First off, Canyons Informer would like to thank everyone who wrote in and voted. And secondly, in the interest of not singling out the coaches who didn't fare so well... we are only listing the TOP TWO.
Over a hundred fifty people voted. So in regards to getting an accurate statistical sampling, these results really telegraph who we think is doing their job, and doing it well.
And the results are:
1st - Mike Bechtholdt
2nd - Guido Gomez
Interestingly, a lot of people wrote in and cast their vote with stipulations like I vote for "------" assuming they will not own an iPad during my training. Or I vote for "------" assuming they won't be texting on their phone.
But it should be noted that Mike and Guido had no such stipulations mentioned.
Remember, this was a call for parents and swimmers to vote for the coach they would pick if they could only have one coach (from Canyons of course) guide them on an Olympic quest.
A bit of a surprise here was Guido Gomez. Obviously swimmers and parents love him, and he's one of our more qualified coaches, but Guido is primarily known for coaching the younger swimmers. Yet, parents and swimmers alike rated him a close second to Mike.
Canyons Informer ventures to guess this could be a result of his degree in Sports Psychology. Parents and swimmers must have really responded to that as it came through in his coaching.
Remember, at the highest levels in any sport, what goes on in the psyche of an athlete sets the stage for performance in practice and competition.
Another interesting point that should be noted. Mike and Guido BOTH swam at the Collegiate level. They know what it takes to perform on an elite level, and from personal experience. And they have the work ethic and coaching skills to convey that to the swimmers they coach.
Please remember Coach Coley was left out of this vote tally. Despite his qualifications, he simply hasn't been here long enough for the parent/swimmer base to get an accurate feel for his style and skills.
And regarding the coaches who did not place in the TOP TWO?
You can do better.
Simply take a cue from Mike and Guido.
But leave the iPad at home!
Canyons Informer
Why the hell didn't the board simply make a real offer to Mike? I know the guy is busy and everything but you have to woo these guys. Pay them what they are worth. So they can focus on what they do best.
ReplyDeleteWe only got saddled with Coley because he was looking for a place to crash. Simple as that.
He was going to have to leave PSC and So Cal is right next door.
Whatever, he's trained Olympians. So what.
Doesn't matter when you piss the parents off by being self serving and not developing the talent they swim club already has in house, instead of shipping it in from elsewhere.
Thanks for doing this Blog, Informer.
Keep it going. People are responding.
Give Coley a chance. He hasn't been here that long.
DeleteBravo, GUIDO!!!
ReplyDeleteWhat about the other coaches? Post the full results! Come on! They should be brought to task!
ReplyDelete+1. Inquiring minds want to know.
DeleteMe too. Please post the whole list.
Delete+1
DeleteInteresting.
ReplyDeleteGuido was the very favorite of my swimmers - and the most respectful to parents.
ReplyDeleteHurray for Mike!
ReplyDeleteYou need to get the toxic people out of the club. Get rid of the bad coaches, get rid of the bad board members, get rid of the toxic parents. We need a clean slate.
ReplyDeleteToxicity appears to permeate throughout the club - it doesn't sound like an environment for kids to grow and thrive...
DeleteI just want to tell everyone that I think Guido is a tremendous coach. He's level headed, and positive which I think is perfect for the younger swimmers. I admire his attitude despite having to coach way to many swimmers in just 3 lanes. I also appreciate Amanda for being such a positive influence with the future swimmers...both are a terrific combo.
ReplyDeleteGuido & Amanda truly are great coaches. Jay is a great technical coach and really loves the kids and is dedicated to them. I only ask he is more approachable when parents have legitimate questions/concerns. Speaking with him can be like an ominous venture, very few feel comfortable approaching him.
ReplyDeleteWho else thinks it was desperate for Canyons to appoint a TOTALLY FOREIGN head coach instead of someone who "knows the ropes" and has the necessary Canyons experience. We asked a stranger to help us!
ReplyDeleteCanyons has from top to bottom one of the best coaching staffs in Southern California, if not the country. Ask the KIDS, not the parents. Ask other teams. My kids have swum under almost all of them, except Mike and Coley. But Mike has interacted with them and they like him as well. Coley has shown up at several of my son's practices and worked with the kids, either in dry land or in the pool. He likes his workouts as well as his interaction with the kids.. Pretty good feedback on a "Totally Foreign Head Coach". The coaches are there to work with our kids, and that is what they do best. Ask any coach in any youth sport what the worst part of their job is and it is unanimous, the parents..
ReplyDeleteWhen you get to the higher levels (JO and up), the kids should have the fundamentals down and should not need constant one on one attention, especially if there are 35 other kids in the pool. But all of the coaches are very good technically, pointing out to the kids what they have to work on and what they are doing well.
Go to any pool deck in the country.. You may be surprised, coaches texting or on their iPad while the kids are swimming sets. Guess what, when you are at the end of the pool yelling at your kid to "kick!", they can't here you.. So, a coach cannot yell instruction during the middle of a set.
Everyone of our coaches is dedicated to their job and dedicated to making our kids better swimmers and better people.
Thank you Canyons Coaches! All of you!
Another ignorant parent happy to have Canyons take their money, while thinking they are really getting what they paid for in the first place. So sad.
DeleteYou've got to be kidding.............JO swimmers have so many possibilities and the coach should be pushing each and every one of them to achieve their goals, not just focusing on a few select swimmers. As for texting & IPad use, it's okay if it's not excessive. Coaches spend a lot of time entering meet events, etc. However, I do believe that we have top notch coaches, but Coley has yet to prove himself as a "human being," and not a self-serving individual. There's a reason he came to Canyons and if you have not seen the article on SwimSwam regarding his firing at PSC, please refresh your memories.
