Training Magic, The GMA Way

So, I was chatting with Coach Brian on the phone the other day, (actually I was bragging to Brian) about a training session that seemed like magic from the previous night’s practice. I was telling him about how each and every one of our swimmers were working to their potential and how there was some racing going on in our set of 20 x 100. Everyone, I mean every person in the pool, kicked butt on the last max effort 5 x 100. One swimmer swam her fastest 100 in practice so far this year at the end of 19 other 100’s! Coach Brian encouraged me to make it known that I was pleased with the results from that practice. So, thinking about it, I looked back in my training journal where I had taken the time to highlight three other sessions that I thought were magic from this season. And I got to thinking about WHY those sessions were different from other sessions. Originally, I wondered if design of the set encouraged some of the magic, but after considering existing variables from each session I came to realize that teamwork is the common denominator and why those sessions were different. At each of the sessions our swimmers came together and sometimes silently, sometimes with a knowing look, and sometimes with a few words of encouragement, worked together to achieve something that most certainly would have been tough to do on their own. And, as a coach, I know things are going well when the swimmers are taking things under their own control and kicking butt as a team!

Coach Laurie Albert

Head Coach - GMA Upper Valley