My basic philosophy for age group swimming
has many components. I have been fortunate
to work with so many great athletes and coaches
over the years, and I have taken bits and
pieces from all of them. I believe in "Excellence
Through Individuality." When a training
group of mine is really going, it looks like
a multi-ring circus. Every person is different
and "one training set fits all"
will leave all short of their full potential.
I use my vast experience to tap into each
athlete's imagination of where he can take
his swimming. While there are common themes
to any great program, there are no short
cuts. Proper training takes planning, time
and commitment!
From a physical standpoint, I believe in
teaching technique, technique, technique
at the beginning stages and continually refining
the stroke through the years of training.
It is critical to make sure kids have the
fundamentals of basic body position and core
body movement in all four competitive strokes.
With proper technique at a young age, the
kids will maintain their stroke integrity
through periods of rapid growth and interest
in other activities. As the children progress
through the program, more aerobic conditioning
is introduced as well as an excitement for
trying new, many times longer events. I feel
it is crucial to train all four strokes and
not specialize at a young age because all
swimmers develop at different rates; hence,
emphasis on development of the IM is always
stressed and praised.
I want mentally and physically fresh swimmers,
as opposed to kids who have been hammered
with no-purpose yardage at a young age. By
the early teen years, I begin to try to change
the swimmers' perception of "fun"
by getting them to see the work and commitment
needed to excel as something to look forward
to doing and doing well. Strong aerobic base
and continued technique at a high level is
stressed. I always build on each season but
occasionally "hold out some plays in
the play book" so that there is continued
development of the swimmer - not a "too
much too fast" mentality.
Mentally, my philosophy is based on the principles
of self-image psychology. This discipline
is concerned with guiding and directing individuals
toward maximum development of their talents
and abilities. I try to teach, train and
motivate the kids to achieve their ultimate
potential in swimming and to see that this
experience will prove valuable to them as
they grow. Developing an appreciation for
such concepts as high self-esteem, personal
accountability, self-discipline, goal setting
and achievement is essential to success in
training and competition. I want the kids
to "dream the BIG dream," but I
also want them to understand that the process
and chase of the dream is as beneficial if
not more than achieving the dream itself.
Just as important in this philosophy is the
education of parents (i.e., letting them
know what to expect on each step of the swimming
ladder). After all, the parents are definitely
part of the ladder of success. In many ways
parents are the true clients of the swimming
business. Educating the parents on the philosophy
of the program and then showing them how
they can support their child's progress makes
all aspects of the club flow in a positive
direction. I communicate with parents so
they can be aware of their child's progress
and support him or her through successes
as well as challenges.
Am I a sprint coach? Am I a distance coach?
I think of my job as a developer of all talents.
I have had success coaching all levels of
swimmers at all distances and strokes. I
enjoy helping the BB kid try for his first
A time as much as helping top level athletes
shoot for world rankings. Developing all
the athletes' talents is what I am all about.
Making sure the athletes understand all the
energy systems and the periodization of these
systems is a big part of getting the athletes
to take ownership of their swimming careers.
I want kids to think for themselves and to
use the knowledge I have given them to maximize
their potential.
I believe in using dry land training to compliment
the movements that swimmers make in all the
competitive strokes but not to tear them
down to where they have difficulty maintaining
proper technique. I love the Barrowman medicine
ball dry land program. I regularly test the
kids on basic athletic standards: high jump,
explosive power, etc. The goal is always
to make them better athletes, which in turn
will help their speed in the water. I will
also use basic weight movements in a very
structured setting, using proper technique
and measured expectations to produce great
improvement.
I believe in video instruction. Kids in the
year 2007 are in general visual learners.
Video games, movies, television, internet,
and all the interactive computer programs
have programmed kids to learn visually. Over
the years I have accumulated a great video
library to show each athlete examples of
the proper way to perform what coaches are
looking for.
I look forward to working with our swimmers
to help them achieve their goals both in
swimming and in life.
Dan Flack
Baylor Swim Club
Vision & Mission
Cultivating strong leaders and competitors
through superior instruction
The Baylor Swim Club seeks to help each student-athlete
realize his or her full potential, both as
a competitive swimmer and as a leader in
the community. Team work and spirit are among
the most highly prized virtues. To develop
integrity and responsibility, coaches strive
to foster self-awareness in all stages of
the training process and encourage athletes
to take ownership of their preparation and
performance. With the right inspiration,
our kids can make their dreams come true.
