Deep Sleep Strategies: Boosting Athletic and Academic Success
Heavy Or Not - The O.G. Swim Guide
Release Date: 05/02/2025
Athletic Matrix Formulation - From General Prep to Taper
Heavy Or Not - The O.G. Swim Guide
Heavy Or Not, The OG Swim Guide, episode #86, goes to the realm of a TRACK coach. Much of the planning is similar to swimming and other sports. Unlock the secret behind elite performance: a step‑by‑step guide to building a winning training matrix. Learn how to turn a chaotic schedule into a precise, adaptable roadmap for any athlete. The three‑tier hierarchy: training plan, program, and matrix explained Coach Jose’s 8‑week sprint matrix: phases, intensity, volume, and recovery How to progress workouts safely while boosting performance When and how to adjust the matrix for...
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AI Coaching Wizard: Grant Application for Transforming Youth Swimming into a Community‑Driven Learning Lab
Heavy Or Not - The O.G. Swim Guide
See the proposal on the web at Reimagining Pool Coaching: AI Connects, Learns, and Empowers Young Athletes Welcome to episode 85 of Heavy Or Not, The OG Swim Guide, where we reveal a grant proposal to the to build an AI‑powered Coaching Wizard for youth swimming programs. We’ll explain the vision, the tech, the partnership model, the budget, and the roadmap to launch. The core concept: AI as a connector, not a director, to spark reflection and conversation. How the Coaching Wizard works: personalized prompts, voice/text reflections, and 3‑D avatar...
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College Football Is Broken — This Radical Fix Might Save It
Heavy Or Not - The O.G. Swim Guide
With chaotic realignments, rigged outcomes, and rising costs — this proposal might present the best hope to save the sport we love. This episode breaks down a bold proposal to reset everything — from the playoff system to who even gets to compete. The NCAA system is broken — and Heavy Or Not, episode #83, lays out the urgent blueprint to fix it. From rigged playoff paths to disappearing rivalries, NCAA Division I football has become less about performance and more about power. In this summary of the reform proposal, we explore a bold new structure: 80 top teams, regional pods,...
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Relegation Revealed: How Promotion Can Revitalize American Sports and College Football
Heavy Or Not - The O.G. Swim Guide
Relegation & Promotion as part of Sports Reform, especially for NCAA Football D1 Pods In Episode 82 of Heavy or Not, Mark Rauterkus and Barry Healey break down how relegation and promotion work in European soccer and why these concepts could transform American sports. They dive into the mechanics, incentives, and how a U.S. version might look. How parachute payments soften the financial blow for relegated clubs The playoff system that lets teams 3‑6 fight for promotion Real‑world examples: Wolves beating Man U, Canadian owners climbing from the bottom Why a tiered...
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Steps for Fixing NCAA DI Football: Structure Changes Begin by Blowing Up the Conferences. Return to Regional Rivals
Heavy Or Not - The O.G. Swim Guide
College football needs a structural reset, and Mark Rauterkus lays out a clear, geography‑first plan for a top‑flight “pod” system. In this episode we break down the proposed 80‑team tier, regional pods, and how promotion and relegation would work. The 80‑team “top tier” built on performance, not brand prestige. Eight regional pods (Gridiron, Trench, Tackle, Pressure, Block, Blitz, Huddle, Grandstand) and their member schools. Promotion/relegation: yearly movement of five teams between the top tier and sub‑tiers. Preserving traditional rivalries and reducing travel through...
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Cal Baptist Cuts Men’s Swim & Dive Team: A Costly Consequence of Division I Ambitions
Heavy Or Not - The O.G. Swim Guide
From NAIA Champions to Elimination: The Rise and Fall of CBU Men’s Swimming Coach Steve Friederang Speaks Out on Lost Opportunities for Male Swimmers at CBU The Cal Baptist men’s swim team has been cut, sparking debate over Division I moves, Title IX, and the future of smaller collegiate sports. Hear coach Steve break down what went wrong and why it matters. In this episode you’ll learn: The history of Cal Baptist’s swim program from NAIA champs to Division I. How facility decisions and budgeting errors contributed to the cut. The impact of Title IX and NCAA...
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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...
info_outlineAchieving Optimal Rest: Deep Sleep Techniques for Busy Athletes and Students
Secrets to Deep Sleep for Peak Performance!
Delve into the essential role of deep sleep for athletes, students, and coaches, offering practical techniques to enhance rest and recovery.
Discover the science and art of mindfulness to trigger the parasympathetic response for optimal relaxation.
Learn focused breathing exercises to calm stress and mental chatter.
Explore the use of imagery and language to reinforce relaxation and mental stillness.
Understand the Muscle Relaxation 1-10 technique to connect mind and body for deeper rest.
Gain insights into structuring a deep sleep session that fits into even the busiest schedules.
Prioritize deep sleep as your ultimate competitive advantage for sports, studies, and overall well-being.
We hope you're doing well and getting quality pillow time. Sleep is truly transformative! Respect it. This episode, #27, builds from the prior ones on mental health and goes to a universal topic that's often overlooked but absolutely essential—deep sleep.
Whether you're a competitive athlete, a dedicated student, or a coach guiding others, this episode is packed with insights to help you optimize your rest and recovery.
Let’s learn about Deep Sleep with an OG, Doctor John Heil:
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Importance of Deep Sleep: Discover why deep sleep isn't just a luxury but a fundamental human need, especially for those pushing their physical and mental limits.
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Mindfulness Meets Science: Learn how the art of mindfulness and scientific techniques can trigger the parasympathetic response, helping you achieve that much-needed rest.
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Breathing Techniques: Find out how specific breathing exercises can calm stress and mental chatter, setting the stage for a restful night.
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Imagery and Language: Explore how focused imagery and language can shift your mental state, helping you let go of stress and enhance relaxation.
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Muscle Relaxation Techniques: Get introduced to the Muscle Relaxation 1-10 method, a guided practice to relax your body and calm your nervous system.
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Fun Fact: Deep Sleep aids in muscle repair but also enhances your imagination and problem-solving skills. It's like a secret weapon for both your body and mind!
As you listen, think about how prioritizing deep sleep could become your ultimate competitive advantage — not just in sports or studies, but in life.
If you are ready to transform your sleep routine, tune in and incorporating these techniques into your daily life. Plus, check out Dr. John Heil's resources:
There are plenty of additional tools and tips at those websites.
Sweet dreams!
In other news:
Plus, we are seeking photos of you and your mascot!
Water Polo!
The course is extensive and a treasure for those looking to expand their community aquatics programs with water polo.