How to Get "The EDGE"

The Edge—What is it and How do you Get It!

When anyone talks about “the edge” I think of two things: shaving cream and the band member from U2. In a high expectation, high achievement community like ours we spend time, maybe too much time, looking for a way for our children to get ahead. Nothing wrong with that as parents we all want the best for our kids, we want them to succeed. The Edge in swimming is not given out like candy on Halloween, it is earned by tireless time in the pool paying attention to every detail during every lap every day for years at a time. There is no magic camp, no magic suit, no magic video, no magic team, no magic coach. In swimming there are three ways to get “The Edge” : Come all the Time, Do it Right All the Time, and Try As Hard As You Can.

Come all the Time: Before Michael Phelps was even an Olympian he was know for his absolute dedication to being at practice. From the time he was 13 until he was 18 he never missed a practice! Imagine how good you could be if you came every practice that was offered for 5 Years. WOW. Michael's routine was a seven day a week in the water and four to five dryland sessions a week during that time. Sound Familiar? In my 29 years as a coach whether with beginners or Olympians those who were the most successful in the improvement category were those that were there 100% of the time. Even when they were sore and tired they were there. Being Willing to BE THERE when no one else is—That is the Edge!

Do it Right All the Time: Here at BSC our Coaches undergo weekly instruction on what to look for and how to correct stroke mechanics, turns, starts, tactics, and training. Your Head Coach has worked under two Olympic Coaches and has successful taught technique to swimmers beginners through Olympians in the United Sates and abroad. Every practice every day is spent improving our ability both as individuals and as a team to improve our technique and hold it together while we are working hard. Swimmers that listen to the corrections they are given and put them into action are the swimmers that will improve the most. The Edge in swimming is learning to do something right and making that change permanent in workout. Be willing to do it RIGHT when no one else is—That is the Edge!

Try as Hard As You Can: This is the one thing that will separate those with average improvement and those with extraordinary improvement. The ability and desire to train at the highest level possible every day. The teammates who improve the most are those that are willing to go nearly all out with little or no rest to reach their goal every practice. These swimmers are always visualizing their race every lap every day. No matter the stroke or the distance, good swimmers will always put themselves in a position to rehearse their race in practice. Being Willing to GO HARDER and FASTER than anyone else is---That is the Edge!

So you see folks “The Edge” is really about: out working, out thinking, and out attending your competition. No magic, suit, camp, lesson, food, drink, team, or even coach. The Edge is teammates willing to do more and do it better and do it faster. The Edge is parents, athletes and coaches all working together to make BSC the best it can be. Start with these Necessary Things and you will be amazed what we can accomplish!

PRACTICE LIKE A CHAMPION TODAY!!

RACE LIKE A CHAMPION TODAY AT SECTIONALS, JUNIOR OLYMPICS and NATIONALS!!