My non-workout blog and random thoughts

Question: Am I A Coach?

This may be a dumb question, but it is something that has been in the back of my mind for quite some time.

I posted this in coaches forum and we see what the real coaches think.....

Primarily, I swim and train myself. I get up at 4:45am and I am in the water from 6:00am to 7:00am M-F and from 7:00am-9:00am on Saturday. Sometimes, friends will join me for sets and we trade calling sets.

Some of my self coaching activities:
I write my own workouts
Keep a training log
Keep a performance log
Read all I can about the sport and have a modest library
Purchased and studied Reese and Marsh's instructional DVDs
And I've read extensively about anatomy, exercise physiology and kinesiology (biology undergrad; engineering Ph.D).
I've purchased a Flip Video Camera with the underwater housing so I can video tape my stroke below the water (with the help of a friend).
And I have library of video recordings of race competitions.

I use the information to plan my swim season and to correct certain stroke and race faults. I believe that you have to concentrate on controling gross motor movements so that you can correct flaws during practice. I have a list of cards that remind me of the things that I need to fix based on watch my video taped performances. Before these gross motor movements can become automatic, they have to be burned into the proprioceptive memory (muscle memory).


I plan to conduct a simple velocity analysis on some of my video recordings of my race to find areas for improvement.

I love competing and have had some success at the national and world masters level - which why swimming has become my adult avocation.

So, can I call myself a coach?

BTW, I spent several summers coaching and served as a volunteer assistant coach for my college - back in the ancient days of mens college swimming.