Season 3, Episode 6: Social Media & Sports — with Dr. Valerie Gruest

One spelling note first: the transcript reads "Valerie Gruest" consistently throughout, except one self-introduction moment where it's transcribed "Gruost" — almost certainly an ASR mishearing. I've used Gruest everywhere; worth a quick double-check against her own bio before this goes out.

Dr. Gruest — a Northwestern alum, 2016 Olympic swimmer for Guatemala, and now an assistant professor of strategic communication at New Mexico State — joins Glenn and Wayne to talk about what social media is actually doing to young (and not-so-young) athletes.

In this episode:

• The research: heavier social media use tracks with more anxiety, depression symptoms, and loneliness — and today's kids process something like 54x the daily information their grandparents did
• Body image predates the feed — swimming's "smaller, leaner" culture starts at age 4 or 5; social media just adds a second, harder-to-escape layer of comparison
• The number that stops the room: ~54% of elite aquatic athletes report an eating disorder or body-image issue
• A practical framework for parents and coaches to walk an athlete through a harmful post, instead of just telling them to get off their phone
• Wayne's coaching angle: "you can't out-influence the influencers" — the coach-athlete relationship is the one thing content can't replace (same argument he makes about AI in coaching)
• Not just kids — Glenn brings up the "Enhanced Games" and supplement marketing aimed at older ex-athletes
• Why blanket phone bans don't work — and what to do instead on deck

Season 3, Episode 5: Creating a Successful Club (Part 1)

Wayne Goldsmith and Glenn Mills lay out what actually goes into building a swim program that lasts — not the technique, the decisions underneath it.

In this episode:

• Identity first — why "who are you, and what do you stand for" has to come before drills, technology, or dryland
• The warm-up as an X-ray — how Wayne reads a club's culture in five minutes on deck
• Building a staff that completes you, not one that just agrees with you
• Facilities and equipment — why a better pool doesn't make a better coach (and a bucket of concrete can be a kettlebell)
• Money, committees, and the three people every coach needs on speed dial
• The "crow's nest" approach to long-term planning, and the one thing every 8-year-old actually needs
• Building a local network — physical therapists, nutritionists, and sport psychologists who'll work for exposure to your team

Glenn Mills and Wayne discuss the impact of the new 50-meter sprint events on swimming, particularly at the Olympics. Wayne shares insights from a meeting with Bill Sweetenham, emphasizing the positive opportunities for coaches to engage more athletes. They highlight the increased competitiveness and the need for better skills, timing, and technique. The conversation also touches on the broader implications of sport changes, citing examples from triathlon, cricket, and lacrosse. They stress the importance of adapting to attract more participants and improve the sport's accessibility, particularly for young athletes and their families.

EPISODE 8 - Living a Coach's Life - Coach - Coach Thyself! Coaching is a wonderful profession - coaches change lives.

Coaches inspire the hearts, minds and spirits of the people they coach.

Coaches create opportunities for people to realize their potential.

Coaches provide the environment for people to see their dreams become a reality.

But it is also a challenging and demanding profession….

• Early mornings
• First to arrive/last to leave
• Weekend meets
• Not highly paid for the most part,
• Demanding parents
• Dealing with Swim Club Boards / Committees
• Etc

Increasingly, we know that coaches can struggle with stress, fatigue, burnout, health issues, and other difficulties. Coaches often spend so much time helping others that they neglect their physical, mental, and emotional well-being.

In Episode 8 of The Third 50, Glenn and Wayne talk about coaches and coaching. We look at ways coaches can stay healthy - and adopt a holistic approach to their own physical and mental well-being.

TEN Takeaways!!! TEN WAYS COACHES CAN TAKE BETTER CARE OF THEMSELVES:

1. WALK OFF - TURN OFF - turn off your phone, have days off - take time for yourself
2. Water bottle and snacks - During workouts, have a water bottle for yourself and a snack to keep up your energy levels.
3. Have a NO COACH TIME - for example, catch up on phone calls on the way home but once you get to your front door - it’s YOU TIME.
4. Take a break every season!
5. Get to workouts early and spend 5 minutes relaxing - breathing
6. TEAM COACH - sometimes step back a little and allow the other coaches in the team to take charge and lead the program
7. SLEEP!!! Try to get to bed a little earlier. When you go to bed - don’t sit there with your TABLET writing workouts or reviewing videos - go to sleep.
8. Have a NON-SWIMMING PASSION - something you can do that takes your mind and body completely away from thinking about workouts, sets and drills
9. Where possible - when the team stretches - stretch! Flexibility and mobility help you to stay loose and relaxed and it's a great time to get to know the team a little better.
10. Stressed? Remove the cause

Why The Third 50?

