SwimEd

SwimEd Episode 9 - Practice Preparation

Welcome to SwimEd: Education for coaches, athletes and parents.
Join Matthew Grant and Jennifer Bowers as they examine the top swimming and sporting topics from three perspectives: the coaches, the athletes and the parents.
In each episode, our listeners hear the conversations, stories, insights and advice we’ve been sharing for years on and off the pool deck that help coaches improve their coaching, athletes increase their performances and parents boost their support. Combined with interviews of experts in various field of study and even coaches from other sports, listeners get the latest information and new ways of thinking about swimming and sports.
Episode 9 - Preparation
Preparation for practice is an essential. Coaches write the workouts according to the weekly and seasonal plans to help swimmers prepare for their end-of-season or championship meet. Athletes often overlook the importance of being totally ready to practice. Most swimmers think about swimming as they walk on the deck, when they hit the water or after warm up.
In this episode, we will talk about preparations for practices, mainly from an athlete’s perspective. We will talk about various ways to get mentally, physically, emotionally and socially ready for practice. As always, we discuss how coaches and parents can help athletes learn these skills that increase performance.
Connect with Us: Follow us on Facebook and Instagram for updates, and join our Facebook Group to get behind-the-scenes content and more information about topics on the podcast.
Contact Us: Have a topic suggestion or want to share your thoughts? Email us at SwimEdInfo@gmail.com.
Subscribe and Rate/Review: You'll help others find our podcast and make sure you don't miss an episode. Then leave a review to let us know what you think!
Join us on weekly on SwimEd: Education for coaches, athletes and parents.

Swimed Episode 8 - Feedback

Welcome to SwimEd: Education for coaches, athletes and parents.
Join Matthew Grant and Jennifer Bowers as they examine the top swimming and sporting topics from three perspectives: the coaches, the athletes and the parents.
In each episode, our listeners hear the conversations, stories, insights and advice we’ve been sharing for years on and off the pool deck that help coaches improve their coaching, athletes increase their performances and parents boost their support. Combined with interviews of experts in various field of study and even coaches from other sports, listeners get the latest information and new ways of thinking about swimming and sports.
Episode 8 – Feedback
Feedback is one of the most important ways coaches help athletes improve performance. The corrections given with feedback might address technique, effort, attitude, behaviors and so much more. Further, the type of feedback given to athletes in practice should be a lot different than the feedback at a competition. In fact, feedback changes based on so many factors that a “one-size-fits-all” approach will not work.
In this episode, we will explore feedback from a lot of angles. We will discuss the best form, tricks that help with communicating feedback, how feedback should change based on the swimmer and environment, how swimmers should use self-feedback, what parents should say when giving feedback and so much more. For a topic that seems so easy, there is a lot to discuss for coaches, athletes and parents to use feedback the best.
Connect with Us: Follow us on Facebook and Instagram for updates, and join our Facebook Group to get behind-the-scenes content and more information about topics on the podcast.
Contact Us: Have a topic suggestion or want to share your thoughts? Email us at SwimEdInfo@gmail.com.
Subscribe and Rate/Review: You'll help others find our podcast and make sure you don't miss an episode. Then leave a review to let us know what you think!
Join us on weekly on SwimEd: Education for coaches, athletes and parents.

SwimEd Episode 7 - Sampling Vs. Early Specialization

Welcome to SwimEd: Education for coaches, athletes and parents.
Join Matthew Grant and Jennifer Bowers as they examine the top swimming and sporting topics from three perspectives: the coaches, the athletes and the parents.
In each episode, our listeners hear the conversations, stories, insights and advice we’ve been sharing for years on and off the pool deck that help coaches improve their coaching, athletes increase their performances and parents boost their support. Combined with interviews of experts in various field of study and even coaches from other sports, listeners get the latest information and new ways of thinking about swimming and sports.
Episode 7 - Sampling vs Early Specialization
Today we focus on early specialization and what we see as the opposite and better solution: the sampling stage of athlete development. Whether you’re a parent, athlete or coach, knowing the differences between these key concepts will help you be more effective with younger athletes or realize what you should have experienced in your first years in sports. In this episode, we will define both early specialization and the sampling stage, compare and contrast these concepts in order to help coaches, athletes and parents make decisions that help lead their athletes toward healthier choices for future athletic development.
Connect with Us: Follow us on Facebook and Instagram for updates, and join our Facebook Group to get behind-the-scenes content and more information about topics on the podcast.
Contact Us: Have a topic suggestion or want to share your thoughts? Email us at SwimEdInfo@gmail.com.
Subscribe and Rate/Review: You'll help others find our podcast and make sure you don't miss an episode. Then leave a review to let us know what you think!
Join us on weekly on SwimEd: Education for coaches, athletes and parents.

