Its 6:30 a.m. The sun hasnt risen. The birds arent chirping. But head coach Jeff Stiles and the Washington University cross country team are already running around a strip mall in Appleton, Wis.

Cross country head coach Jeff Stiles sits at his desk in the Athletic Complex. Stiles, the head coach since 2001, has led the Bears to two national championships and 24 UAA championships.

The Midwest Regionals start in four hours. Expectations are high for the countrys eighth-ranked mens team and second-ranked womens team. So naturally, Stiles starts to sing.

Oh what a beautiful he begins, his voice tapering off as a cue to the rest of the team. mornin, they finish. The runners are still groggy, anxious and cold. A beautiful morning? Its 35 degrees outside and theyre running around a JC Penny and a Target. Its the opposite of a beautiful morning, senior captain Nick Matteucci says.

But Stiles keeps performing the famous song from the play Oklahoma! until the morning seems a little bit more beautiful. Oh what a beautiful morning. Oh, what a beautiful day, Ive got a wonderful feeling, everythings going my way, the team sings sing together.

By this point, the team knows to expect the song. Stiles has sung it since his freshman year at North Central College, where he was a five-time national champion runner. He brought the traditions with him to Wash. U., where he has captured two more national cross country championship trophies over his 19 years as head coach.

Stiles admits hes not much of a singer. He even says he is tone-deaf. But Stiles still tries to hit the high notes in Oh, What A Beautiful Mornin. He expects his runners to do the same.

I want participation because it at least forces you to be stupid, Stiles says.

Stiles wants to make running fun, to have his runners to connect with each other. He wants these athletes, doing a seemingly individual activity to become a team. Maybe theyll win some championships along the way. Theyll definitely learn the lyrics to Oh, What A Beautiful Mornin.

I arrive at the Wash. U. Athletics Complex at 6:15 a.m. Jeff Stiles had already been on campus for 30 minutes. He set his alarm for five in the morning, he told me, but woke up at 4:58. Practice starts at 6:30.

Its late October, almost a month before the Midwest Regionals. Stiles stands in the spacious Athletics Complex lobby as his runners stride in the door. He is about 6 feet, 2 inches tall, slender and almost goofy looking. Hes prepared for the cold weather, a puffy black coat reaching down to his ankles. A stopwatch hangs from his neck. His winter hat is tilted slightly sideways. His gray shoes are plastered with mud.

He welcomes the runners with a no-look fist bump. He always seems to be having a conversation with someone. Anyone. The runners rub their eyes and return a soft fist bump.

Stiles has been running early morning cross country practices five times a week for 19 years. Hes 44 years old now, but was just 26 when he was hired as Wash. U.s cross country head coach in 2001. Back then, he didnt even know the school existed. All he knew was that it needed a new cross country head coach.

Were nearing the start time when a runner on the womens team notices she forgot her pants. Pants are a team requirement in anything below 60 degrees. Other coaches may punish her for forgettingsome extra laps or push-ups. But the problem is solved in just a few minutes, with another runner saying, You can just get tights from the locker room. Thats good enough for Stiles. He heads back to the fist bumps. Theres no mention of it the rest of the morning.

Minutes later, Stiles gathers the teamall 61 runners, 29 men and 32 women. But he doesnt really need to. They know what theyre doing. On Wednesdays and Saturdays, the tougher workouts, Stiles sends out individualized plans for each runner the day before.

When they break the huddle, the runners leave the complex in small groups. There is little supervision from Stiles. This could all be a mess. The runners are moving in different directions. Their loud voices fill the lobby. Some are off in the corner flinging their legs into the air as they stretch. Its unclear to me when and how they are supposed to leave. Stiles is off conversing with individual runners, going over strategy and looking over the practice schedule. But the machine runs itself. It all works perfectly. The players start to cycle out in small groups until theres no one left for Stiles to talk to. He is the opposite of micromanaging, his assistant coach and former runner Kelli Blake says.

Jeff Stiles was that kid in PE class who took the mile run too seriously. He remembers it today. Seventh grade. Ames, Iowa. Thad Grebasch. It was Grebasch who beat him by just one step. Stiles ran a 6:07 mile. Grebasch ran a 6:06 mile. A year later, they met again. But as Grebasch put on weight for football, Stiles stayed lean and skinny. Stiles left everyone in the dust with a 5:20 minute mile. He still says it with pride.

It was that kind of natural speed that caught the attention of legendary North Central College coach Al Carius. The 19-time national champion only recruited the best of the best, the kinds of runners that other Division III schools couldnt touchhigh-level Division I talent. Stiles was one of those runners.

[My high school coach] was very much about hard work, not necessarily about having fun, Stiles said. And Als focus was on enjoying it. That was like a breath of fresh air. It was like Wow, running can be fun?[Before college] it was always about running to compete and to run a faster time. In college, I learned running could be enjoyable in itself, apart from running well.

Stiles lived to be a runner at North Central. When the clock hit 9 or 10 p.m., he went to bed, even if his homework wasnt finished. He spent an hour each and every day in Carius office. Carius showed Stiles that team and running could fit in the same sentence.

Stiles brought those same methods to Wash. U., his first (and so far only) head coaching gig. It was his dream job. He could coach cross country and serve as an assistant track coach. (He is now the head track coach.) He wanted to raise his three kids in the Midwest, with just enough backyard space to build the chicken coop his wife always wanted.

With his runners, he wanted to build a team. A family. Thats what he pitched to recruits. Even though at first he had little record to show for it, recruits bought in. Theres definitely an authenticity to him. It didnt feel like a sales pitch, said Blake, who ran for Stiles from 2007 to 2011 and is in her fourth season as a full-time assistant coach. Stiles has been able to attract runners like Matteucci, who had interest from Division I programs like University of Illinois and Purdue University.

For basketball or baseball players, college sports are a means to compete at the professional level. Without similar professional systems, college cross country is often the peak for these runners. Other coaches tout how good their runners can become. Stiles touts how much they will remember their days at Wash. U.

We want you to want to run for the rest of your lifeWe want running to be fun. We dont want to just squeeze every ounce out of you, Stiles said. We want you to leave more in love with the sport than when you came here.

As much thought as Stiles puts into the team, some players still fall through the cracks. With a team of 60 runners, it is inevitable. One of those people is junior Nathan Ostdiek.

In high school, Ostdiek was a three-sport athlete. In soccer, he won a state championship. In basketball, he was the school record holder in assists. In cross country, he earned All-State honors three times and set five school records. But he wasnt playing basketball and soccer in college. He was only running cross country and track. Five days a week, at least. Every morning at 6:30 from mid-August to early May.

