Coach - Take Care of You!

By Wayne Goldsmith.SWIMMING GOLD is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.If you’re a swimming coach - you probably love it.Sure there’s early mornings, difficult parents, long slow boring days at swim Meets and your feet that always seem to be cold and wet - but - for the most part - working with young athletes every day and helping them realize their potential while pursuing their dreams is a pretty good way to earn a living.You’d do anything to help your swimmers and you encourage them to eat well, rehydrate, get plenty of quality sleep, rest and recover on weekends, take care of their mental health and generally live a healthy lifestyle.But do you expect and demand the same of yourself?If you’re like most swimming coaches I know, the answer is no.Legend Coach and good friend Bill Sweetenham tells the “transfer of energy” story.Bill says, “In the morning, the kids walk in to the pool - generally moving slowly and quietly. The coach on the other hand is upbeat, full of energy, greeting swimmers, joking with parents….setting the scene for a great workout. The swimmers eventually get moving and reluctantly jump into the pool, while the coach is running around, organizing lanes, encouraging kids, writing fine details of the workout on the board and trying to lift and inspire everyone and everything. For two hours the coach never stops - walking, moving, running, talking, yelling, inspiring, giving feedback - giving everything they’ve got to everyone. Then at the end of workout, the swimmers are all upbeat, positive, motivated and excited and high five the coach on the way out of the pool……and moments after the final swimmer leaves practice….the coach slumps into a chair completely exhausted and drained because they’ve transferred their energy, their happiness and their passion to each and every member of the team”. Coaches - we need you.The sport needs you.Your team needs you.And your family need you. Your friends need you and YOU need you.You can’t keep giving everything you’ve got to everyone else and not take care of your own physical and mental health. It is not sustainable.This video is one I’ve been wanted to do for a long time. I’ve outlined some practical, real-world ways you can take care of yourself and give as much time and energy to your own wellbeing as you do to that of the people you coach. Take care of yourself my friends.Wayne GoldsmithCOPYRIGHT WAYNE GOLDSMITH - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit swimminggold.substack.com/subscribe