Welcome to SwimEd: Education for coaches, athletes and parents.

Join Matthew Grant and Jennifer Bowers as they examine the top swimming and sporting topics from three perspectives: the coaches, the athletes and the parents.

In each episode, our listeners hear the conversations, stories, insights and advice we’ve been sharing for years on and off the pool deck that help coaches improve their coaching, athletes increase their performances and parents boost their support. Combined with interviews of experts in various field of study and even coaches from other sports, listeners get the latest information and new ways of thinking about swimming and sports.

Episode 18 – Olympic Preview

We are one day away from the opening ceremonies and two days away from the start of the 9-day swimming competition at the 2024 Paris Olympics. I think it’s about time we preview what’s about to happen. So, we turn our discussion towards the Olympic experience and how coaches, athletes and parents can soak in all the excitement, enthusiasm and experiences from these Games.

In this episode, we will about the preparations of Paris for these Games and insights into the swimmers, races and expectations for great performances and medals. More than this, we look at the Olympics more globally and even delve into other sports that have our interest. So, get ready, this is one of our favor topics!

In this episode, we will talk about our experiences with move ups. Although the process should be straightforward, for coaches, swimmers and parents, it never is. Do you have test sets? Or do you go with your gut? Or do you do both sets and gut? And can you move swimmers successfully without ruffling parents? We will get to all of these topics in this podcast.

Contact Us: Have a topic suggestion or want to share your thoughts? Email us at SwimEdInfo@gmail.com.

Subscribe and Rate/Review: You'll help others find our podcast and make sure you don't miss an episode. Then leave a review to let us know what you think!

Join us on weekly on SwimEd: Education for coaches, athletes and parents.

Welcome to SwimEd: Education for coaches, athletes and parents.

Join Matthew Grant and Jennifer Bowers as they examine the top swimming and sporting topics from three perspectives: the coaches, the athletes and the parents.

In each episode, our listeners hear the conversations, stories, insights and advice we’ve been sharing for years on and off the pool deck that help coaches improve their coaching, athletes increase their performances and parents boost their support. Combined with interviews of experts in various field of study and even coaches from other sports, listeners get the latest information and new ways of thinking about swimming and sports.

Episode 17 – Move Ups

We are one day away from the opening ceremonies and two days away from the start of the 9-day swimming competition at the 2024 Paris Olympics. I think it’s about time we preview what’s about to happen. So, we turn our discussion towards the Olympic experience and how coaches, athletes and parents can soak in all the excitement, enthusiasm and experiences from these Games.

It’s that time of year when coaches start planning for short course season (while long course championships loom in the near future) and swimmers start thinking about changing groups with or without their friends. Today we want to talk groupings and move ups and the minefield that this part of coach can become without forethought, strategy and improvization.

In this episode, we will talk about our experiences with move ups. Although the process should be straightforward, for coaches, swimmers and parents, it never is. Do you have test sets? Or do you go with your gut? Or do you do both sets and gut? And can you move swimmers successfully without ruffling parents? We will get to all of these topics in this podcast.

Contact Us: Have a topic suggestion or want to share your thoughts? Email us at SwimEdInfo@gmail.com.

Subscribe and Rate/Review: You'll help others find our podcast and make sure you don't miss an episode. Then leave a review to let us know what you think!

Join us on weekly on SwimEd: Education for coaches, athletes and parents.

Welcome to SwimEd: Education for coaches, athletes and parents.

Join Matthew Grant and Jennifer Bowers as they examine the top swimming and sporting topics from three perspectives: the coaches, the athletes and the parents.

In each episode, our listeners hear the conversations, stories, insights and advice we’ve been sharing for years on and off the pool deck that help coaches improve their coaching, athletes increase their performances and parents boost their support. Combined with interviews of experts in various field of study and even coaches from other sports, listeners get the latest information and new ways of thinking about swimming and sports.

Episode 16 – Team Culture & Values

Today we want to talk about building team culture and team values. As summer championships are right around the corner, coaches begin to think about the start of the next season. Part of that planning process is creating a team culture of success.

In this episode, we will talk about processes that can lead to a better team culture. Do team building activities and goal setting sessions set the tone for the season, or are their more effective ways to lead your athletes into learning the values and habits that lead to success? These are the questions we will discuss today.

Connect with Us: Follow us on Facebook and Instagram for updates about topics on the podcast.

Contact Us: Have a topic suggestion or want to share your thoughts? Email us at SwimEdInfo@gmail.com.

Subscribe and Rate/Review: You'll help others find our podcast and make sure you don't miss an episode. Then leave a review to let us know what you think!