Still, he wasnt close to cracking the top seven. For the first time in his life, he wasnt one of the best runners on his team. The repetition of running everyday started to alienate Ostdiek. An injury set him back during winter break of his freshman year, and he did little to run or get back in shape. He finished the year running track, as many cross country runners do. But by that point, he was burnt out.

He quit the cross country team towards the end of his freshman year.

It wasnt something that Stiles could have fixed. Stiles was understanding. He wanted to know how he could help Ostdiek transition into the next phase of his life.Its hard not to like the guy, Ostdiek clarifies. But nothing could stop the grueling nature of cross country. The burning lungs and aching joints. The alienation of running over and over and over again with little variation.

The grind kind of gets to you, Ostdiek says.

It reminds me of a quote Josh Clark, a former All-American runner from 2012 to 2016, told me. [Running] will chew you up and spit you out. 100%, he said.

Jeff Stiles stands in Forest Park and waits for his runners. He slowly paces back and forth, eager but patient.

Forest Park, just minutes away from Wash. U., is one of the largest city parks in the country. Theres a zoo, three nine-hole golf courses, a boathouse, a tennis center, multiple museums, a skating rink and too many fountains. The park is filled with lakes, trees, hills and endless paths for cross country runners.

Of the hundreds of paths in the park, Stiles knows exactly the one he wants. The surface is hard, but not too hard. Its soft, but not too soft. Its just right. Running on concrete or similar surfaces can lead to injury. Running on ground that is too soft can make the workout needlessly challenging, with players exerting too much energy digging through the ground.

Stiles likes running a course that his runners are familiar with, but not too familiar with. All of these details about topography give him a barometer to judge accurate times, while also making it so that his runners have to adapt to new surfaces, just like in races. Cross country is all about finding that middle ground.

The drill theyre doing this morning is called 1880, as in 1880 meters. The thing is, the loop is shorter than 1880 meters. They modified the distance a few years ago, but left the name. The bottom line is that they are running, at most, six loops, each totaling a mile.

Runners take off in groups of six. Stiles plans out every little detail of practice. Few runners will do the same workout. Some didnt even make the trip to Forest Park. (If theyre stressed or have too much work, Stiles lets them do a shortened workouts at the athletic complex.) Some will only run three of the six miles. Some will run all six. Some will run two miles and then sprint up a hill. All of the runners are expected to get five to 15 seconds faster as the laps progressoddly specific numbers. It seems like a challenging task, one that would require careful and meticulous understanding of your running habits.

The rest of the workout depends on each runners progression throughout the season and what they need most. How many miles they ran in high school. How many miles they ran in the summer. What injuries theyve had. What will help them get faster without getting hurt.

A big focus for Stiles is recoveryHe really believes that programs will overtrain and work their athletes too hard. By the end of the season, theyre tired, theyre worn out, says Matteucci.

Seniors will get up to 100 miles in a week. Younger runners, who are getting used to the college level, will total just 40 miles a week.

Stiles sends out the workout plan the day before. Names, numbers and green highlights are scattered across the page. It creates a maze. (No faster than 5:12-5:03) Ridderhoff, Cera, Trimark, Bishnupuri, Gersch JR/TC 200-400-400 @ 30-31/61-63 w/ MQ Gersch/Prat/Noah @ 200-400-400 @32/64-65, it reads.

For a non-runner, the pages might as well be in a different language. 4 x 1600 @ CV w/ 90 sec jog (jog back to WashU) put on Spikes 200-400-400 @ goal mile w/ 2 min standing rest, another says. Even for a runner, it might as well be in a different language. Before arriving at Wash. U., Matteucci wouldnt have understood it either, he says, explaining that part of the learning curve involves getting used to reading Stiles.

Its clear that Stiles has a strategy. Its not just running in a straight line for 30 minutes. Every mile, every exercise is intentional and specific to each person on the team so they can continue progressing through the season without injury.

As the season nears its end, many college teams will stop practicing as an entire team. Thats because only seven runners from the mens and womens teams can compete at the Midwest Regionals and nationals, which are in Louisville, Ky., on Saturday. Only five can qualify for points. If someone finishes in 10th place, the team is given 10 points. At the end of the race, the top five scorers are added up. As in golf, the lowest scoring team wins. It makes it so all seven runners must pull their weight for a team to win.

For Wash. U., there are about 40 runners who cannot run in regionals or nationals. Still, Stiles continues to have everyone practice. He finds separate, nearby races for them to run. He creates intersquad competitions, like the Mile of the Century. This gives those who arent fast enough to run in nationals the same opportunity to compete, to show off the strides that theyve made throughout the season.

The runners fly by Stiles and every time Stiles asks, What did we hit? In the midst of heavy breaths and long strides, the runner take a quick peek at their watch. They spit out a 5:20 or a 6:10.

Machines! Stiles responds. Looking pristine! he says to another. But thats it. There is no stopping them. No correction of form. Within seconds, the runners have zipped back around the loop for another mile and that is the extent of Stiles interaction with them.

Sitting on a nearby bench, two injured runners jot down numbers in an Excel sheet. They mark the mile times for each runner. But Stiles wont keep the numbers on his computer. After practice, he will print out the Excel sheet and stick it in a binder. A binder full of thousands of papers. They look as thick as the dictionaries in a library. There is one for each season since his first in 2001. They are scattered across his office. Stiles stores every race, every workout, every mile time in his binders. Ive killed a lot of trees, he jokes.

This way, he can monitor a players progress (or lack thereof) across a season. He can see what workout plans were most successful with specific players. He can look at the direction a player is headed. This could be stored on a computer, but Stiles has no intentions of changing.

Any undergrad at Wash. U. has seen Stiles runners push together multiple tables at dinner, the sounds of 60 voices drowning out the rest of the dining hall. We live together, we eat together, we run together. We jokingly call ourselves a cult, Matteucci says. The traditions are daily. Theyre weekly. Theyre yearly. Some are traditions that Stiles brought to the team. But most can be traced back to the players. Anything to make the constant repetition of running 70 miles a week more enjoyable.

Fridays, the most relaxing run of the week, are full of traditions. The womens team will usually dress up together for Friday runs. They will start by racing to Forsyth Boulevard to touch a nondescript sign. They then jog to the Delmar Loop. As they approach a nearby bank, the runners try to guess the temperatures on the side of the bank. It is rarely accurate. Everyone on the team blurts out their guesses. 10! 50! The game is called Mr. Temperature. Its something Stiles borrowed it from his time at North Central. Once they guess the temperature, the team will run through a Metro stop near campus. All while avoiding left turns.

