John Atkinson's Observations Trials 2016
Breakthrough events are waiting for swimmers to step into them, if coaches can direct swimmers toward them, i.e. 200's and 400's.
Mens swimming takes longer to develop, however the green shoots are showing and we need to continue to look to have continuous improvement from our male swimmers.
Depth is building in some events, however we also need to move the standard forward and see swimmers move forwards, i.e. the women's 100 and 200 FS for example.
The winning time in the womens 100 FS 55.31 in 2013 would have finished 8th in 2016..
The winning time in the mens 100 FS 50.36 in 2013 would have finished 10th in 2016..
Some of the heat racing on the whole was solid, this is the type of approach we need to maintain as swimmers have to swim fast in the morning progress beyond heats at the Olympic Games and also in any international championships and games, both senior and junior..
Backing up from finals in the evening to heats the next day, are swimmers doing what they need to do after their race in finals to recover for the next morning i.e. Swim Down, Nutrition, Massage and Sleep.
Performance when it counts and under pressure, you cannot do the opposite year round and expect to flick a switch at the trials and do it right and repeat from day to day. Swimmers need to look to swim fast heats in competitions or in morning swims at meets throughout the year. You cannot have swimmers do slow heats and them fast finals and think it was a good performance outcome, it needs to be done in the heat and back up in the final.
The bar has been raised and the Olympic Qualification 'A' standard was used to select swimmers. We will continue to keep the bar raised and coaches need to have athletes tapered and peaked when it counts, i.e. the trials and summer.
All swimmers start their competitive careers in club programs, ask how you as a coach can become more productive through the club programs at the national level in the development of our Junior team athletes who can transition to the senior team?
Finally for all coaches focus on things that can have an impact on your athletes performance, ask yourself if the issue you see is really an issue? Focus on things that count i.e. Your swimmers performance and preparation...
Keep up the great work to the summer and strive for improvement !
John Atkinson
HPD Swimming Canada