Category: Head Coach

ITS THE LITTLE THINGS THAT MAKE THE DIFFERENCE

We were heavily represented at this meeting and as usual everyone who took part swam their hearts out.

Four swimmers made finals Alice (50 Fly) Kara (100 Breast) Rachel (50 Fly) and Ellie (50 Back) all swam really well in the heats to reach the finals.

It’s the little things that make the difference especially on 50 metre swims and there is still a lot of work to be done on starts and turns.
I am however very pleased that the starts and turns are getting better but there is room for improvement. There were many highlights during the day too many to mention in one report so I have picked a few which clearly stood out.

Kara breaking the long-standing club record on her 100 Free clocking 1:18 -Rachel at long last breaking 40 secs for 50 Fly, Darcey-another cracking 50 Back – Ellie great time on 50 Back.
Katy would have clocked 39 on her fly but drilled a stroke but it was an amazing swim. Alice like a motorboat on 50 Fly. Emma as usual went off like a rocket on her 50 free and just a minor hiccup meant she smashed her PB by 4 seconds.

The boys were looking to improve massively on their 100 free times which they did Elliot with a 1:08 Thomas a 1:11 and Jasper a 1:10 .
All three were disappointed that they did not hit lower than these times but as I pointed out the 100 Free was at the end of a hectic days programme of heats and finals and they will smash these times in the very near future. Jasper had a great 100 Fly, Elliot a great 100 Free and Thomas an excellent 200 IM (36 secs on his fly split not shabby at all)

Summer produced a very good 50 Free and Cambelle a very creditable 50 Breast just missing out on the final.

It’s the smallest margins that count and if you even make a tiny mistake it can prove the difference between a good swim and a great swim so everything has to be right. On a positive note the starts are improving and fitness levels are very good at the moment due to the harder training sets and the work ethic of the team. I would like to make special mention of Elise who clocked a 1:38 for her 100 Back which was full of power and pace she kept it all together and going for the four lengths so well done you.

If I have missed anyone out in this report then apologies however there were so many great swims it was impossible to cover all the swims at this meet.

The hard work achieved over the last few months has meant in most cases that our swimmers are not only competing in heats but are reaching finals. The most pleasing aspect of all is that in many cases those making the finals are actually producing faster times than in the heats which is very difficult thing to do.

As per usual this was an exhausting day for not only the swimmers but for myself and Susan but we would not trade that for anything as watching the swims at this meet made us both very proud of all of you.

That does not mean we ease off in training as there is still the Tranent Christmas Gala so it’s back to the hard sessions which, if done correctly, will enable you to achieve your goals.

Can I also take this opportunity to thank the parents of all the swimmers in the club for their constant encouragement to not only the swimmers but also to myself and Susan.
I make mention of this as it makes a very hard job (coaching) so much more pleasant when parents give you their support and backing, It is very difficult to balance hard sessions with making the hard work enjoyable. A swimmer will never perform well if too nervous however it is amazing the desire and effort shown by a good number of our swimmers when they compete. Credit to all those who managed on their 50 swims to not breathe between the last set of flags ad the wall. This was very important and made the difference between making a final or not.

There were eight club records created at this meet as follows:-

Kara 100 free 1:18.13
Elliot 200IM 2:57. 65
Jasper 100 Back 1:21. 49 – 100 Fly 1:24. 91 – 100 free 1:10.06
Rachel 50 fly 38.73
Ellie 100IM 1:35.58 – 50 back 41.36
These club records will be updated in due course.

I am away for a lie down but have already worked out a plan to bring these times down even further.

Colin Galbraith

Headcoach Scorpion swim team.

A measure of class is how you perform both in and out the water and before going into the report on what turned out to be a fantastic meet, I would like to mention a small but pleasing feedback received.

As I was leaving to go home two women who were the marshals at the event, said that our swimmers were a joy to marshal being not only polite but also well aware of what they were swimming – high praise indeed.

I think that just shows what we are all about both in and out of the water having the correct attitude and team spirit means everything in what is an incredibly brutal sport often training 10,000 metres every week for swims that can last as little as 40 or less seconds.

For all those who have not seen the film “we bought a zoo” apologies in advance however in that film their is a phrase which is “it only takes 20 secs of courage” and you will be amazed what can be achieved.

The four new swimmers to the team Natalie, Natalia, Summer and Ellie were nervous, understandably so, however they took ’20 seconds of courage’ and all four swam fantastic. To achieve the times they did and also get over the nerves was brilliant. I also think that the team have a bond which is unbreakabke and the new swimmers to the club just grabbed it with both hands and came out with massive smiles on their faces.

It is so important to work hard in training and take turns at leading the lanes where, if you are going first, the responsibility rests with you to swim fast and this then helps all the swimmers in that lane. You know me by now I always pick up on those who like to be tail end Charlie and encourage those who do so to take a turn at the hard end. I know it can be difficult to take the lead in a lane but like the ’20 seconds of courage’ have a go and you will be amazed at what can be achieved.

As usual club records were set with a few of them which I never thought would be taken off the record books for some time .

Kara 100 I’m 1.29.16
Cambelle 25 Fly 22.58
Ellie W 50 Fly 44.85 & 50 back 44.15 .

Rachel, Darcy, Katy and Alice produced great personal bests and in total there were 13 medals issued to various swimmers in the team.

I also would like to mention Katy who having just come out a 100 free swim then produced a split time in the relay of 35.69 which if she had gone first in the relay would have been a club record.

Continously achieving personal bests eventually become very difficult indeed especially if what you have set for yourselves is a major raising of the bar. It is good to set these goals but also recognize as I have outlined in other posts that it could take some time to break these times.When you get lower times especially on 50 metre swims it does become hard taking in some cases six or even more months to break. Don’t get too hung up on your times as with hard work and listening to what is coached and not making mistakes you will get there.

Anyway great times great team and please keep up the good work. As usual proud of all of you.

Colin Galbraith Head Coach Scorpion Swim Team

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