Episode 6: Interview With An Assistant Coach (Josh Harrell)

Welcome to SwimEd: Education for coaches, athletes and parents.
Join Matthew Grant and Jennifer Bowers as they examine the top swimming and sporting topics from three perspectives: the coaches, the athletes and the parents.
In each episode, our listeners hear the conversations, stories, insights and advice we’ve been sharing for years on and off the pool deck that help coaches improve their coaching, athletes increase their performances and parents boost their support. Combined with interviews of experts in various field of study and even coaches from other sports, listeners get the latest information and new ways of thinking about swimming and sports.
Episode 6 – Josh Harrell – Beginning Coach Story
Today we focus on how what it’s like for brand new coaches just starting out on their coaching journey. Normally, a new coach is a former swimmer who planned on coaching after their swimming ends or sees a need of a team and fills it based on what they knew from their swimming career. In this episode, we are interviewing Coach Josh Harrell, who started his coaching career under me and is currently a local high school head swim coach. Our aim is to show the valuable interplay between a new coach and head coach and his learning about swim coaching, athlete instruction and parent interactions.
Connect with Us: Follow us on Facebook and Instagram for updates and join our Facebook Group to get behind-the-scenes content and more information about topics on the podcast.
Contact Us: Have a topic suggestion or want to share your thoughts? Email us at SwimEdInfo@gmail.com.
Subscribe and Rate/Review: You'll help others find our podcast and make sure you don't miss an episode. Then leave a review to let us know what you think!
Join us on weekly on SwimEd: Education for coaches, athletes and parents.

Episode 5 Restart -- Part 4 of Starting a New Season

Welcome to SwimEd: Education for coaches, athletes and parents.
Join Matthew Grant and Jennifer Bowers as they examine the top swimming and sporting topics from three perspectives: the coaches, the athletes and the parents.
In each episode, our listeners hear the conversations, stories, insights and advice we’ve been sharing for years on and off the pool deck that help coaches improve their coaching, athletes increase their performances and parents boost their support. Combined with interviews of experts in various field of study and even coaches from other sports, listeners get the latest information and new ways of thinking about swimming and sports.
Episode 5 -- Restart: Part 4 of Starting of New Season
This episode is the fourth of a four-part series discussing the four R’s of starting a new season: Recovery, Review, Reset and Restart. Following a time of recovery from the stress of last season, reviewing strengths and weaknesses, creating a reset plan for how to improve, restarting a new season should be a time of creativity and excitement. In this episode, we will discuss different ways that coaches, athletes and parents can restart the season. For coaches, it’s time to set the tone. Athletes, it’s time to begin focusing and changing the behaviors for greater success. And parents it's your chance to have conversations about how you can support your swimmer better.
Connect with Us: Follow us on Facebook and Instagram for updates, and join our Facebook Group to get behind-the-scenes content and more information about topics on the podcast.
Contact Us: Have a topic suggestion or want to share your thoughts? Email us at SwimEdInfo@gmail.com.
Subscribe and Rate/Review: You'll help others find our podcast and make sure you don't miss an episode. Then leave a review to let us know what you think!
Join us on weekly on SwimEd: Education for coaches, athletes and parents.

Episode 4: Reset -- Part 3 of Starting a New Season

Welcome to SwimEd: Education for coaches, athletes and parents.
Join Matthew Grant and Jennifer Bowers as they examine the top swimming and sporting topics from three perspectives: the coaches, the athletes and the parents.
In each episode, our listeners hear the conversations, stories, insights and advice we’ve been sharing for years on and off the pool deck that help coaches improve their coaching, athletes increase their performances and parents boost their support. Combined with interviews of experts in various field of study and even coaches from other sports, listeners get the latest information and new ways of thinking about swimming and sports.
Episode 4: Reset -- Part 3 of Starting of New Season
This episode is the third of a four-part series discussing the four R’s of starting a new season: Recovery, Review, Reset and Restart. Many times, coaches and athletes reset their goals – end of the season times or meet qualifications – as sufficient for a successful season. Instead of stopping there, a valuable reset should look more like a new year’s resolution where you take stock of your habits, preparations, practices, consistency and motivation and make changes to become a better athlete throughout the season.
Connect with Us: Follow us on Facebook and Instagram for updates and join our Facebook Group to get behind-the-scenes content and more information about topics on the podcast.
Contact Us: Have a topic suggestion or want to share your thoughts? Email us at SwimEdInfo@gmail.com.
Subscribe and Rate/Review: You'll help others find our podcast and make sure you don't miss an episode. Then leave a review to let us know what you think!
Join us on weekly on SwimEd: Education for coaches, athletes and parents.

