Mindful Swimming + Expert Panel on Grassroots to LA28 #20 of Heavy Or Not
Heavy Or Not - The O.G. Swim Guide
Release Date: 04/07/2025
School Sports Saved -- past position paper turned the tide of massive cuts
Heavy Or Not - The O.G. Swim Guide
In episode #79 of Heavy Or Not, The OG Swim Guide, we break down a prior war with the Pittsburgh school‑district’s Superintendent of Schools. She had a proposal to slash $600 K in sports programs and the comprehensive counter‑proposal helped keep those programs alive. It wasn’t a victory, but it wasn’t a defeat. Coach Mark walks through the financial, strategic, and community arguments that turned a budget cut into a reform opportunity. The district’s cut list (high‑school swimming, tennis, golf; middle‑school volleyball, wrestling; all intramurals) and the $600 K savings...
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Level 1 Swim Secrets from Suriname and Coach Yash
Heavy Or Not - The O.G. Swim Guide
Coach Yash Daryanani shares his Goldwater Sports coaching system, from philosophy to day‑to‑day session management. Learn the core principles that helped him build national teams and clinics. What you’ll learn in this episode, #78 of Heavy Or Not, The OG Swim Guide: Coaching philosophy: discipline, patience, and individual attention as the foundation for swimmer development. Essential safety & pool‑management practices (pre‑session checks, shadowing, emergency preparedness). Setting clear parent‑coach boundaries and communication rules. Teaching fundamentals for...
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Steps along the pathway for a coach's wellness journey
Heavy Or Not - The O.G. Swim Guide
Barry Healey cares about the coaching profession and aims to improve sports In this candid conversation, episode #77 of Heavy Or Not, The OG Swim Guide, coaches Barry Healey and Mark Rauterkus discuss the real‑world challenges of running a swim program. Wellness matters to those on the pool decks. Burnout to compliance…. They sharing practical tricks that actually work. Learn how small changes can protect coaches, calm parents, and boost program growth. What you’ll discover: The hidden costs of coach burnout and why many lack a support system. Proven strategies for managing young...
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Challenge Accepted: Filling the Big Data Void in Aquatics
Heavy Or Not - The O.G. Swim Guide
Nicole's heavy lift. A vision for data collection for swimming instruction. Nicole Fairfield explains why the aquatic education field lacks solid research data and how her Joyful Waters curriculum craved that data. She aims to fill the research gap and is planting seeds for scientific validation for all types of aquatic developmental benchmarks. She also outlines the vision for a secure, comprehensive database to track developmental and adaptive outcomes. In this episode, #76, of Heavy Or Not, The OG Swim Guide, you’ll hear from the ambitious instructor in Georgia and learn: Why current...
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This Polo Coach Cracked the Code to Athlete Growth (No Pool Needed)
Heavy Or Not - The O.G. Swim Guide
The 30-Day System That’s Transforming Young Athletes – Here’s How “Everyone says hard work is the key… but what if that’s not enough? In this episode, we unpack a 30-day system that’s turning water polo players into unstoppable athletes — and it might just change how you train forever.” In this episode of Heavy Or Not, we dive deep into Coach Ron Usher’s 30-day growth system built for young water polo players but powerful for any athlete striving to improve. From mindset to skill development to daily habits, this episode unpacks the core principles behind real...
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400 IM - How Phelps and Marchand set records and insights from India's Coach Partha. Negative SPLIT
Heavy Or Not - The O.G. Swim Guide
Unlock the secrets behind mastering the 400 IM with elite coach from India, Partha Pratim Majumdar. Learn the strategic, aerobic, and mental tools that power world‑record swims like Phelps and Marchand. In this video you’ll discover: Why the 400 IM is a strategic race, not just brute strength nor conditioning, and how the “lactate penalty” impacts performance. How to build a massive aerobic engine by focusing on long‑axis strokes (freestyle & backstroke). The “200‑meter rule” and why mastering each 200 -meter stroke guarantees a smoother 400 IM. Training methods...
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Rich Coach or Poor Coach -- Get a Learn To Swim Lesson Program and UCANSwim.org can help
Heavy Or Not - The O.G. Swim Guide
“From Drowning Stats to Million‑Dollar Swim Schools: How Coaches Turn Pools into Profit (and Safety)‑First Empires” Swim Coaches Can Earn Six Figures by Adding Structured Lesson Sessions The Australian Success Secret: Integrated Lesson Programs Drive Performance and Profit In this episode, Steve Friederang breaks down why every swim coach should run a lesson program—and how it can become a serious revenue stream while boosting safety and recruitment. He shares real‑world numbers, proven strategies, and the pitfalls to watch out for. Why lesson programs are essential for...
