Courtesy of WOWSA, Huntington Beach, California.

Kara Raney of USA Swimming is organizing the second annual #CoachesAre month.

“This digital campaign is aimed at showing the positive impact our 18,000+ coaches are making across the country. However, in order to capture the great work you are doing, we need to hear from [these coaches].”

It would be extremely helpful in providing content for the campaign to tell your story. The responses will be used on USA Swimming’s website and social media channels.”

All answers to the following questions should be emailed to tschield@usaswimming.org or kraney@usaswimming.org.

The questions are as follows:


1. Why did you want to become a coach?
2. What’s been the most rewarding thing for you from being a coach?
3. What’s your favorite drill or workout?
4. Finish this sentence: I coach because______.
5. Who are some of your role models?
6. How do you motivate a swimmer who is having an off day?
7. How would your swimmers describe you?
8. What’s your favorite saying during practice?
9. What’s your most memorable moment as a coach?
10. What are some of your favorite coaching books/videos?
11. What’s the funniest thing that has happened at practice?
12. Do you have any pre-competition rituals?
13. Aside from a stopwatch, what are your must-have coaching items?
14. What’s your favorite personal swimming story?
15. Why is swimming the best sport to coach?
16. What life lessons do you hope your swimmers take with them when their swimming days are done?
17. What life lessons did you take away when you were a swimmer?
18. What do you look forward to the most when your team is competing?
19. What are your go-to team building activities?

Please have your swimmers answer the following questions about you:

1. What’s your coach’s favorite saying during practice?
2. Why are swim coaches the best coaches?
3. How does your coach make swimming the most fun sport there is?
4. What’s the funniest thing your coach has done during practice?

Copyright © 2015 by World Open Water Swimming Association