“Swimming is all about friends. You retire from the sport, but you keep your swim friends forever.” If you’ve ever been a swimmer, you know that it’s not just a sport. It’s a lifestyle. A lifestyle that, if you’re committed, pushes you to your limits and changes you as a person. We asked eight swimmers […]

All through your life you will have to make decisions about when to treat yourself and when to discipline yourself. It’s important to have a balance. Kids will be kids. They’ll want to eat a lot of sugar. They’ll stay up late playing video games at sleepovers. They’ll struggle with prioritizing and time management. As […]

When receiving a ball, whether from a serve or an attack, your decision as a receiver is whether to absorb the ball or generate pace on the ball. VOLLEYBALL DRILLS TO DO AT HOME Want to get your skills to a new level? Establish a routine of drills you can do at home. Do these on […]

Swimming truly is a social sport, and it’s always helpful to know people when you’re networking as you begin your job search. While swimming is obviously valuable for us physically, many people don’t realize the lasting effects it can have on people as they enter the professional world. Being a longtime athlete shapes you in more […]

Start low and out. Most hitters don’t like that pitch and will let it go by for a free strike. “When in doubt, throw low and out.” This came up recently when the mom of one of my students asked me for a little help in learning how to call pitches for her daughter. Makayla […]

At Swim Smooth we are firm believers that anyone can become a strong swimmer, whether swimming comes easily to you or if it takes you a little longer to get there. Of course it’s only natural that if you are frustrated with your lack of swim speed then you may be wishing you were more […]

Before you even start planning your practices and drilling your players, you’ll need to check out the handbook for your specific league. Perhaps you love football. Maybe you even played football in high school. And now, you’ve signed your own child up for the local youth football league. What’s more, you’ve agreed to coach his […]

The focus is on lengthening the time that the players can concentrate and the resistance they can work against. “Small sided games, while no guarantee, are the best way to get children interested in soccer…” “Over and over again during matches and training sessions, situations occur that are suitable for ‘mental training.’ This is because these […]

For some parents it can be extremely difficult to turn the baseball instruction on and off. Remember to draw a clear distinction between parent-coach and child-player. Coaching your own children can be one of the most rewarding experiences for a parent. Yet it can be nerve-wracking. While on one hand coaching your child gives you […]

This challenging setting drill requires players to set the ball many times continuously. Players can do this drill on their own at home as well as in practice. Repetitive volleyball drills can help the players on your team improve their skills and develop good habits. Avoid boring your team by choosing fun drills that will […]