Join us on weekly on SwimEd: Education for coaches, athletes and parents.

Welcome to SwimEd: Education for coaches, athletes and parents.

Join Matthew Grant and Jennifer Bowers as they examine the top swimming and sporting topics from three perspectives: the coaches, the athletes and the parents.

In each episode, our listeners hear the conversations, stories, insights and advice we’ve been sharing for years on and off the pool deck that help coaches improve their coaching, athletes increase their performances and parents boost their support. Combined with interviews of experts in various field of study and even coaches from other sports, listeners get the latest information and new ways of thinking about swimming and sports.

Episode 15 - Summer League

Today we want to talk about summer league. This traditional summertime rights of passage for club swimmers ranges in intensity from almost swimming out of a backyard or lake to a state-wide competition for summer dominance.

In this episode, we will talk about the various formats we have seen for this institution as well as our thoughts about how it can and should be leveraged for the good of the swimmers and swimming community.

Connect with Us: Follow us on Facebook and Instagram for updates.

Contact Us: Have a topic suggestion or want to share your thoughts? Email us at SwimEdInfo@gmail.com.

Subscribe and Rate/Review: You'll help others find our podcast and make sure you don't miss an episode. Then leave a review to let us know what you think!

Join us on weekly on SwimEd: Education for coaches, athletes and parents.

Welcome to SwimEd: Education for coaches, athletes and parents.

Join Matthew Grant and Jennifer Bowers as they examine the top swimming and sporting topics from three perspectives: the coaches, the athletes and the parents.

In each episode, our listeners hear the conversations, stories, insights and advice we’ve been sharing for years on and off the pool deck that help coaches improve their coaching, athletes increase their performances and parents boost their support. Combined with interviews of experts in various field of study and even coaches from other sports, listeners get the latest information and new ways of thinking about swimming and sports.

Episode 14 – Kevin Sullivan

Today we interview Kevin Sullivan, Head Coach at OAC in Waycross, GA. Over the last 10 years, Kevin took a YMCA swim team in a non-swimming, small-town to create a strong club, school and summer league swimming community.

In this episode, we will talk with Kevin about the steps he took to make this change. In many ways, his ideas might not be new to everyone, but it can be implemented by any team or any size. Also, after being a swimmer and coach for most of his life, and having connections at all levels, he has key insights for coaches, athletes and parents!

Connect with Us: Follow us on Facebook and Instagram for updates, and join our Facebook Group to get behind-the-scenes content and more information about topics on the podcast.

Contact Us: Have a topic suggestion or want to share your thoughts? Email us at SwimEdInfo@gmail.com.

Subscribe and Rate/Review: You'll help others find our podcast and make sure you don't miss an episode. Then leave a review to let us know what you think!

Join us on weekly on SwimEd: Education for coaches, athletes and parents.

Welcome to SwimEd: Education for coaches, athletes and parents.

Join Matthew Grant and Jennifer Bowers as they examine the top swimming and sporting topics from three perspectives: the coaches, the athletes and the parents.

In each episode, our listeners hear the conversations, stories, insights and advice we’ve been sharing for years on and off the pool deck that help coaches improve their coaching, athletes increase their performances and parents boost their support. Combined with interviews of experts in various field of study and even coaches from other sports, listeners get the latest information and new ways of thinking about swimming and sports.

Episode 13 – Jason Swaim

Today we interview Jason Swaim, Head Age Group Coach at Cavalier Aquatics in Charlottesville, VA – Silver USA Club team of 185 swimmers. Jason has coached swimmers at nearly every level, but his passion is working with the 11–14-year-old age groups. He really enjoys teaching swimmers about the sport and developing athletes to have championship mindsets not only in the water, but as young people and adults as well.

Additionally, Jason has been in governance with GA LSC and coached on several pool and open water zones teams as well as the zone select camp. In this episode, we will talk with Jason about his move from GA to VA, transitioning from a head coach/owner of a club to a head age group coach at a YMCA, coaching age group swimmers and anything else that happens to come up in the conversation. It’s going to be fun!

Connect with Us: Follow us on Facebook and Instagram for updates, and join our Facebook Group to get behind-the-scenes content and more information about topics on the podcast.

Contact Us: Have a topic suggestion or want to share your thoughts? Email us at SwimEdInfo@gmail.com.

Subscribe and Rate/Review: You'll help others find our podcast and make sure you don't miss an episode. Then leave a review to let us know what you think!

Join us on weekly on SwimEd: Education for coaches, athletes and parents.

Welcome to SwimEd: Education for coaches, athletes and parents.

Join Matthew Grant and Jennifer Bowers as they examine the top swimming and sporting topics from three perspectives: the coaches, the athletes and the parents.

