechanics’ tightly into our sport and his first clas treatment of all swimming parties means it’s time for a party for Richard!

Thanks for your participation in a “Swim Quick Day.” When that day is done it’s lasting effect will have just begun. Doctors, scientists and researchers will be better equipped to help you and your family avoid facing the same challenges that the Quick family faces right now. Make the Quick family our family, even if it’s just for one day. We will remember that day for a long time, so will Richard and so will the Quicks.

Among the ways to send your wishes to Richard and his family: caringbridge.com; Facebook.com ; or write to him at 1593 Olivia Way, Auburn, Ala. 36830.

Coaches Donor Sheet

Swimming Fast in Practice
By John Leonard
Posted: January 13, 2009

Looking back in the history of swimming, one piece of the picture is remarkably clear. Over time, the percentage of time that serious athletes have trained at close to race pace, has dramatically increased. Accurate reports from the 20’s, 30’s, 40’s and 50’s will show that only rarely in practice, did athletes come close to race pace swimming in training. During the 60’s and early 70’s distance was king and coaches compared notes about how much yardage they put in each day (and probably told a few whoppers along the way....) which resulted in an escalating distance war.....but the fact is, in the USA, training two hours before school and about 3 hours after school is about all anyone can do....if there is homework to done, meals to be eaten, etc. Now 5 hours a day, divided by a very fast 12 minutes per 1000 yards average, and you are going to top out quickly at 25,000 per day. (Reports tell us that 20K per day was not uncommon...but 25K might be the absolute tops.)

Now once that practical limit of 20K a day is reached, how do you “improve” by changing the stress? Naturally, you swim faster.

What are the consequences of 20K a day? A few that coaches and athletes experienced were mental fatigue with the sport (is that burnout?) physical fatigue and an inability to get to race speed very often for events shorter than a 1500, and of course at some point, the body (usually the shoulder....) goes into rebellion and biomechanics of even slightly flawed strokes taken over 20K a day takes its toll.

Meanwhile, our international rivals in the old Eastern Bloc countries, especially East Germany, were kicking our butt during the 70’s and 80’s. Coaches in the USA beat up on each other about “what are we doing wrong”. Over time, we heard the East Germans say, “we train harder than anyone”. And a few Eastern Bloc coaches and scientists came to our ASCA Clinics and talked to us of “accelerated methods of recovery” and related topics. Still, we didn’t get the full picture. Then we watched many of their best athletes do a meet warmup at major international competitions that consisted of 30 minutes of stretching, a 100 stretch out in the pool and a couple of very fast 25’s or 121/2s and get out! What did that mean?

Eventually, we came to the realization that our rivals were beating us by training far more INTENSELY (more yardage at race pace or faster) and far less VOLUME, than we were doing in the USA.

The “scratch your head” part of this was that every American Coach knew that more intense work fatigued swimmers faster than long, steady, smooth distance training. And when you did train intensely, it took longer to recover than it did from those 20K a day sessions of low intensity.

So how were they doing it.

By the late 80’s our suspicions were confirmed definitively. The entire eastern bloc, led by a magnificently efficient system in the old East Germany, were using drugs to recover more quickly beyond the ability of the human body without drugs to do so. So they could do “more intense work, more frequently, than their rivals in the west.”

Then the eastern bloc shattered at the end of the 1980’s. And only China emerged in the 90’s as progeny of the old East Germany, though they were much less perfect in their doping execution than the East Germans. (that is another long story of its own....) Scattered others used drugs but the day of an entire section of the world using something that others were not using was over.

Meanwhile, an interesting development and experiment was taking place.....in various clubs, universities and training situations around the USA, in reaction to the “limits” imposed by American society on the 20K a day training methodology, various coaches began experimenting with the idea of increasing the amount of race pace training in their training plans.

The same experimentation was going on in the land down under, our rivals in Australia.

Surprisingly, over time, we can deduce that today, many world-class programs do MORE intense work than the old East Germans did in the 70’s and 80’s or the Chinese in the 90’s. (more in terms of percentage of training at race pace and above.)

