Coaching | Mediterra Swim & Run

Perceived Danger Zone

by Coach Mat | 8 Aug, 2015

This is a diagram I made to supplement my thoughts in the previous essay on Overcoming Swimming Fears. I just want to outline the subject in this post, while I can see the opportunity to expand a lot on each section of this diagram. Zone A – Personal Comfort...

Overcoming Swimming Fears

by Coach Mat | 1 Aug, 2015

You may have heard it said something like this: there is no courage except in the presence of fear. Fear is what makes courage meaningful. *** The day before the Bosphorus Cross-Continental Race, while sitting at lunch on the boat during our pre-race training and...

Drink Up!

by Coach Mat | 11 Jul, 2015

As the heat of summer gradually builds into an oven-like experience here on the Mediterranean Coast of Turkey I am reminded annually to renew and improve my habit of hydration. That habit has gotten better for me but I still notice weaknesses in it. And I am betting...

Judging Stroke Advice – Part 2

by Coach Mat | 3 Jul, 2015

Continued from Part 1… #3 – Personal Physical Conditions Within the context of Universal Human Physiology we would see how much an individual is tapping into his/her potential there. This refers to the current physical condition the swimmer is in his...

Judging Stroke Advice – Part 1

by Coach Mat | 27 Jun, 2015

Recently at a camp a swimmer asked about the differences between Total Immersion Swimming and this or that other program, noting, “they seem about the same to me!” Of course, I wouldn’t totally agree with that statement, that TI and Program X or...

Deep Practice Encouragement – Part 3

by Coach Mat | 6 Jun, 2015

The practice advice continues from Deep Practice Encouragement – Part 2… *** You Can’t Do It All At Once You can’t perfect everything at once, or in one season. Yet, by race day, you’ve got to have some chosen skill improvements...