In each episode, our listeners hear the conversations, stories, insights and advice we’ve been sharing for years on and off the pool deck that help coaches improve their coaching, athletes increase their performances and parents boost their support. Combined with interviews of experts in various field of study and even coaches from other sports, listeners get the latest information and new ways of thinking about swimming and sports.

Episode 12 – Justine Schluntz Interview

Today we interview Justine Schluntz. She is a Hall of Fame Athlete at the University of Arizona for swimming. She is a five-time NCAA national champion and part of the 2008 National Championship team. Additionally, she won the PAC-10 Woman of the Year and NCAA Woman of the Year and beat out Tim Tebow for COSIDA/ESPN Academic All-American of the Year for 2010. Oh, and she’s a Rhodes Scholar in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering. In short, she’s better than us in so many ways!

In this episode, we will talk with Dr. Schluntz about her swimming career from swimming in Albuquerque, NM, the University of Arizona and her academic journey. I’m excited to talk to another academic – sorry if it gets nerdy – and her experience in our sport.

Connect with Us: Follow us on Facebook and Instagram for updates, and join our Facebook Group to get behind-the-scenes content and more information about topics on the podcast.

Contact Us: Have a topic suggestion or want to share your thoughts? Email us at SwimEdInfo@gmail.com.

Subscribe and Rate/Review: You'll help others find our podcast and make sure you don't miss an episode. Then leave a review to let us know what you think!

Join us on weekly on SwimEd: Education for coaches, athletes and parents.

Welcome to SwimEd: Education for coaches, athletes and parents.

Join Matthew Grant and Jennifer Bowers as they examine the top swimming and sporting topics from three perspectives: the coaches, the athletes and the parents.

In each episode, our listeners hear the conversations, stories, insights and advice we’ve been sharing for years on and off the pool deck that help coaches improve their coaching, athletes increase their performances and parents boost their support. Combined with interviews of experts in various field of study and even coaches from other sports, listeners get the latest information and new ways of thinking about swimming and sports.

Episode 11 – Six Energy Systems and Sets

Today we will discuss swim sets and energy systems. Yes, this is a more technical podcast. But a basic understanding of these two aspects of a swim practice and weekly schedule can change how well coaches prepare, swimmers practice and parents understand all that goes into what seems simple – a normal swim practice.

In this episode, we will discuss the six energy systems that should be included in a weekly schedule or microcycles. We will share a favorite set or two that use different energy systems so that how we use sets are more recognizable and help swimmers know what they need to do to be their best. It’s going to be technical, but it will also be a fun day of talking about the nitty-gritty of swimming.

Jenn’s Sprint Set

100 focus 4x (1 free, 2 prime no free 3 free, 4 Choice or IMO) 2x25@ :25 (front 50/2=pace) 1x50@ :50 moderate 1x150/100@ 1:45/2:00/2:15 Descend 50’s 4x25@ :30 Goal is stay within 1sec of first 2x25s 1x100Ez

Jenn’s Distance Set 3 to 5 x 500 (note your split at the 400) 400, swum faster than the 400 from above (note your split at the 300) 300, swum faster than the 300 from above (note your split at the 200) 200, swum faster than the 200 from above (note your split at the 100) 1-5×100, swum faster than the 100 from above

Matt’s Sprint Set SET 2 - GREEN Off The Blocks (OTB) 2x 2x200 Broken IM@8:00 25@:20 - OTB 25@:25 25@:25 25@:30 25@:30 25@:35 25@:35 25 FINISH/REST 2x150 Broken PRO-IM@6:00 25@:20 - OTB 25@:25 25@:25 25@:30 25@:30 25 FINISH/REST 2x100 BROKE IM@4:00 25@:20 - OTB 25@:25 25@:25 25@:30 :25@30 25 FINISH/REST

Matt’s Distance Set 12x100 PURPLE GREEN—>PINK 50 FLY (or any stroke)/50 FR@1:05–>2:00 or 1:15–>2:10 This set can also progress from all one stroke to a different stroke like this: 12x100 PURPLE GREEN—>PINK FR—>BK@1:00–>1:55 or 1:10–>2:05

Connect with Us: Follow us on Facebook and Instagram for updates, and join our Facebook Group to get behind-the-scenes content and more information about topics on the podcast.

Contact Us: Have a topic suggestion or want to share your thoughts? Email us at SwimEdInfo@gmail.com.

Subscribe and Rate/Review: You'll help others find our podcast and make sure you don't miss an episode. Then leave a review to let us know what you think!

Join us on weekly on SwimEd: Education for coaches, athletes and parents.