Breaking Limits: The Journey of Mind, Body, and Heroic Coaching

In the world of competitive swimming, finding the right coach is crucial to an athlete’s development. A good coach isn’t just someone who knows the strokes and techniques; they are mentors, motivators, and passion-fueled leaders who inspire their athletes to push beyond their limits. However, not all coaches are created equal, and some fall into the trap of self-approbation. Unfortunately, many athletes unknowingly end up under the guidance of coaches who aren’t fully invested in their progress. These coaches are not actively or consciously holding swimmers back, but their lack of energy, passion, or engagement can quietly stifle an athlete’s potential. The Danger of Complacency In any field, there will always be individuals who choose a career path out of convenience rather than passion. Some coaches might have entered the profession because they couldn’t find another career that fits, or because it seemed like an easy, steady job. But while their lives may be comfortable, the same can’t be said for the swimmers they oversee. A coach who’s in it just for the paycheck or because it’s the easiest job they could find will never offer the energy and commitment needed to elevate their athletes. These coaches show up to practice with a lackluster attitude, do the bare minimum in terms of coaching techniques, and fail to inspire their swimmers to achieve greatness. This isn’t just a minor issue; it can be the difference between a swimmer reaching their potential or stagnating in their development. Coaches Who Hold Talent Back Unfortunately, when a coach lacks enthusiasm and dedication, the athletes under their care suffer. Coaches who are unmotivated may not provide the right feedback, adjustments, or encouragement needed to push a swimmer to the next level. Without a true passion for the sport, they might miss critical moments where an athlete is on the verge of a breakthrough, failing to offer the right advice at the right time. In some cases, coaches may even be directly or indirectly discouraging the swimmer’s growth. A lack of attention to technique or an unwillingness to adopt new training methods can result in the swimmer plateauing or even regressing. Without the right coach, even the most talented swimmers may never reach the peak of their abilities. Examples of What Not to Do as a Coach While every coach may have their flaws, there are certain behaviors and attitudes that are particularly damaging to athletes. Here are some real-life examples of what not to do as a coach: 1. Abandoning Athletes at Critical Moments I’ve seen firsthand how devastating it can be when a coach abandons their athlete just before a major competition. One of the coaches I encountered left his swimmer alone right before the Olympic qualifying for Athens 2004. This is an example of an extreme lack of responsibility and commitment. At such a critical time, a coach should be there, offering support, strategy, and motivation. Instead, this coach’s absence left the swimmer in a vulnerable and unsupported position, missing out on vital guidance during the final moments of preparation. 2. Partying Instead of Prioritizing Athletes’ Needs Another experience involved a coach who would travel overseas with their athletes but would use the time between race days to go out drinking and partying. The biggest problem with this behavior is the lack of responsibility and the absence of fear for the consequences. What if something happens while the coach is out partying? This lack of care for the swimmers’ well-being is a huge issue. Even worse, the coach would miss a half day of the race and cover it up by claiming he had health issues the next day, instead of taking accountability for his actions. This kind of arrogance is troubling because it shows the coach isn’t prioritizing the swimmers, and worse, he continues to hold his position despite such reckless behavior. The most troubling part is that this coach is still in the same role, continuing to have a detrimental impact on young athletes. The combination of lack of care, arrogance, and continued employment in such a role is a sad reflection of how some coaches evade accountability. 3. The “iPad” Coach The “iPad Coach” is another example of a coach who lacks true vision and strategy. These coaches often sit on the sidelines, glued to their devices, while the swimmers struggle in their training. The issue isn’t just that they’re disengaged—it’s that their coaching is reactive, not proactive. They rely heavily on scripted programs, tests, and strategies they’ve bought or borrowed from other, often more experienced coaches, without understanding how or why they work (or don't work). Rather than adapting their methods to suit the individual needs of their swimmers, the iPad Coach sticks rigidly to the same tired tactics, no matter how ineffective they are in the current context. They often fail to realize that each swimmer is different and requires a customized approach to training. What’s worse, they never seem to learn from their own failures. If a plan doesn’t work, they don’t reflect or adapt. Instead, they continue to push the same tired drills and strategies, hoping for a different outcome, all while stubbornly ignoring feedback and new ideas. In some cases, these coaches try to “sell themselves” for a lower salary in order to secure higher positions within the swimming world. This could be anything from coaching at a club level to even landing national head coach positions. While real high-performance coaches—who bring real expertise—could command a higher salary, these cheaper coaches often take the positions simply because they’re willing to work for less. Unfortunately, this leads to less-qualified coaches running key positions, creating a trickle-down effect that negatively impacts athletes and the sport as a whole. The result is a coach who isn’t just disconnected from their swimmers, but who also lacks the growth mindset necessary to push them forward. This creates an environment where athletes feel stuck, doing the same drills, strategies, races and tests over and over, with no real guidance or understanding of why they’re doing them. 4. The Scared Coach The “scared type” of coach only communicates with athletes when they deliver peak performance. If a swimmer fails or falls short of expectations, the coach simply leaves them behind, offering no guidance, no support, and no encouragement for improvement. This type of behavior can be incredibly damaging because it creates a toxic environment where swimmers feel like they can’t make mistakes or be vulnerable. Growth comes from mistakes, and a coach who abandons athletes when they struggle misses the opportunity to help them learn from mistakes and dealing with emotional recovery to ultimately succeed. 