How can that be? Is the entire world on drugs now? I think not. But coaches have learned that we can expect MORE in terms of high performance in practice, than we thought we could, and recover in time to do it more frequently during the course of the week.

ALL of the old doped records are gone.....beaten by (we hope) clean swimmers of today. (OK, so some of todays records might be compromised also...but no where near as many as in the past.)

With few in the world doing the 20K a day training efforts, we have swum faster. We are stronger, faster, and we train HARDER than ever before.

We hear of the “magic number” of 14K a day now, for swimmers ranging from sprinters (100/200) up through the milers. And a large percentage of that 14K is now done at velocities much closer to race pace. And a significant percentage of that 14K is done at FASTER than race pace.

Athletes eat better, rest more and have learned to recover faster.

And maybe, we have learned that some of the limitations we assumed from the past in terms of what athletes are capable of, were self-imposed limitations.

What are the “magic percentages” of race pace work? They perhaps vary from coach to coach, program to program, time in the season to time in the season, but they are significant. Much more work is done at the edge of aerobic/anaerobic interactions than ever before. And more is being done at velocities that are beyond that which will happen during the race.

Why this last? Why faster than race pace? One of the key bio-mechanical and physiological interactions that we now recognize is that as body velocity increases, the ability to streamline the body and get it out of the way of the water in front of it, is critical to continuing to increase speed.

When we train at race speed “plus”, we teach the body to get out of the way of the water. Many coaches use fins, paddles, assisted towing, etc. to stimulate the body to “learn” by feel, how to retain its least resistant shapes.

Now what does this mean if you are an age group coach today and you are preparing an athlete for the next stage in their development?

Some things DO NOT CHANGE....first, Biomechanics (good stroke technique) comes first. We have to learn to swim slowly WELL, first, then swim faster with good technique. Then FAST with good technique and then, “race pace PLUS” with good technique. But the first job of an age group coach is teaching good technique.

Second, laying down a good endurance base between the ages of 10-14 for girls, and 12-16 for boys, is critical. And again, this is not about long, slow swimming. Its about developing the ability to swim faster on less rest. Slow 1000s won’t do this. The ability to “cruise” (to use an old term) on less rest is critical. If your cruise speed is 100’s on 1:09 (on a 1:20 base) today, six months from now, you’re trying to be 1:07 or 08 on a 1:15 base, etc.

Timeout: remember, the world record pace in the 1500 for men now is 57 seconds plus per 100 meters. Is that slow swimming? No, there is no “slow swimming” in races anymore.

Finally, whether you are training 8 and unders, or training senior swimmers, fast swimming in practice is how today’s elite athletes are improving their racing skills.

The major issue with young swimmers is that they are typically in “horrible” physical condition when you get them. They may NEVER have moved fast in their lives....you will have to teach them to be BETTER athletes, which means better limb speeds on land and especially, in the water. The ability to move LEGS in kicking and arms in pulling, and the ability to maintain body “integrity” (good body position) are all muscular and endurance components for young swimmers. Each day, they need some work at race effective speed and pace. For most of these young swimmers, that means some time per stroke cycle work in the 1.0 to 1.6 seconds per stroke range. Slower than that, and they won’t race well, faster than that and they won’t hold the water well.

Of course, no matter what age the athlete, no radical or sudden changes will work out well.

First, understand how much actual yardage per day/week/month, you are doing at race pace, or above race pace (or both).

Next, very gradually increase those percentages. How much is gradual? Probably 5% per week is acceptable.

Next you will want to know, increase until what percentage of practice is at or above race pace. Good question.

Enjoy the challenge of deciding that for yourself. Consult with those you admire in terms of how their teams swim. Decide where todays “box” of accepted practices is...and then decide if you want to stay “within the box” or go outside the box.

Remember, nothing GREAT was ever achieved by staying inside someone else’s box of expectations. Do you want GREAT, or will you settle for Good?

All the Best for Great Coaching.