Because it's the third 50 of a 200 that matters. (We could have called this The Third 100 because it's the same principle!)

• The 1st 50 is fast because you're fresh and fired up, ready to race.
• The 2nd 50 flows because you're trying to relax and keep it smooth.
• The 4th 50 is about fighting and staying strong to the finish.

But the 3rd 50 is where the magic happens. It's where the integration of your mind and body, your skills and technique, your stroke mechanics and your hard training all come together.

The 3rd 50 is the "championship" lap, where the great swimmers take control of themselves and the race and power away to victory.

We want to share our almost 80 years of experience with coaches, swimming teachers, swimmers, triathletes, and people who love being in and around the water worldwide.

Who Are Wayne and Glenn?

Wayne Goldsmith is an Australian coach, mentor, writer, speaker, and presenter. He's worked in swimming for more than 30 years and is an internationally respected sports performance professional. He's been recognized for his contribution to the sport of swimming with the Outstanding Contribution to Swimming in Australia Award and been recently received the Al Schoenfield award from the International Swimming Hall of Fame.

Visit Wayne's Website - https://wgcoaching.com/

Glenn Mills is an American coach, writer, and video producer. He's been involved in swimming for over 55 years. He's competed at every level of the sport, from winning the US Olympic Trials and NCAA Championships and even setting a few Masters World Records. For over 25 years, he's produced swimming technique content as the Co-Founder of GoSwim.tv, the Official Technique Partner with USA Swimming. He has also won the Paragon Award from the International Swimming Hall of Fame for his contribution to competitive swimming.

Visit Glenn's Website - https://www.goswim.tv/

Wayne and Glenn discuss what makes a great coach. From the public perception of greatness to the reality of everyday people being great.

We asked ChatGPT it's definition of what is a great coach, and the answers were pretty darn good.

A great coach is someone who possesses a unique blend of skills, qualities, and attributes that enable them to effectively guide, inspire, and develop individuals or teams to reach their full potential. Here are some characteristics that define a great coach:

1. Excellent Communication Skills: A great coach can convey ideas, instructions, and feedback clearly and effectively, fostering understanding and trust among their players or team members.
   
2. Empathy and Understanding: They have the ability to understand the needs, motivations, and challenges of each individual they coach, and they empathize with their experiences.
   
3. Leadership and Vision: A great coach has a clear vision for success and inspires others to share and work towards that vision. They lead by example, setting high standards of behavior and performance.
   
4. Expertise and Knowledge: They possess a deep understanding of the sport, field, or subject matter they're coaching in, as well as the strategies and techniques necessary for success.
   
5. Adaptability: A great coach can adapt their coaching style and strategies to suit the unique needs and circumstances of their players or team, maximizing effectiveness.
   
6. Motivational Skills: They know how to motivate and inspire their players or team members, instilling confidence, self-belief, and a strong work ethic.
   
7. Feedback and Development: They provide constructive feedback in a supportive manner, helping individuals identify areas for improvement and develop their skills and abilities.
   
8. Patience and Resilience: They remain patient and resilient in the face of setbacks and challenges, maintaining a positive attitude and encouraging perseverance.
   
9. Trust and Respect: A great coach builds trust and respect with their players or team members through honesty, integrity, and fairness.
   
10. Commitment and Dedication: They are deeply committed to the development and success of their players or team members, investing time, effort, and energy to help them achieve their goals.
    

Overall, a great coach is not just someone who helps individuals or teams win games or achieve success; they also play a crucial role in shaping character, instilling values, and fostering personal growth and development.

We hope you enjoy this episode, and we're glad to be back.

Welcome to The Third 50!

The Fourth Episode...DRILLS DRILLS DRILLS and more DRILLS!!!