Episode 3: Review -- Part 2 of Starting of a New Season

Welcome to SwimEd: Education for coaches, athletes and parents.
Join Matthew Grant and Jennifer Bowers as they examine the top swimming and sporting topics from three perspectives: the coaches, the athletes and the parents.
In each episode, our listeners hear the conversations, stories, insights and advice we’ve been sharing for years on and off the pool deck that help coaches improve their coaching, athletes increase their performances and parents boost their support. Combined with interviews of experts in various field of study and even coaches from other sports, listeners get the latest information and new ways of thinking about swimming and sports.
Episode 3: Review -- Part 2 of Starting of New Season
This episode is the second of a four-part series discussing the four R’s of starting a new season: Recovery, Review, Reset and Restart. It seems natural to review a past season once it’s over, but a lot of coaches, athletes and parents do not take the time to look back before looking forward. However, all the various factors affecting performance needs to be examined in order to realistically look ahead. In this episode, we discuss this process and provide examples and advice for a post-season review.
Key points: 
Coaches: 
- Review how you coached and seek mentors or advice to be better at your craft. 
- Review what you could do differently with the team and individual swimmers for their success. This could mean changing up your microcycles, allowing breaks or other decisions for the good of your athletes.
Athletes: 
- Review the all aspects of your swimming beyond goal times. For older swimmers, this includes effort, momentum, sleep and nutrition. For younger swimmers, hitting the milestones of “first” might be more important than times.
- Journaling daily allows you to look back to review how you felt throughout the season.
Parents: 
- Talk with your coach (maybe with your athlete) to find out how you can be more supportive for your athlete(s).
- Come to this conversation seeking a solution, not having an agenda, to be success for your athlete, your family and yourself.
Connect with Us: Follow us on Facebook and Instagram for updates, and join our Facebook Group to get behind-the-scenes content and more information about topics on the podcast.
Contact Us: Have a topic suggestion or want to share your thoughts? Email us at SwimEdInfo@gmail.com.
Subscribe and Rate/Review: You'll help others find our podcast and make sure you don't miss an episode. Then leave a review to let us know what you think!
Join us on weekly on SwimEd: Education for coaches, athletes and parents.

Episode 2: Recovery -- Part 1 of Starting a New Season

Welcome to SwimEd: Education for coaches, athletes and parents.
Join Matthew Grant and Jennifer Bowers as they examine the top swimming and sporting topics from three perspectives: the coaches, the athletes and the parents.
In each episode, our listeners hear the conversations, stories, insights and advice we’ve been sharing for years on and off the pool deck that help coaches improve their coaching, athletes increase their performances and parents boost their support. Combined with interviews of experts in various field of study and even coaches from other sports, listeners get the latest information and new ways of thinking about swimming and sports.
Episode 2: Recovery -- Part 1 of Starting of New Season
This episode is the first of a four-part series discussing the four R’s of starting a new season: Recovery, Review, Reset and Restart. Recovery is a process can be completed in a short timeframe for year-round sports or over an off season for sports that have longer breaks. Athletes – heck all of us – need a break from time to time, especially after a time of high emotion and physical exertion. But what does a “break” look like and how should athlete recover before the start of a new season? These questions and more will be discussed today.
Connect with Us: Follow us on Facebook and Instagram for updates and join our Facebook Group to get behind-the-scenes content and more information about topics on the podcast.
Contact Us: Have a topic suggestion or want to share your thoughts? Email us at SwimEdInfo@gmail.com.
Subscribe and Rate/Review: You'll help others find our podcast and make sure you don't miss an episode. Then leave a review to let us know what you think!
Join us on weekly on SwimEd: Education for coaches, athletes and parents.

Episode 1: Competition-Day Routines

Welcome to SwimEd: education for coaches, athletes and parents.
Join Matthew Grant and Jennifer Bowers as they examine the top swimming and sporting topics from three perspectives: the coaches, the athletes and the parents.
In each episode, our listeners hear the conversations, stories, insights and advice we’ve been sharing for years on and off the pool deck that help coaches improve their coaching, athletes increase their performances and parents boost their support. Combined with interviews of experts in various field of study and even coaches from other sports, listeners get the latest information and new ways of thinking about swimming and sports.
Episode 1: Routines
In this episode, we will be talking about routines. We all have routines in our lives, whether planned or unplanned, that helps us be successful. For athletes, what they do on the day of competition – their competition day routine – has a huge effect on their success. In fact, the use of routines can also be extended to practices and how we live our everyday lives as coaches, athletes or parents.
For more information, check out these resources:
Competition-Day Routine Article #1
Competition-Day Routine Article #2
Connect with Us:
Follow us on Facebook and Instagram for updates and join our Facebook Group to get behind-the-scenes content and more information about topics on the podcast.
Contact Us:
Have a topic suggestion or want to share your thoughts? Email us at SwimEdInfo@gmail.com
Subscribe and Rate/Review to help others find our podcast and to make sure you don't miss another episode.
Leave a review to let us know what you think!
Join us weekly on SwimEd: education for coaches, athletes and parents.

SwimEd Trailer

Welcome to SwimEd, education for coaches, athletes and parents.
This is a podcast dedicated to examining the top swimming and sporting topics from three perspectives: the coaches, the athletes, and the parents. Through our candid and unscripted discussions, we share our views along with advice and applications that can help coaches improve their coaching, athletes increase their performances and parents boost their support.