It makes morning runs entertaining, so everyone wants to be there, Stiles said.

There are the less regular traditions, too, like twin day, when everyone will dress up as another person on the team.

Theres the eggnog run, which takes place between cross country and track season. The runners will drink eggnog, run four miles, and throw up beneath an underpass. Theres the pumpkin carving contest. Theres Bearsgiving.

In cross country and track, the sport becomes so individualizedA lot of coaches dont preach that team aspect as much, Clark says. One thing that Stiles says is that he wants people who want to be a part of something bigger than themselves.

Even as trophies started to add up, Stiles didnt point recruits to the shiny hardware lining the cabinets above his desk.Instead, he pointed recruits to a picture on his wall, hidden between drawings from his kids and tokens from his own running career. Its a photo from a race about a decade ago. Forty-three people are packed into the photo, Stiles says. But only a few had run in the race. Most made the multiple-hour drive across state lines just to watch.

The mens and womens cross country teams celebrate after a race. Head coach Jeff Stiles, known for his ebullient personality, has built a cross country dynasty at Washington University.

Watch is an understatement. It was cold and cloudy that morning, but the runners are decked in green and red body paint. Their spandex are polka dotted. Their mouths wide open, as if most had just about lost their voice from cheering the entire morning.

Is this a team you want to be a part of? A family you want to be a part of? Clark remembers Stiles asking him.

The picture still hangs in his office. But Stiles hasnt pointed recruits to the picture in recent years. Hes not sure why. Maybe its because the culture speaks for itself.

Dressing up and traveling as an entire team to regionals and nationals has been tradition since 2007, when the team shaved their heads into mullets and wore flannel jackets and jean shorts. Their outfits may change, but the tradition hasnt.

This years nationals will take place in Louisville. Not one player from the team is from the city, but Matteucci still expects 100 peoplefrom the cross country and track and field teamsto make the four-hour trip to watch the 14 Wash. U. runners. Even former members, like Ostdiek, will be there body-painted and hollering nonstop. Not another teameven the local teamswill reach the size or decibel level of the Wash. U. fan section.

Saturdays forecast calls for rain and a high of 44. It wont matter. Stiles will sprint from spot to spot on the course. He will yell updates on time and placement to his runners. He will probably tell them they look pristine. That is, if he can be heard over the other 100 screaming voices.

The rest is here:
Jeff Stiles and the construction of a cross country dynasty - Student Life

Paula Radcliffe is to become the new coaching adviser for a former Nike Oregon Project runner just weeks after drawing criticism over her response to the Alberto Salazar ban.

Britains former marathon world record holder who is sponsored by Nike had faced scrutiny after suggesting the US Anti-Doping Agency was trying maybe to regain a little bit of face by throwing Salazar out of athletics for four years following its failed pursuit of sprinter Christian Coleman.

In fact, the investigation into the coach had begun years before it emerged Coleman had missed three drugs tests. On Wednesday Jordan Hasay, 28, the second-fastest American woman over the marathon, announced on her Instagram page that she was excited and honoured to have Paula Radcliffe as my coaching adviser.

Hasay, who has left the disbanded Nike Oregon Project, added: I look forward to working with Paula, whose expertise in being the former world record holder in the marathon is unparalleled. I have always looked up to Paula as a pioneer for what is possible in the marathon, and most importantly in being a kind and inspiring person in life. I hope to follow in her footsteps as I continue my journey in the sport.

Read the original:
Paula Radcliffe takes on coaching role with former Oregon Project runner Jordan Hasay - The Telegraph

A year ago, a group of boys arrived in Paisley, having fled the horrors of conflict in Syria.

Theyd lost brothers, sisters and countless family members in the ongoing atrocity.

Their lives had been torn apart and their hometown brought to its knees.

They escaped and travelled to Scotland with their families, starting new lives in Renfrewshire.

And now, one year on, the boys lives have been transformed through the power of football.

For the past year, the children have been playing at St Peters Football and Netball Club under the watchful eye of award-winning coach John Kinnaird.

With some barely speaking English, the team has faced its difficulties, but one year on they have all discovered that football is an international language.

John, 52, from Paisley, says the experience has highlighted the impact football can have on young peoples lives.

He said: Its not just about giving them football.

These kids have lost so much before they came here.

Every one of the kids that comes to us has had family members who have died in the war in Syria.

I asked one of our boys if they would go back to their home in Damascus and he told me that there was nothing to go back to.

Every one of these kids has physical and emotional scars, but they dont appear that way as playing football gives them an outlet.

When you see what this gives them, it makes you realise just how important football is for them.

These people were forced to leave their homes and come here and start a new life.

Football has helped integrate them into life in Scotland.

Seeing their faces when they get their kit and feel like they are part of something is amazing.

A year on, it is so clear what a difference this has made in their lives.

Through the successful Paisley club, the young players have enjoyed fantastic opportunities, travelling around the country to watch the likes of Scotland, Celtic and St Mirren.

The boys train every week and play every matches on a Saturday.

The impact the team has had on the group of Syrian boys has prompted John and his partner, Lorna, 43, who is secretary for the club, to open the door to any child in Renfrewshire who wants to take up the sport.

The successful project now has six coaches on board, along with 21 kids on their 2005 team and 60 kids in the 2014 team.

Johns mission has proved such a success they now have a waiting list.

They offer a place to any child who has not had a chance to play, whether it be due to a disability or that their parents cant afford to pay the fees.

One player who comes along is 14 and has never been given an opportunity to be on a team.

His dad died four years ago and his mum is unable to drive him to coaching.

But, thanks to Johns team, he now has prospects of joining other successful clubs.

Another young boy who has thrived under Johns coaching has a number of physical and learning disabilities.

His mum didnt think he would be able to join any team. John took him on and now his teammates love when he comes to training every week.

John added: We want these kids to be able to enjoy playing and have a lifelong involvement in the sport.

Whether it be through playing or coming along and helping coach the teams.

We also want to improve out facilities so that we have no waiting lists and every child can play when they want to.

Johns own battles in life are what have spurred him on.

He was forced to retire from his job last year due to a heart condition.

He was diagnosed with dilated cardiomyopathy over a decade ago and was told he would eventually never be able to work or exercise again.

But, in the years since, John met Lorna, who also has a heart condition, has taken part in the Great Scottish Swim, the London Triathlon and even cycled to John oGroats to Lands End.