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Negotiated Surrender - Vote‑of‑No‑Confidence for the Head Coach Highlights Team's end-of-season Banquet
Heavy Or Not - The O.G. Swim Guide
Safety Dilemma and League Issues. Have mercy on the Foxes as they are sly! In episode #72 of Heavy or Not we break down the bizarre “vote‑of‑no‑confidence” resignation tactic of a Fox Chapel Area high‑school coach and its athletic department. Sure, there is a deeper safety and fairness crisis driving it. Plus, I’m certain some wire pullers are lurking like sly foxes do. We also explore the district’s league‑restructuring proposal and why athletic reform matters now more than ever. What you’ll learn: How a coach’s “negotiated surrender” forces parents to vote on his...
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How Insurance Gaps and Governance Failures Threaten Swim Coaches' Careers
Heavy Or Not - The O.G. Swim Guide
How Insurance Gaps and Governance Failures Threaten Swim Coaches' Careers Uninsured. Unheard. Undervalued. Real challenges facing swim coaches are pondered. Why they’re left out of the decision‑making table, the insurance maze, and what’s needed to keep the sport of swimming (and others) thriving. Coach Barry Healey, BC, Canada, and Mark Rauterkus, International Swim Coaches Association in the USA, break down the roadblocks and propose concrete steps. Why coaches aren’t at the table with health and policy makers. The tangled insurance landscape (LEI, Lloyd’s, Marker, SwimBC,...
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Swimming's Geo Political $.02 - Tiny snip of a conversation with Jonty, Dennis and Mark
Heavy Or Not - The O.G. Swim Guide
Take a peek at Coach Jonty’s holistic approach to athlete development and the geopolitical factors shaping swimming. This clip highlights a few insights from Jonty Skinner’s recent WAFSU seminar. In this video you’ll learn: How Coach Jonty connects with kids and leverages holistic development. The genetic and regional patterns that produce world‑class runners and swimmers. South Africa’s historical impact on elite athletics and its modern swimming scene. Emerging swimming talent from Tunisia and broader African nations. Where to watch the full two‑hour seminar on...
info_outlineIn this episode of the "Heavy or Not" podcast, we dive into Mindful Swimming with Brian Holliday. Plus, we pick up again on part two of an earth shattering expert panel that gathered after the Paris Olympics to talk about USA Swimming.
As is always the case, both the mental and physical aspects of the sport come into focus. Join us as we explore insightful discussions from top coaches and experts.
- Discover the concept of mindful swimming with Brian Holliday and how it can enhance your swimming experience.
- Learn about the importance of goal setting for young athletes and how it varies with age.
- Understand the impact of motivational time standards and their role in competitive swimming.
- Explore the significance of aerobic development in young swimmers and its long-term benefits.
- Hear from top coaches about the challenges and strategies in training elite swimmers for international competitions.
Tune in to gain valuable insights and improve your swimming journey!
1. **Introduction to the Podcast Episode**
- Jump cut number 20 of the podcast "Heavy or Not"
- Continuation of a clinic discussion from a prior episode
- Mention of the availability of the entire episode and transcripts online
2. **Mindful Swimming by Brian Holliday**
- Benefits of swimming for physical health
- Mental health challenges associated with swimming
- Inner monologue and self-criticism during swimming
- Comparison with other swimmers and personal best obsession
- Solution: Mindful swimming and being present in the moment
- Three key aspects for mindful swimming: balance, whole-body swimming, and controlled breathing
3. **Mental Skills for Young Athletes**
- Mention of a resource by John Hoag, a PhD sports psychologist and swim coach
- Availability in the ISCA Learning Management System
- Encouragement to explore and learn from the resource
4. **Panel Discussion with Coach Brent Arckey**
- Goal setting process for young athletes
- Ownership of goals by athletes
- Discussion on motivational time standards and their impact
- Importance of speed and endurance in swimming
- Strategies for improving performance in races
5. **Discussion on Swimming Standards and Training**
- Historical perspective on time standards and their impact
- Importance of aerobic development in young swimmers
- Challenges in developing middle-distance swimmers
- Role of endurance training in overall performance
6. **Coaching Strategies and Philosophies**
- Importance of being real and providing constructive feedback to athletes
- Role of club coaches in developing endurance and capacity
- Discussion on age group competitions and event offerings
- Debate on the teachability of speed versus endurance
7. **International Swimming Success and Cooperation**
- Success of international swimmers trained by American coaches
- Importance of cooperation among coaches for athlete success
- Challenges faced by Team USA in terms of coach collaboration
8. **Conclusion and Call for Audience Feedback**
- Invitation for audience feedback on the frequency of podcast episodes
- Encouragement for audience interaction and contribution to future episodes.