Download Wayne's chart here:

Swimming coaches collect drills like kids collect candy! There are tens of thousands of swimming drills: there's a drill for every swimming occasion.

However, how can drills be used optimally to develop an efficient and effective swimming technique for individual swimmers?

In this Episode of The Third 50, Wayne and Glenn look at swimming drills and try to answer the questions:

• What are “great" drills?
• Why do you use drills?
• When do you use drills?
• How do you best use drills?

We also talk about the best ways to integrate drills into practice sessions and workouts and the difference between Stroke DEVELOPMENT Drills and Stroke CORRECTION Drills.

If you're a coach, a competitive swimmer, a triathlete, a surf-athlete or a fitness-swimmer - and you use drills in your swimming - then this is a must listen podcast for you!

Three Takeaways:

1. Drills are an important element of the "tool-kit" of every coach. However, as it is with using any tool, the key is choosing the right tool for the right situation and - knowing how to use it.
2. There is no perfect drill! Copying the drills of the world's best coaches and swimmers does not mean you've found the secret to success. Drills are just one part of the art of coaching swimmers successfully.
3. Rather than collecting more and more drills, just start with a few then learn how to evolve them through the systematic introduction of speed, fatigue and pressure situations in practice.

Why The Third 50?

Because it's the third 50 of a 200 that matters. (We could have called this The Third 100 because it's the same principle!)

The 1st 50 is fast because you're fresh and fired up, ready to race.

The 2nd 50 flows because you're trying to relax and keep it smooth.

The 4th 50 is about fighting and staying strong to the finish.

But the 3rd 50 is where the magic happens. It's where the integration of your mind and body, your skills and technique, your stroke mechanics and your hard training all come together.

The 3rd 50 is the "championship" lap, where the great swimmers take control of themselves and the race and power away to victory.

We want to share our almost 80 years of experience with coaches, swimming teachers, swimmers, triathletes, and people who love being in and around the water worldwide.

Who Are Wayne and Glenn?

Wayne Goldsmith is an Australian coach, mentor, writer, speaker, and presenter. He's worked in swimming for more than 30 years and is an internationally respected sports performance professional. He's been recognized for his contribution to the sport of swimming with the Outstanding Contribution to Swimming in Australia Award and been recently received the Al Schoenfield award from the International Swimming Hall of Fame.

Glenn Mills is an American coach, writer, and video producer. He's been involved in swimming for over 55 years. He's competed at every level of the sport, from winning the US Olympic Trials and NCAA Championships and even setting a few Masters World Records. For over 25 years, he's produced swimming technique content as the Co-Founder of GoSwim.tv, the Official Technique Partner with USA Swimming. He has also won the Paragon Award from the International Swimming Hall of Fame for his contribution to competitive swimming.

Send in your video for a chance to have it analyzed on our podcast: https://goswim.wetransfer.com

Overview

The meeting established a stage-based framework for measuring swimmers, emphasizing technique before maturation and integrated performance testing after maturation.

• Glenn and Wayne endorsed measuring the athlete’s developmental stage rather than chronological age.
• Pre-maturation focuses on building movement foundations with consistent body position, symmetry, breathing, balance, stroke mechanics, and comfort in the water.
• Post-maturation focuses on refining individual performance because growth and maturation create greater differences between athletes.
• Skipping foundational stages in pursuit of early speed can create technical problems later.
• Development Framework

Glenn Mills and Wayne Goldsmith discuss the importance of starting to teach data and swimming fundamentals early, emphasizing that teaching kids concepts like length and tempo at a young age makes their learning easier and more effective. They highlight the benefits of using technology to enhance coaching, such as providing personalized feedback and making stroke mechanics more understandable. Glenn shares his experience with a new software that gathers data from 3,000 races, showing how understanding length, tempo, and duration can improve performance. They also touch on the need for coaches to adapt to new technologies and methods to better engage and develop young athletes.

Check out a segment from Wayne's new Substack:

https://swimminggold.substack.com/p/training-zone-insanity

Subscribe to get more great content from Wayne:

https://swimminggold.substack.com

Here's a short explainer video of the GoSwim app - https://vimeo.com/goswim/app

If you'd like to set up a demo with Glenn about the GoSwim app, follow this link:

https://tidycal.com/glenn/30-minute-goswim-demo