His efforts at St Peters Football and Netball Club have been recognised by the Scottish Football Association and Renfrewshire Council.

He was also handed the regional and national McDonalds Grassroots Football Award for the community project.

He added: I retired just over a year ago as I have a heart condition.

Im lucky that, in retirement, I have found something that gives me so much.

What these boys have done is make me realise how football can change peoples lives.

That has made us want to make sure that anyone who wants to play football, but has been unable to for any reason, is given the opportunity.

More of the latest news from the PAISLEY DAILY EXPRESS

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The Paisley football coach transforming the lives of Syrian kids through sport - Daily Record

MANILA, PhilippinesAs he celebrated another UAAP men's basketball title, Ateneo head coach Tab Baldwin spared a thought for his rival, University of Santo Tomas coach Aldin Ayo.

Baldwin and Ayo have matched wits in three of the past UAAP finals, with Ayo steering La Salle past the Blue Eagles in Season 79. Baldwin got him back in Season 80, as Ateneo dethroned the Green Archers in what turned out to be Ayo's final year at Taft.

Ayo left for UST after 2017, and the Tigers endured a rebuilding year in 2018 while Baldwin led the Blue Eagles to another UAAP title. This year, however, the Growling Tigers surprised everyone by making a run to the Season 82 Finals, where they challenged a dominant Ateneo team that had won all 14 of their games in the elimination round.

The Growling Tigers put up a challenge, particularly in the second game of the series. After being routed, 91-77, in Game 1, UST kept it close in Game 2, even coming to within one point in the fourth quarter. Unfortunately for the Espaa cagers, Ateneo had too many options and too much firepower, pulling away late, and holding on for an 86-79 victory.

"It's very difficult in defeat," Baldwin acknowledged after the game. "I've been there plenty of times in my life."

"The players and coaching staff of UST . . . They don't wanna hear a lot right now. Theyre hurting," he added. "But I want it on the record of saying that the fight that they showed in this finals, I think it really flattered us."

"I think what they gave out there on the court, what they had to give, really flatters us. I appreciate all of them. I respect them also, much they know that, Ive told them that."

UST, more than any other team in the UAAP this year, had given Ateneo fits. The Blue Eagles escaped with a 71-70 victory in their first meeting, before earning a 66-52 triumph in their second round encounter.

A well-rested and well-prepared Ateneo team crushed UST in the first game of the finals, but the Tigers refused to go down easily in Game 2. UST never let Ateneo take complete control of the contest, rallying despite falling behind by 16 points in the first quarter.

They fell short in the end, and the Tigers can gain some comfort in knowing that they lost their games to Ateneo by an average of just nine points per game. The Blue Eagles' average winning margin this season was 16.5 points.

"It wasn't easy," said Baldwin. "It was extremely difficult, and I think I've said enough times Aldin and his team, they come at you hard. I think if you take it lightly, you lose. Simple as that."

"And we didnt take them lightly. We prepared extremely hard," he added. "I'll leave it up to all of you to decide the fairness of the outcome but Aldin and his team fight hard."

"They are a good basketball team. They have a lot of weapons on that team. It was a battle. We thought it would be a battle and were just very pleased to come out as victors in the battle."

Baldwin was effusive in his praise of Ayo, noting that his teams are "really outstanding." He commended their toughness both physically and tactically, and pointed out that the Tigers have one thing that separates them from the rest of the pack when it comes to challenging Ateneo.

"They're probably the one team that tries to impose themselves on us," said Baldwin. "I think most of the other teams were trying to defend themselves from us imposing ourselves on them, particularly our defense."

Ayo's team, instead, "comes out to attack." "He makes no concessions to anything we might have achieved coming into the game," said Baldwin.

"You can tell that the team was not beaten when they came out to play today," he also said.

The final minute of the game typified the kind of fight that Baldwin has come to expect from UST this season. Ateneo was already ahead, 86-76, with 62 seconds to go after a layup by eventual finals MVP Thirdy Ravena.

Yet the Growling Tigers never stopped pressing. They forced consecutive turnovers against the Blue Eagles, and Rhenz Abando drew fouls against Adrian Wong and Thirdy Ravena to earn trips to the line. He made three of four charities for an 86-79 count with 34.2 ticks left, and UST got another stop when Wong was called for a five-second holding violation.

Their rally would fall short; the Blue Eagles' advantage was too big at that point. Yet the Growling Tigers' effort was not lost on their opponents, who praised them as worthy rivals afterward.

"We certainly know what kind of team theyll be next year. Theyre gonna be extremely difficult, extremely strong basketball team. Congratulations to them and I wish them well in the future," said Baldwin.

For more sports coverage, visit the ABS-CBN Sports website.

UAAP 82, UAAP Season 82, UAAP 82 finals, Ateneo de Manila University, Ateneo Blue Eagles, University of Santo Tomas, UST Growling Tigers, Tab Baldwin, Aldin Ayo

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UAAP 82: Coach Tab on Tigers' ferocity 'It really flattered us' - ABS-CBN News

The value of what Chuck Gismondi taught his players at California University as the head baseball coach for 17 years was not limited to the game.

Gismondi taught his Vulcans to have fun, work hard and go the extra mile in helping someone else find happiness and success.

He changed my life, said Don Hartman, who played at California and currently is the head softball coach at Frazier. When I was coming out of high school, I wasnt sure what I wanted to do. He offered me the opportunity to play baseball for him at Cal. That put me in the college environment and gave me a chance to have success.

Gismondi, 77, of Elco, passed away Saturday.

He earned a bachelors degree from Cal in 1964 and a masters degree from West Virginia University in 1968. He returned to Cal in 1969 to teach in the Speech Pathology department.

Gismondi is one of just four men to serve as Californias baseball coach since 1950. He succeeded Mitch Bailey (1960-79) and was followed by current Vulcans coach Mike Conte. Andy Sepsi (1950-59) is the other coach.

Gismondi finished with a 393-295-7 record with 14 winning seasons, six-postseason berths, five Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference final four appearances, three PSAC West Division championships, three PSAC runner-up finishes and an NCAA Division II tournament berth. He produced eight professional players.

One of them, Rick Krivda, who pitched in the major leagues and won an Olympic Gold medal with Team USA in 2000, said Gismondi made a huge impact.

He reminded me of my father, firm but fair, said Krivda. He is why I went to Cal. If you messed up, he would tell you about it. If you did well, hed tell you about that as well and he would help you.

