今年１５回目のMount Faber

朝練、行く途中では満月が見えたのに、プールでは拝めず。

Variableの後、スタートのSlowVideoを撮って選手たちにシェア。

朝練が終わったあと、新人コーチの質問を受けて森君も含めてdiscussion。

そのあとcycling。

久しぶりにMount Faberへ。

これで今年１５回目。

重いタイヤに履き替えて初のクライムでしたが意外とスムーズに。

お昼は中華丼と卵スープ。定番メニュー。

朝のdiscussionをまとめて、Coachたちへの提言に。

理解してくれるかな？

Head Coach’s Message 

Understanding and Growing Swimmer’s IQ

Dear Coach Jerry,

As you begin your journey in coaching, let me share with you a concept that might not appear in textbooks, but can make a real difference in how your swimmers grow: Swimmer’s IQ.

This isn’t about academic intelligence or how many medals a swimmer has.
It’s about developing the ability to think, observe, adapt, and make smart decisions in the water.

Let me tell you a quick story.

Back in the 1970s, a young swimmer named Jessie Vassallo began experimenting with underwater dolphin kicks. At the time, no one paid much attention to that phase of the race. But Jessie asked himself, “What if I could go faster by staying underwater longer?”
He tested it, refined it, and what he created became what we now call the "Vassallo Kick" — a game-changer in competitive swimming.

Jessie didn’t just follow instructions. He thought, experimented, and created.
That is Swimmer’s IQ.

As a coach, our job is not only to teach technique and push effort —
It’s also to raise swimmers who ask questions, notice details, try new solutions, and take ownership of their growth.

Here are a few ways you can help develop Swimmer’s IQ in your athletes:

• Ask questions instead of giving all the answers.
  “Why do you think your turn was faster this time?”
• Encourage them to watch and analyze others.
  Watching is learning.
• Praise creative thinking, even if it fails.
  Innovation often comes from trying something new.
• Help them reflect on training.
  Let them explain what they felt and learned — in their own words.
• Let them plan and take the lead sometimes.
  A swimmer who can think for themselves is a swimmer who won’t stop growing.

The strongest athletes are not just fast —
They’re also aware, curious, and thoughtful in how they approach the sport.

So remember, Swimmer’s IQ is not something you measure by a stopwatch,
but something you nurture through your coaching every day.

You're not just coaching swimmers.
You’re helping young people become smart, independent learners — in the pool and in life.

Keep coaching with heart and with thought.

With respect,

Coach Osamu

今日はHollandVillageの新しいモールで寄り道。

華やかな雰囲気の広場があります。