Articles

Coach Paul Suggests We Take a Pause and Assess Our Use of Mass Media

Image: India Education Careers Mass Media – Increasing Your Awareness   Mass media platforms are a major source of information & they can be extremely beneficial. It is important to maintain an awareness of possible pitfalls e.g. Social Media can be addictive due to our quest for news, information, gossip, gaming etc, different sources on topics can have differing facts or views creating mixed messaging, inconsistency & issues around accuracy. However, the overarching key aspect to be aware of is the likelihood...

Digging Deep – What is your “English Channel Swim?

Digging deep in the face of adversity – reflections by SwimQuest swimming Holidays Co-Founder John Coningham Rolls The English Channel swim is the “Mount Everest” of long-distance swims.  At approximately 21 miles in distance, plus the huge effects of the tidal movements, there are no guarantees (however good you are at swimming) that you will make it across.  Most crossings take around 12-16 hours, in sea water that is around 60 F.  The English Channel is one of the world’s busiest...

COVID-19 Create A Daily Structure

Changes in our life are normal & we adjust. COVID-19 was not expected & crash tackled us! Daily life & our routines were changed with most areas affected, but the majority have been stopped or altered in some fashion. Humanity is in lockdown, the new normal is completely foreign & many are struggling to cope with the pressure, stress & unknowns. The major culprit are impositions around what we cannot do. Any action from your previous daily life will add...

Coach Shares Research on Corona Virus History

Our thanks to Coach Paul for his research into the coronavirus world. You may be surprised how long this family of viruses has actually been around. The History Of Coronavirus The starting point from a historical perspective is understanding that Coronavirus is not new. Scientists have been aware of it for nearly 60 years, but it is in the last 50 years that it has accumulated wider recognition. Most people became aware of Coronavirus in 2003. That outbreak of Severe Acute Respiratory...

Coach David Marsh’s Words of Encouragement

We recently received the following words of encouragement from an icon in the international world of elite and Olympic swimming, Coach David Marsh.  Dave is a 3x Olympic Coach; 9x NCAA National Coach of the Year; 13xSEC Coach of the Year. As a college athlete he was a 5x All American Back stroker at Auburn University. He has coached age group teams to Elite and 40 Olympic Swimmers from 19 countries.     Dear Shawn, I’d like to thank you and the Swim Strong Foundation for...

Getting Comfortable With The Uncomfortable by Guest Blogger Coach Paul Barry

Getting Comfortable With The Uncomfortable There are numerous challenges that humanity has had to face as a result of events caused by the COVID19 Virus Pandemic. The speed of transmission has provided a short period to process what has happened. To varying degrees this is always the case when major incidents take place with little or no warning. Initial plans are made as key information & data become available. As more understanding & clarity is formed priorities can be formulated &...

Joel’s Journey

Photo by Maël BALLAND from Pexels Hello, my name is Joel Zombre and I am originally from Burkina Faso, West Africa.  I moved to the Unites States in 2010 to further my education. 5 years later in 2015 after graduating from college I decided to join the US NAVY.   Little did I know that there is a swim qualification that I had to pass in order to graduate from Bootcamp. I remember the first day I walked into the recruiting office...

Strengthening Our Swimmers: Insight of a Black Female Swimmer. By: Coach Kailah

Photo of Coach Kailah I have been a participant of the Swim Strong Foundation since I was still perfecting my own swimming techniques. However, through my training and dedication, I was able to become a swimming coach and gain experience in teaching various ages of students at various swimming levels. While I was younger and training under the head instructor, Shawn Slevin, I never fully understood the opportunity in which the foundation gave historically disparaged groups of people until I became...

Swim Strong

While we are forced to be out of the water in the time of the Covid-19 Pandemic, it gives us time to reflect on the many blessings we share as an organization.   Key among them is are the wonderful volunteers who support our swimming programs by teaching learn to swim lessons to ages 3 through adults as well as coach our competitive swimmers to sharpen their stroke techniques so they improve their speed and stamina. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tKWu8YEcmNQ&feature=youtu.be

Breathing Meditation That Aids Greatly In Your Life Journey

Thanks to Coach Paul Barry for these breathing tips to help us manage our stress in these most challenging of times.   Many attempt to distance themselves or show no interest in an aspect often referred to as “new age.” Minimal research will confirm meditation practice dates back as far as 5000 BCE. Essentially, it’s more a lack of knowledge around meditation, its many beneficial properties & the qualities it can have on your life. In current times it’s more widely accepted,...

Managing Life Well If-Then Planning and Self-Calming

Dr. Bruce Lawrie, PhD, is an internationally renowned psychologist who for 32 years has been specializing in using Applied Performance Psychology techniques to enhance overall psychological and physical wellbeing to help individuals and teams reach their full life and competitive potential.  As an elite Masters Swimmer himself with 50 plus years of coaching of international medal winners at Paralympics, Olympic and Commonwealth Games, Dr.Lawrie ‘s observations and advise are timely and much welcomed within our swimming community.   He is located in the United Kingdom...

COVID-19   A TIME FOR RESILIENCE

Thankyou Coach Paul for some good advise on how to manage through these challenging times. COVID-19   A TIME FOR RESILIENCE To be Resilient in uncertain & unknown times a synergy of qualities is required. Although set out individually they are all intertwined & provide a holistic based resilience approach to life. When our actions, feelings, emotions & energy reflect true purpose the outcome is RESILIENCE.   PURPOSE Having purpose provides you with goals to work on & a healthy direction to travel in. Purpose...