He really emphasized going to class, staying out of trouble and that if you did that good things would happen.

Dion Jansante, who is the dean of Washington County high school baseball coaches at Bentworth, said he was always impressed with Gismondis coaching skills and personality.

I really enjoyed playing for him, said Jansante, who played at Cal in the early-to-mid 1980s. He taught me a lot about baseball.

A lot of what we do at Bentworth comes from him. Anytime I had an opportunity to be on campus, Id make it a point to stop in his office or just talk with him. The most fun I ever had was on our southern trips. He pushed us to work hard but when the games were over, the personal level took over. He would joke around with us. He was great to be around.

Skooter Roebuck, the baseball coach at Brownsville, started his collegiate career at Charleston Southern University in South Carolina. He wanted to move back to play in Western Pennsylvania.

Gismondi was there for him.

Chuck was the only guy I thought of calling, Roebuck said. I told him I wanted to come home and he said hed take care of everything and he did.

He did all the paperwork on the transfer. He did me a big favor. Hes meant a lot to me and a lot of people. As far as guys from our generation, we knew Chuck as a man who lived and breathed Cal baseball. He loved that university.

Gismondis No. 29 jersey was retired by then California president Dr. Angelo Armenti, Jr., in 1996.

In the last several years, former players came together to establish a 29er Club to honor Gismondi. Proceeds from the annual golf outing are distributed to the Vulcans baseball program.

He was the face of Cal U baseball for a long time, Hartman said. Chuck was a great guy.

Read more from the original source:
Gismondi was a game-changer and life-changer at Cal - Observer-Reporter

HAMILTON

When well-meaning people take pizzas or other food to homeless camps, theyre often inadvertently providing financial support for prostitution and sex trafficking, says Felix Russo, pastor and director of the New Life Mission in Hamilton.

The non-profit organization he runs on Henry Street has been helping the poor since 1969, and in recent months has raised its aspirations.

Residents need options, so Russo wants his organization to be a hub of resources that aid the poor, the homeless and the addicted, helping connect them to mental-health therapy, and organizations like Butler County Job and Family Services and veterans agencies that can help them with jobs, health-care coverage, food assistance and life coaching.

In the past year, the issue of homelessness has risen in Hamilton and elsewhere across the county, with officials working to contain homeless camps while informing residents about how to find help. Along the way, police and social-service agencies have been frustrated by people who take things to the homeless camps, saying that only encourages people to keep living in tents near railroad tracks, in woods or in fields.

Russo agrees such help is a bad idea.

As well-meaning as they are, wanting to help people on the street and Ive seen an explosion of groups the last couple of years, going out on the street and just giving things to people, he said. They feel like thats helping people, and its really not.

Number 1, it takes away any initiative. Why should I make a change in my life if people are going to be bringing me everything I need whatever food I want, anything I need, clothes, whatever, directly to me in my homeless camp, that takes away the initiative to want to move out of that life situation.

Russo said he has seen a rise in millennials and senior citizens on the streets, and human trafficking is part of the problem.

And these groups that are just going out and inundating people with stuff and theyre enabling do they really step back and go, You know what? Im enabling traffickers, he said. Some guys using a girl because shes high all the time, and using her to get money, thats trafficking.

Youre enabling him to traffic her out on the street.

Hes familiar with such issues, because his wife, the Rev. Kim Russo, operates Juliettes Hope in Lockland, a two-year program that helps women, mostly from Butler County, break away from addiction and prostitution.

RELATED: Juliettes Hope helping Butler County women recover from vices

Hamilton police and Butler County United Way earlier this year teamed in an effort that encourages people wanting to help the needy do so through United Way agencies.

RELATED: How to help the homeless through local agencies

Most people who know about New Life Mission believe it is only a soup kitchen, and maybe a food pantry. Its a place that people who use it have come to trust.

Russo wants the organization to become a hub for helping the poor, the homeless and the addicted, helping connect them to mental-health therapy, and organizations like Butler County Job and Family Services that can help them with jobs, health-care coverage and food assistance.

The mission, located in a single-story building, has a new strategic plan calling for it to become a hub of resources, for those in need, Russo said.

This is a good location, he said. People are already coming here for lunch. Well get 20 to 50 families come through the food pantry, daily.

Its already becoming a hub, helping connect people with Butler County Job and Family Services, and people who provide mental-health assessments.

Of the 81 people served at the JFS onsite visits in October, 61 were assisted at New Life Mission, the agency told him.

I think that is the right place, for such a place to help people, said county Commissioner Cindy Carpenter. Weve been so successful in putting a JFS staff person in the community meal center, and that person is qualifying individuals for Medicaid and Food Stamps, which are first steps to coming out of chronic homelessness. A big part of it is to get on medication.

He is the boots-on-the-ground person who probably serves this population more than anyone else, because the people he serves are the neediest of the neediest, and with the most complicated mental health and addiction problems.

RELATED: Officials argue for treatment and homeless housing in Butler County

Russo wants to convert part of the missions building to private showers for men and women.

People deserve to be treated with dignity, he said. Something thats needed right now are showers. Just the basic health, it goes with dignity, and it goes to employability.

Hed love to help some people find their way to religion, he said.

But first and foremost is about loving people, he said. Show people love, then as that relationship builds, people will begin trusting you to where you can start going, Hey, these are your options. Theyre here if you want them.

MORE: Commissioners debate funds for crisis center

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How Hamiltons New Life Mission is growing its help for the poor - Hamilton Journal News

WTA Insider: How did you get into tennis?Beltz: I started when I was seven years old. I played a lot of tennis in Germany. I played all the leagues in Germany and Bundesliga and everything.

When I was 16-years-old I already got my first trainer license in Germany. We have to do a license. It's called a C License, B License, and A License. So I knew pretty early that I'd like to coach a bit.

So I started when I was 16 to do my first license, but I was also playing a lot. I had more the goal to be a professional tennis player. I played prize money tournaments, futures, and then I played college tennis, which was really good for me in America.

I went to Anderson College, Clemson University, practiced there a lot. So I played there for two years, which also helps my game a lot. After the two years, I went back because I tried to play futures, ATP events for myself. Then I started to hurt my shoulder a little bit. I stopped playing and I went to coaching.

"It's nice to be able to work with the top athletes together and try to make them better every day."

I had a Bundesliga team which I coached. Pretty funny, my first team, Wahlstedt, all the girls we are talking about now, like Goerges and Barthel, they were all playing. So I was kind of the head coach and all the girls were on the team. It was a good team.

