Getting that Swim Coach Uniform-Successful Coaching Behaviors

Finally got my swim coach uniform for meets, which was nice! It says, "Raised on the Great Lakes, trained in a pool." That’s a great touch, and honestly, pretty accurate. A lot of us grew up on the Great Lakes—swimming, fishing, and falling in love with the water. I still spend as much time on the water as I can.

(Illustrative)

Be one with the
duck!

Floating, gliding,
and paddeling 
all help when
swimming.

So, what actually makes an effective coach? (I've shared a resource below if you're interested.)

To me, an effective coach:

• Delivers actionable feedback: Helps athletes recognize their own areas for growth so they can take ownership of their development.

• Balances positivity with constructive critique: Shares critique in a way that is easy to digest and actually encourages growth.

• Sets clear boundaries: Maintains focus, respect, and structure on the deck.

• Instills true sportsmanship: Sportsmanship is a real indicator of character, and unfortunately, it's something too many coaches and athletes overlook today.

This study has some good ideas as well, 

Successful Coaching Behaviors: Challenges and Opportunities in Relationships

• Health and wellness coaching utilizes motivational strategies and trusting relationships to help individuals achieve long-term physical, psychological, and social well-being.

• Key foundational frameworks include motivational interviewing, the transtheoretical model of change, self-determination theory, the social ecological model, and positive psychology.

• Successful client-coach relationships are driven by shared cultural and demographic characteristics, equal power dynamics, mutual respect, and approachable, non-judgmental coaching qualities.

• Effective communication relies on client-centered dialogue, asking permission before sharing knowledge, utilizing open-ended questions, and focusing on intrinsic, self-created goals.

• When client-coach relationships become stagnant or incompatible due to mismatched personalities or shifting client needs, coaches can utilize lateral referrals to redirect clients to alternative professionals to maintain continuity of care.

Watkins, D., Rock, M., Vaughan, E. M., Kirschmann, J. M., & Johnston, C. A. (2025). Successful coaching behaviors: Challenges and opportunities in relationships. American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine, 19(6), 832–836. https://doi.org/10.1177/15598276251327917

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