Tough Guys

Boys and girls are different. Of course they are! We all know this and yet somehow we manage to forget it when it is expedient to do so. In swim practice we forget it all the time. To make things easier we will throw all swimmers of a certain skill level or speed into a lane, group, or practice slot. How often do we take the time to consider the different needs of most boys and girls.

Generally speaking, our sport is filled with girls. We have plenty of them joining the sport every day. It's great to have them coming out for the sport. But what do we do now that Michael Phelps is such an icon? We are already experiencing an influx of male participation in swimming. How do we take care of these new participants? How do we retain them?

Let's start by treating boys like boys. Boys need different types of attention and different types of structure than girls. Think I am wrong? Why are sports like football, basketball, and hockey so popular? Why are sports like snowboarding and skateboarding so popular? Different answers for each question, but we in swimming would do well to take a lesson from each.

Team sports (football, etc.) are popular, in part, because of the professional leagues that exist at the highest levels, but also because of the machismo associated with them. Team sports get lots of press and media coverage. Individual sports have some macho aspects too, but have you ever see adults hanging out at the skateboard park? Of course not. Boys like boarding because of the loose structure and minimal adult involvement. Nothing like getting away from the parents for a few hours, wearing clothing that adults hate, with long hair that adults hate more.

Our job as swim coaches is to try to provide the best of both worlds. We need to coach, but we need to stop short of criticizing or nagging. We need to let them have space, but we also need to make sure they don't get hurt. We need to challenge them, but in a way that leaves them feeling tough... like young men. All the while we need to avoid judging things like appearance, hair, clothes.

My advice to swim coaches everywhere is to try to separate boys and girls in practice. Have a guys lane. Give the boys specialized workouts. Sure, they need technique and conditioning, just like the girls, but then give them something different, fun, and macho. Make sure boys know about Jammer suits. Many a boy has left the sport because of the tiny Speedo brief. Make sure the boys get to be boys.

I have a set which I call "Tough Guys". A Tough Guy is a 50 (25 Fly, 25Free). The boys line up behind a lane and dive in one after the other. The fly is sprint to the other end, climb out, touch the wall, dive back in and sprint free back to the starting side, climb out and do 5-10 push ups. They can be more aerobic by making the interval close together, or more of a speed set by making the interval longer.

The main thing is that the boys feel good about the set. For one thing, the set is called "Tough Guys". They are really working hard... and fast. They are not thinking about technique or yardage, they are just having fun. Heck, with the 12 & Under boys, I even have them do their best Incredible Hulk/Michael Phelps muscle flex impression after each 50 (right after the push-ups).

Choosing the right coach for a group of boys is important. He/she should be cool under fire, creative, and high energy. To coach boys it is important to be able to "check your ego at the door". Boys will push you if they think you will respond like "every other adult" in their life. They need to know what is right, what is wrong, and what is expected of them. Lay these things out clearly and consistently. If you are able to communicate these things and then deal with infractions fairly, you will have their respect.

Have a boy's respect and you will have a swimmer!