Then I started with Angie [Kerber] when she was 16. They were looking for a coach who could help her with the first steps on the tour, play 25Ks, and the junior Grand Slams. So I started with her when she was 16. That was my start of it.

WTA Insider: What drew you to tennis? Beltz: What attracted me? For sure it was my parents. Both of my parents are playing tennis as well. So I started to hit against the wall at the tennis club. My parents played at the court. I play against the wall. So I guess that's how many players pick it up.

I started to love it. And then I played a lot of junior tournaments and I liked it so much. I played a lot when I was young and I'm still loving it, so it's fun.

WTA Insider: What do you like about it? Beltz: The challenge, the competing, one against one. I really like it.

I just loved the sport because you can just go with friends and just go out and play. Also in Germany, the club scene is pretty big. It's not that big anymore, but when I was young a long time ago, it was still big. We had a lot of club matches, a lot of practice together. It was a good system and I had many friends playing tennis so it was fun.

WTA Insider: Do you have a coaching philosophy?Beltz: When I was sixteen, it was just a thing on the side, because I was still playing. It was just good at the club to teach a little bit some kids, make some small money on the side.

When it got more serious I really liked the challenge. It's nice to be able to work with the top athletes together and try to make them better every day. I think that's really the thing I like to do right now and which really fulfills my life, I would say. Try to make them better every day and to work with young players. I think it's a great job and it's a great challenge for me.

I think the philosophy kind of changes. If you play with the club level players it's more about having some fun. That was also the goal at the time to get more kids into tennis. Let's make it fun and really try to show them how much fun is the sport.

Now with the top, top players, I don't have to sell because they know how nice it is. So it's really about trying to get out of the players the best they can do every day, and especially to get them ready for the big tournaments like Zhuhai and the Masters and really try to get them ready for the big stage to play their best tennis.

"I think it's really important to stay positive. In tennis, every week is a new challenge and a new possibility to play good."

WTA Insider: What's the most important thing you've learned coaching at the top level?Beltz: I think it's really important to stay positive. In tennis, every week is a new challenge and a new possibility to play good. Even if it's sometimes not going your way, it's not about going up.

So I think for me as a coach, we're trying to stay positive and we're trying to see the process to try to get better. I think we're trying to do this. I think this is also what's most important for me as a coach, to try to stay positive and to stay focused, trying to have an intense practice all the time, even if the player is not feeling that great.

WTA Insider: How do you get players to trust the process and not get too attached to being results-orientated?Beltz: It's a combination. The player has to trust the coach, believe in the coach, believe in what I'm saying and doing with her. So I think it's a combination.

I'm trying every day also to give my player the feeling that I am there for her and that I have my thoughts and that I really try to prepare the practice good. I try to educate myself, to evolve positively as a coach, to try to educate myself to get better at coaching. I think if the player sees this, I think also she believes more in my work.

WTA Insider: What does a day in the life of a WTA coach look like? Beltz: It depends on the time, if it's offseason or at a tournament. We have a new platform now where I can watch the matches so I'm trying from the hotel to watch the matches and to see what my player is doing good and bad and really trying to get this right. Also trying to prepare some videos to show my player so she can see what she's doing good or bad. At night, I try to prepare the practice for the next days.

And then in the day we have breakfast together, then we have practice in the morning together, we have lunch together, we have practice in the afternoon and then fitness. The whole day is pretty planned and pretty packed. We're trying to have a good day every day and to be positive.

WTA Insider: Do you have a lot of free time as a coach?Beltz: I have free time. I like to play some golf sometimes.

It's also a good challenge because on tour you have a lot of free time actually. For sure we are coaching on the court and we are preparing, but we also have to handle the free time. But I like to be alone sometimes. I like to play golf if I can. The good thing is we are always at the sunshine so we can play golf a lot.

WTA Insider: What is the vibe like among the WTA coaches?Beltz: I think it's really good. I have no problem with anybody. I have many good friends on the coaching tour. It is really fun. We all see each other every week. So it's good to see each other. I think if we have a good time together, sometimes we go play golf together, we have a drink somewhere. I think we all get along pretty well.

WTA Insider: Do the coaches talk a lot with each other about their own players and experiences?Beltz: I think it's more easy with the coaches to get along better than the players. We talk about tennis for sure because it's all we love, tennis.

But I think I will not tell any secrets and I think all the other coaches will not tell me any secrets. I think we get along pretty good and we have some good guys on tour.

WTA Insider: What's a bad day for you as a coach?Beltz: I think also the coaches are results orientated. For sure it's tougher when the player is losing. I think that sucks. Everybody can agree to that. That is a tougher day, if the player is losing a tough match, maybe three sets or something.

I think for me the toughest is if my player is playing good and she's losing and she's feeling hurt. For me it hurts a little bit also. We as coaches have some tough days.

But it's the same as a player. We don't let it get to us and get too much down. It's trying to stay positive and see the next day and then we can work the next day and in tennis, we have the chance to do it the next week and do it better.

More here:
Coaching Dossier: Torben Beltz is the King of Positivity - 'Every week is a new challenge' - WTA Tennis

A trail runner finds sage advice in a virtual-coaching program from iFit. It changed his view of what a session on a treadmill screen can do.

Its 3 miles to the Beagle Channel. Im running in Patagonia, near the tip of South America, a few steps behind a virtual trainer on a screen.

The machine hums under my feet. A treadmill, the Commercial 2950 model from NordicTrack, speeds up and then tilts, a dynamic simulacrum of the terrain ahead.

I came to this review with some skepticism. As a serious runner, I train mainly outdoors. However, treadmills have played a significant role in my fitness regimen for years. But a virtual coach training me from a screen? It seemed like too much.

My coach was Tommy Rivers Puzey. Hes a real person, an accomplished ultrarunner, and one of more than a dozen trainers available via the iFit program on my treadmills 22-inch screen. Throughout a recent 30-minute workout, Puzey earned my trust.

After testing iFit for weeks, I had several ah-ha moments during one particular session in the virtual forest with Puzey on the outskirts of a remote Patagonian town.

SinceiFits inception in 1999, the company has made it a goal to improve the experience of working out on an exercise machine.

Built-in screens and connectivity changed the paradigm for treadmill companies. iFit hopped into that with its lush visual scenes, onscreen workout classes, and, later, virtual coaches. These coaches focus on fitness during sessions that you can watch once or view as a series, building toward achievable goals.

