Why Swimmers Should Peer Mentor Younger Teammates Over the course of our time in the water there are a handful of moments we really remember. The ones that linger in our memory long after we hang up our tech suits. For me, some of the sharpest and most meaningful memories of my age group swimming days were moments when an older teammate took a moment to encourage me, to cheer for me during a hard set, gave me a pointer, or simply told me “ Hey, get ‘em next time”...

Katie Ledecky Named USA Swimming Athlete of the Year for 5th time American swimmer Katie Ledecky has been named the USA Swimming Swimmers of the Year at Saturday evening’s awards banquet at the United States Aquatic Sports Convention. The award has been voted on by the USA Swimming House of Delegates and given since 1981 – and is different than the equivalent Golden Goggles award. Only one award is given, rather than one to each gender. For Ledecky, this is a 5th win: she won from 2013-2016, before Caeleb Dressel...

Lawnmower Parents Are the New Helicopter Parents & We Are Not Here for It Taken from WeAreTeachers.com   Recently, I was called down to the main office in the middle of my planning period. I needed to pick up an item that a parent dropped off for their child. Thinking it was something like an inhaler or money for dinner, I was happy to go retrieve it.   When I got to the front office, the parent was holding out a S’well bottle for me. You know, one of those...

4 Ways to Treat Pain Without Prescription Medications By TrueSport   For athletes, even young athletes, a sports injury is something that can have a life-long impact, especially if athletes rush to return to play and take shortcuts during the recovery process. If not treated properly, injuries may lead to years of decreased mobility, weakness, pain, and other issues that impact both their participation in sport, and their quality of life. If not managed properly, pain can also lead to more serious issues, as seen from the accounts of high...

Mental Toughness Toolbox: Make Your Goals Your Own   As the new season begins, you want to make sure that you're headed in the right direction! What's the “right” direction?   To answer that, we have to talk about the concept of goals, or exactly why you're swimming.   As you know, competitive swimming is not a sport for the fainthearted! To get good as a swimmer, you have to be willing to sacrifice your time, energy and social life. You have to be willing to physically suffer! As an...

3 Rules to Live By On Social Media   USA Today   If you really want to play in college, you have to be careful on social media. Here are three "social media rules to live by" when it comes to college recruiting.   Read More  

Swimming Should Be A TV Show   Every swim season is like a TV show: There is comedy, drama, inspiration, heartache, character arcs, plot lines, turning points, and grand finales. All the elements are there. There are also definitive roles within each swimming season. Each person plays a certain character, a certain part.     Read More    

United States Anti- Doping Agency (USADA)     Supplements:   Compounded products are more likely to be tainted because they are mixed by hand and there is limited regulatory oversight. Here's what you need to know  about the risks associated with compounding pharmacies   Athletes: Are the #supplements you're using third-party certified? #BeInformed of one of the ways you can reduce your risk of supplement contamination. #Supplement411   Resources:   How is spironolactone used medically and why is it prohibited at all times in sport? Find out   Our Pocket...

Injuries in Youth Sport and Pain Management By TrueSport Injuries are oftentimes an inevitable part of sport, and it’s easy to assume that your athlete will receive and take the medications they need, in the right dose, for the right amount of time. But unfortunately, there are numerous accounts of high school superstars and promising young athletes whose lives have been lost or threatened after a prescription pain medication for a sports injury spiraled into addiction. Continue

Creating Internal Confidence in Your Swimming By Will Jonathan, USA Swimming Contributor People often make the mistake of thinking that talent is what makes people successful. They see someone like Caeleb Dressel smashing records and breaking barriers and automatically leap to his talent being the difference maker. However, that’s not the case. Let me ask you the following question: Continue