In Episode 8 of the podcast, I spoke with Eli Danson regarding dry-land for swimmers.  We got into a wide range of topics specific to the subject and what we believe works best for swimmers.  We start off by talking about the most optimal way to structure an age group dry-land program (2:12); the value of developing strength on dry-land and its application to swimming (7:11); the value of developing power on dry-land and its application to swimming (9:05); the best way to structure dry-land...

Today I had a great conversation with Brent Arckey, head coach of the Sarasota Sharks.  We spoke about how his team was handling the Covid-19 situation (1:39); his story from successful age group swimmer to swimming for the University of Alabama to bagging groceries at Publix to eventually working his way up to coaching Ryan Lochte and several other high performing athletes at the University of Florida; to eventually becoming the Head Coach of the Sarasota Sharks (7:15); what makes a great...

In Episode 6 of the Podcast, I spoke with Jesse Stipek from the University of Arizona.  Jesse and I had a fantastic conversation!  We talked about how he and his team were handling the Covid-19 situation (2:25); him growing up with Nathan Adrian and swimming together as age groupers at Tacoma Swim Club (11:00); his journey from swimming at Wisconsin to ending up coaching at the University of Arizona (15:06); working with Coach Rick DeMont and the perspective and life lessons he's learned from...

In Episode 5 of the Podcast, I spoke with Steve Brown from North Carolina Aquatic Club (NCAC).  Steve and I talked about how his program was handling the Covid-19 situation (1:55); his experience as an age grouper, collegiate athlete, and young swim coach (6:24); what he learned from Larry Shofe while transforming Sarasota from a non-factor to one of the best age group swim-teams in the country (15:30); working with Rick DeMont and several Olympic athletes at the University of Arizona...

In part III of my conversation with Eli Danson from North Carolina Aquatic Club, we discuss his work with the advanced 11-12 group at NCAC, in which he transformed the group from having 3 11-12 JO qualifers to 21 in a two-year span (3:35). We then discuss his work with the high performance Senior group at NCAC, as well as with the UNC collegiate swimmers. We discuss topics such as transforming the culture of a practice group (4:58), the difference between "good" age group swimmers and "elite"...

In Episode 3 of the Freestylin Life and Swim Podcast, we continue our conversation with Eli Danson from North Carolina Aquatic Club (NCAC) in Chapel Hill, NC. We discuss his work with the Developmental 11-12 Age Group - ranging from the goals and expectations of the group (3:42), the organization and structure of the group (8:45), core sets that work for 11-12 developmental athletes (13:07), and the most important skills for developmental athletes to improve upon and work on in practice...

In Episode 2 of the Freestylin' Life and Swim Podcast, I speak with Eli Danson from North Carolina Aquatic Club (NCAC) about their team's transition to an operational virtual swim-team (2:53), his journey into age group coaching (25:49), and the transformation of the NCAC team culture that has led to tremendous improvement at the age group and National Level (35:08).  This is part I of a three part series.

In the first episode of the Freestylin Life and Swim Podcast, we talk with David Rue from Boyertown YMCA.  We discuss life coaching and living in the Covid-19 world (3:45), working with Ryan Sprang at Nittany Lion Aquatic Club and what makes a great coach and age group program (10:45), the training and development of Matthew Brownstead, National High School record holder in the 50 freestyle (25:45), and much more.