Its a library of content in constant evolution, with new sessions added every week. Over the years, the iFit project has included a partnership with Google Maps (which is ongoing), the formation of a massive studio space for filming in Utah, and video shoots around the world.

You can now jog through European capitals, run along tropical beaches in Hawaii and Thailand, and even trek up the flank of Mount Kilimanjaro. A multiday program lets iFit users virtually summit the 19,341-foot African peak.

There are thousands of workouts in the library, and the company has produced on-location shoots from all seven continents and more than 40 countries. iFit touts itself as more convenient than a gym, more affordable than a personal trainer.

Pricing starts at $15/month, and iFit works with a range of NordicTrack and other ICONexercise equipment. (If you have multiple devices, a single subscription works across a range of NordicTrack devices, from incline trainers, rowers, cycle machines, and a strength towerupdated this year.)

I ran several sessions over the summer, and then last week I picked Puzeys course in Patagonia. I wanted to relive a region I knew well after an expedition to Tierra del Fuego years ago.

The scenery was sublime, as expected, with misty forests and ocean views. But what surprised me was Puzeys dialogue, which meandered from fitness tips to a historical tutorial on the areas scourge of invasive beavers.

Theyd come from Canada as a failed experiment in habitat relocation. I knew those beavers too well from my time in Patagonia. One day, after more than a week in the wilds in 2010, we encountered a decimated forest stretching for miles. It was the result of seemingly innumerable beaver dams.

Puzey pointed at an effected area like that off the trail. The talk and the scenery on the screen were a positive distraction as I ran. Initially, thats what I envisioned iFit would be: an alternative to staring at a TV or zoning out to a podcast as treadmill minutes and miles ticked away underfoot.

But Puzey proved me wrong and it wasnt just the beavers. From the start of the session, he gave legitimate tips on running technique. He talked about cell physiology and V02 max in an uncomplicated way. The conversation throughout the 31-minute run, which is titled Gable Island, Argentina in the iFit library, was stacked with invaluable information if you listened close.

For example, at one point near the beginning of the session, Puzey talks about upper body considerations and form. He notes a runner should avoid twisting the body or swinging the arms too much from side to side. Instead, runners should direct all motion (arms included) linearly ahead in the direction of their run.

This sounds basic. But it took a long time for me to ever hear that advice as a beginner runner years ago. I changed my arm movement and focused on posture and gait. It was a significant step toward increasing my efficiency and speed, and I wish Id known this sooner.

Another example from iFit: Right at the start of the Gable Island run, Puzey talks about the importance of warming up before a hard run. I was feeling impatient at the time and almost sped the treadmill pace ahead of the programs prescribed speed.

Instead, I listened to Puzey, who explained the why behind taking a few minutes to warm up. It was a weird moment of mind-reading, as he seemed to rebuke my questioning as soon as it came to my head.

Warming up, he said, is useful because once youre literally warmer and beginning to sweat, thats a good indicator that on a cellular level your body is more ready for the rigors of exercise ahead. As a sprint-from-the-gate kind of guy, the information on why warming up matters now sticks as usable advice.

Hills and twisting trail were a part of the virtual run. The iFit program worked seamlessly with the NordicTrack treadmill, speeding up, slowing, tilting on ascents, then declining as the ersatz path went downhill.

Id moved a NordicTrack 2950 into my basement a few months ago for a test. Its a solid machine and has found a place in my weekly regimen. Indeed, in 20 minutes flat, I can pace out 3 miles on a sprint day. Workouts via iFit range from beach jogs to mountain runs, where the NordicTrack inclines up to 15 percent, mapping the virtual hills.

To be sure, I run outside for many of my miles. I compete in trail races and do an ultra or marathon most years. But the treadmill is a part of my training regimen. In winter, I love to run on snow some days. Other times, the convenience of an indoor option is alluring when roads get icy around my neighborhood.

Based in Logan, Utah, ICON Health & Fitness Inc. is the worlds largest manufacturer and marketer of fitness equipment. It owns a suite of brands, including iFit and NordicTrack. Dubbed a commercial treadmill, the NordicTrack 2950 is a high-end machine with a price tag to match.

A metal-frame incline feature, reliable build and motor, a fold-up design, integrated fans, and a large, vibrant touchscreen that comes ready to run iFit justify its $2,999 price tag. A one-year iFit subscription is included.

Back in Patagonia, a camera followed tight behind Puzey the whole time, giving the trick of having a running partner just a couple steps ahead.

At the start, my screen revealed the 31:30 workout would include one-minute VO2max intervals where youll run at an intensity level of 9. I would burn 356 calories. The workout would tackle 2.77 miles and gain almost 300 feet.

Closer to the Beagle Channel, Puzey explained workout thresholds and intensity zones. He mentioned cellular mitochondria and their integral role in increasing holistic fitness as you train. You get a breakdown on V02 max.

In a half-hour with iFit, I heard training advice and information that took years for me to learn in the real world through casual training. Id paid coaches for blood-lactate tests and heart-rate regimens. People assessed my gait and form.

Though a session on a screen isnt a stand-in for personal coaching in life, I was impressed by the quick depth Puzey presented on a sprint through the Patagonia forest.

The company noted it had an original goal, starting in 1999, of wanting to improve education and expertise through trainer-created workouts. IFit developed programs to hook runners with progressive sets of workouts to build engagement through motivation to finish circuits and reach goals over days or weeks.

As the company puts it, The iFit expertise is automatically integrated in the workout; all the consumer has to do is follow along. iFit likes the term connected fitness to describe its technology. There are many other treadmills with touchscreens and graphics or streamed workouts. But iFit has interactive facets like auto-adjusting speed, incline, and decline.

In the end, I became an iFit adherent, but I didnt love every program. Certainly, you need to find the coach and class type built for your interest and fitness level. But as a whole, its a program that can benefit beginners and serious runners alike.

Check out the virtual world of iFit if youre training indoors this winter. The round-the-world iFit scenery can be amazing to virtually explore. Coaches like Puzey provide motivation and direction that can be invaluable in obtaining a fitness goal.

See details on the NordicTrack 2950 treadmill here.

Go here to see the original:
Treadmill Training: Why I Became a 'Virtual Coach' Convert - GearJunkie

Lane Kiffin likes life in Boca Raton, Florida.

That much is true after the third-year head coach of Florida Atlantic responded to a tweet from an Arkansas fan on Twitter pleading for Razorbacks athletic director Hunter Yurachek to hire Kiffin as head coach.

Kiffin, who coached in SEC most recently as the offensive coordinator at Alabama from 2014-16, thanked the fan for the love but assumed the person had "never been to" Boca Raton.