5. The “Do as I Say, Not as I Do” Coach Perhaps the worst example of all is when coaches who were once swimmers themselves, and who once complained about the outdated methods they were subjected to, end up doing the exact same thing to their athletes. These coaches cry about the ineffective training plans and coaching techniques they endured but then repeat those same practices when they are in charge. This is a clear lack of innovation and growth. Coaches who fail to change the game and evolve their methods are stifling their athletes’ potential just like their old coaches did to them. 6. Blaming the Athlete Instead of Searching for the Real Issue One of the easiest ways for a coach to shift the blame for poor performance is to point the finger at the swimmer. Some coaches will blame the athlete for a lack of performance because it’s the easiest way to avoid acknowledging their own shortcomings. Instead of looking at the bigger picture—whether it’s training methods, poor recovery, mental health issues, or lack of adequate support—some coaches take the shortcut by labeling the athlete as “not trying hard enough” or “lacking commitment.” This can severely damage an athlete’s confidence, causing them to feel like they are failing despite doing their best. A good coach should always search for the root cause of a problem, rather than blaming the athlete for everything that goes wrong. 7. When They Think They Know Everything One of the most frustrating types of coaches is the one who believes they already know everything. They aren’t open to feedback, new techniques, or learning. For example, I witnessed a situation where an athlete wanted to improve their underwater skills. When they asked their coach for advice, the response was simply: “Do it faster.” That’s not advice; it’s a sarcastic dismissal of the athlete’s genuine effort to improve. These types of coaches rely on arrogance and sarcasm instead of offering real explanations or thoughtful guidance. They may hold a high rank in the coaching world, but their inability to engage with athletes or offer meaningful advice only stifles the swimmer’s growth. The best coaches are always learning and adapting—those who think they have all the answers are often the ones holding their athletes back. 8. Creating a Negative Atmosphere Around the Poolside as a “Leader” One of the most toxic types of coaches is the “negative aura” type. These are coaches who, as supposed leaders, create a poisonous environment around them. They fail to greet their athletes or staff with basic politeness, never saying “Good morning” or “Good afternoon.” Instead, they launch directly into conversation or training without acknowledging the people around them, acting as if their own existence is the only thing that matters. Often, these coaches only talk about themselves, lamenting their own failed careers and using sarcasm or arrogance to cover their inner frustrations. In doing so, they treat their athletes and staff as subordinates, dehumanizing them in the process. The problem with these types of coaches is the pervasive negativity they bring to the poolside. They become a mirror of their own failures, projecting their pain and dissatisfaction onto others. This creates an unbearable work environment where athletes are demotivated and morale plummets. These types of coaches often hide their failures behind arrogance, making the atmosphere toxic and unproductive. If you encounter a coach like this, it’s important to recognize that this negativity can be detrimental to both your mental health and your athletic development. Avoiding this type of environment is crucial to maintaining your passion and growth as an athlete. 9. The Brainwasher The “brainwasher” type of coach is particularly dangerous because their tactics often go unnoticed for years. These coaches sell their “knowledge” through manipulation and brainwashing, gradually conditioning athletes and the people around them to believe their way is the only right way. The subtle nature of their approach makes it difficult for athletes and others to see the damage until it’s too late. This type of coach plays with people’s minds, creating an unhealthy dependence on their ideas, and can distort athletes’ perception of what is truly best for them. These coaches are often able to gain the trust of higher-positioned individuals, which can further shield their manipulative practices. If left unchecked, their influence can cause deep, lasting damage to a training center or team, leading to a toxic culture. Unfortunately, this type of coach may even end up crossing boundaries and engage in inappropriate relationships with athletes. Love can happen at any time, but age difference combined with the power dynamic creates an unhealthy and unethical situation. This is an extreme example of how such a coach can manipulate others into believing their way of life is right, even when it’s ultimately harmful. 10. The Copy-Paste Coach The Copy-Paste Coach stands on the other side of the pool, just watching and copying everything—drills, timing, even the way others move around the deck. With minimal swimming background, the only strategy is imitation. There’s no effort to learn or ask questions. Instead of taking the time to understand why certain drills or methods are used, the approach is to simply repeat what’s seen, without any depth or thought behind it. Conversations are impossible because emotions always get in the way. No matter what is said, there’s no listening. The Copy-Paste Coach never asks for help with swim plans or drills; it’s all about copying what others are doing. Over time, swimmers catch on. They realize there’s no innovation, no fresh insight—just repetition. Coaching isn’t about mimicking others; it’s about learning, adapting, and growing. The Copy-Paste Coach doesn’t understand that. ⸻ Conclusion from an Athlete's Side The right coach can lift you up, taking you to the next level, not just in sports but in life as well. A great coach inspires confidence, builds resilience, and fosters personal growth that extends beyond the pool. They guide you toward excellence, helping you realize your true potential; as an athlete, but also as an individual in life. On the other hand, a bad coach—or even just the “not quite right” coach—can destroy your career. Their lack of engagement, negative behavior, or failure to invest in your growth can lead to mental fatigue and self-doubt, which may take years to recover from. The impact of a coach on an athlete’s mental and emotional well-being is profound, making it essential to choose wisely. ⸻ Conclusion from the Coaches Side No matter where you are in your coaching journey, improvement should always be a priority—not just for your swimmers, but for yourself as well. The only way to truly bring your athletes forward is to continuously grow and evolve as a coach. Choose your path, stay creative, and have a clear strategy whilst being able to adapt to the needs of your athletes and team. Make adjustments when necessary because, yes, there will be times to improvise, but don’t let that become the norm—having a clear direction is key to seeing meaningful progress. Don’t be too proud to learn from coaches with more experience or proven results. Never fall into the trap of being a “copy-paste” coach—your athletes will see right through it. Instead, develop a strong foundation, set a strategy, fine-tune your drills and programs, and then commit to making it happen. With dedication to improvement and a clear plan, you’ll unlock your swimmers’ true potential and foster an environment where both you and your athletes can thrive.