Fayetteville, Arkansas, is certainly not South Florida.

It is, however, an SEC job which Kiffin is open to.

Kiffin, who was the head coach at Tennessee in 2009 before bolting for USC from 2010-13, said Oct. 22 on SEC Network's "The Paul Finebaum Show" that he would not rule out a return to the SEC.

His current situation, though, makes him selective.

"I'm really happy here, Paul, and all coaches say that, but you know I'm not one to just give coach speak," Kiffin said. "As you get older, I think you value different things. And so when you're younger, a lot of times you're chasing money and titles how big is the job? and all those things.

"So I'm very happy here. I think we've gotten something pretty neat going on here with ... 24 wins or something like that in three seasons and they had (three) three-win seasons before (from 2014-16).

"So a lot of really good young players, so I'm very happy here and it's a great place to live. As you get older, you kind of appreciate where you live, too."

After an 0-2 start, the Owls are 7-3 overall and 5-1 in C-USA play, winning six of their past seven games as they are tied for the conference's East Division with Marshall (7-3, 5-1), the only loss over the recent stretch.

Kiffin followed 2017's breakout campaign at 11-3 with 2018's step back, going 5-7, but has since rebounded.

Off 2017's success, Kiffin's contract extension came June 21, 2018, with a 10-year renegotiation that runs through 2027. In addition to Kiffin's base salary of $950,000 annually, he has a $2 million buyout, which drops to $1.5 millions after the 2019 season and $1 million following the 2020 campaign.

Arkansas fired second-year head coach Chad Morris last Sunday after he went 4-18 overall and 0-14 in SEC play, capped by Nov. 9's 45-19 home loss to Western Kentucky, and still owes him his buyout of more than $10 million.

Yurachek, however, said last Monday that the Razorbacks were "fully committed to getting the best person" and "desperately want our football program to be great again."

"No one could rule that out," Kiffin said. "But ... as you go through things and places, you've got to (have) the right leadership and people who are dedicated to do the things to win national championships. ... I'm not going to take some job just (because) you make some more money or in a bigger conference. It's got to be someone with people that want to win national championships."

Kiffin went 7-6 overall and 4-4 in SEC play as Tennessee's head coach, before he bolted for his four-year stint at the helm for USC. With the Trojans, Kiffin went 28-15 overall and 17-12 in Pac-12 play.

Alabama scooped him up for three seasons as the Tide went 40-4 with a trip to the College Football Playoff in each year, but longtime head coach Nick Saban cut ties with Kiffin after the 2016 campaign.

Saban chose to go in a different direction with Alabama's offense after the Tide, who won the 2015 CFB Playoff national championship, fell in the 2016 final.

See more here:
Kiffin responds after fan tweets Arkansas AD to hire FAU coach - 247Sports

Coaching can be a rewarding career path. You help people achieve their goals while making it fun, interesting, challenging, and engaging. Writing workouts to accomplish this goal isnt easy considering that the spectrum of swimming experience can range from newbie to Olympian. The different goals and interests of Masters swimmers can also affect what youre trying to accomplish. You probably have competitive swimmers, fitness swimmers, triathletes, and social swimmers in your program. Its difficult to make everyone happy at every single practice, but its possible.

Here are a few healthy habits to help you take care of yourself and make the crazy life of a Masters swim coach an awesome one.

Swimmers can tell when youre lying. If you missed their swim or didnt watch their stroke technique, just tell them so. If you see that theyre doing something very wrong, and they ask for feedback, politely tell them the truth. In addition, admit when you dont know the answer to a question or if you were wrong about something youve said before. Let them know, then follow up with them when youve found an answer.

Swim coaches can be consumed by the sport. Its sometimes difficult to disengage for a while and, if all your friends are customers or co-workers, it can be difficult to find the support you need when things get tough. And they will get tough as every career has its ups and downs. Having friends outside of swimming can give your mind and soul a break from the amount of time and energy required of swim coaches. All things in moderation; its possible to have too much swimming in your life.

In a previous article, I wrote about the benefits of taking a golf lesson or a lesson in any other sport. This places you in the frame of mind of someone new to the sport. It helps take your mind off swimming for a little while and gives you something else to look forward to. Its also a great way to make friends outside of swimming.

In the world of social media and publishing everything, it might seem OK to take someones picture and share it on your clubs Facebook page or Twitter feed. But some people might not want their photos taken, and you need to respect the privacy of your swimmers. Always tell your swimmers where the photos youre taking will end up before you take them. If you have an active social media presence or post pictures on your club website, you may wish to consult with an attorney, who might recommend that swimmers sign media waivers when they join your program.

There are multiple learning stylessome people absorb information visually, some take it in through conversation, and kinesthetic learners have to feel it. You might ask swimmers to join you on the pool deck to go through the motions of proper technique with them, and you might need to manipulate their arms or shoulders for them to get a feel for the proper technique. Before doing so, always ask for permission to touch their arm, hand, shoulder, etc. When you ask, you open up the lines of communication about anything you might need to be aware of, such as an old injury or where they might have had surgery.

Get to know the ins and outs of our sport. Its important to know what is and isnt permissible in competition so you know how to use your swimmers strengths to their advantage and to dispel any misunderstandings. For example, how many of you know that you can go past the 15-meter mark in breaststroke races?

Learn whats going on in your area. Your Local Masters Swimming Committee meeting is made up of volunteers who aim to provide U.S. Masters Swimming services and resources to its members, clubs, and coaches. Meetings are a great way to find out about what kind of support, such as scholarships or grants, may be available to you. Its also a great place to advertise your meets and events, get help with questions or problems, and network with other coaches.

Youre an important part of your swimmers lives and that comes with significant responsibility. Consider attending some self-improvement seminars. Learning how to improve yourself will not only help you become a better coach but will also give you valuable communication tools youll need to interact with different people. Remember, youre coaching a person, not a product.

Get to know your swimmers partners and kids names. Follow up with them after the surgery, vacation, or work trip where they visited another club. Take attendance and check in on the people who have missed some practices. Chances are youll be working with the same people for several years, and the quality of your relationships with your swimmers determines the quality of your work environment.

Being a Masters swim coach requires a lot more than just knowing how to write a workout. It requires great social skills and awareness, administrative and technical skills, leadership, and emotional investment. Set yourself up for success by setting healthy boundaries and practice habits that guarantee a long and happy career.

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Healthy Habits for Long-Term Success as a Masters Swimming Coach - U.S. Masters Swimming