DeleteRead the above two replies to your post. The majority simply does not hold your opinion. Wake up and demand to get what you paid forth. Canyons was once a decent swim club. Now it's simply on autopilot. Essentially you are only paying for pool time. Not coaching.
DeleteAnd if you simply want pool time. You can get as much of that as you can handle for $50 a month at SCAC. And you can do it in the best pool in the valley.
The above reply is highly misinformed... You take your kid to SCAC and throw them into lap swim for roughly the same cost and you are going to get the same results? Give me a break.. You obviously do not pay attention to what the kids are actually doing in the pool.. They don't just jump in and swim for 2 hours. There is a system and plan to the training, depending on where they are in the season, upcoming meets, etc.. An 11 year old is not going to be able to go to lap swim and create a good, productive workout, and with the parent, it would be even worse. Plus, they do not get pushed when they are swimming by themselves. There is a good competitive atmosphere when they are training with the other kids that you can never get swimming by themselves.
DeleteReally? I don't think so. Look, I can pay $50 and my kid (who is 15 and has three sectional times) can swim more hours at SCAC then they are getting right now and I am paying about $250 a month.
DeleteMy kid knows the workouts. Knows how to taper. He can pretty much run the whole show himself.
What he can't do is watch himself in the pool.
That is what a coach is for... and I'm not getting my money's worth.
Am I getting 4 times a better workout for him by paying $250 instead of $50?
I don't think so. Not at all.
He may be getting a slightly better workout but not 4 times the quality!
@ March 7, 2013 at 8:59 AM above - it's not roughly the same cost. It's over 4 times as much.
DeleteMy kid can swim more hours at SCAC (the best pool around) for 1/4 the cost of what we are paying.
He knows the workouts. Can taper. Read my post.
We ARE NOT getting what we pay for. Things need to change.
Not sure what group your kid is in... But, I know none of them are $250 per month.. Sr. Elite is the highest and it is $170. If you are factoring in meet entry fees, those aren't included with SCAC lap swim. If you are factoring in the volunteer commitment, then volunteer, you'll get that back..
DeleteAnd more hours does not equal better results.. The former Sr Elite coach ran the kids into the ground with yardage and dry land, look at what that accomplished.
It sounds like your kid is very accomplished, how did he get to that point? Apparently the coaches had nothing to do with it.. so, why would he need one now.. Just get a coach to give him privates a couple days a week and he'll be in Rio...
To March 7th at 10:56 - You can leave and go to SCAC if you are not happy here. Canyons has wait lists of swimmers for every group dying to get into the club. If you are unhappy go to SCAC where you pay 1/4 the fee and then we will see how well your swimmer does.
DeleteCoaches are not perfect and some do need to change their ways, but how many people work for a bad boss but remain on the job.
@ March 7, 2013 at 10:49 AM - If your kid has 3 sectional times, it might be in your best interest to let him stay but seek other coaching on the side. Just my 2 cents worth.
Delete"When you get to the higher levels (JO and up), the kids should have the fundamentals down and should not need constant one on one attention, especially if there are 35 other kids in the pool"
ReplyDeleteThere's a recipe for disaster! So you're saying a monkey could run the work out. Simply tell the kids to get in the pool and then watch them swim.
That's not coaching, that's babysitting. And if there is 35 kids in a group for one coach that is also a recipe for disaster.
Look, when kids hit the JO and higher level that is when coaching could make or break the swimmer.
Your post is very ill informed.
"coaches texting or on their iPad while the kids are swimming sets."
ReplyDeleteThat is NOT coaching. You obviously have never coached swim or any other sport. And you can yell helpful instruction during a set. And yelling KICK. Ain't it.
Never mind the fact a good coach should be watching the technical aspects of each swimmer in each stroke. In each distance and making notes. Real written notes. As mental notes won't cut it with big groups.
But if you have 35 kids in a group with one coach that become rather difficult.
But if you write it down, you can talk to each swimmer after they are out of the water.
It can be done. I've seen it done. It should be done.
And Canyons ain't doing it!
You cannot yell instruction while a kid is swimming... they flat out cannot hear you... Yes you can give instruction between sets while they are on the wall, which I see happening. And the yelling "kick", that is sarcasm, because the clueless parents think that the kid is never kicking hard enough, and think the kid can hear them while they are swimming away from them (they can't hear you).. The coaches can see what adjustments need to be made and talk to the kids about what they need to work on, they do not have to take meticulous notes. These coaches see things that 98% of the parents would never pick up.
ReplyDeleteHow much coaching could they do if they spend the practice writing notes on 35 kids? And how long would it take to talk to 35 kids at the end of practice to go over the notes? Which would be better, the coach cuts 35 minutes out of training to talk to each kid or you wait in the parking lot an additional 35 minutes for your kid, so they can eat dinner 35 minutes later and get started on their homework 35 minutes later.. The coaches also talk to the kids at the meets after each event.
The coaches create a workout to condition and prepare them for competition, it is not a swim school. They also do drills during the workout to help them hone their technique.
At the end of the day, it comes down to the kid putting effort into the workout they are given.. They will get out of it what they put into it.
If you want a personalized, swim school type of workout for your kid, try the Paseo Club. They have a great coach, although I'm sure the critics could find something wrong with him too, and they have about 6-8 kids swimming..
See this guys post "Really? I don't think so. Look, I can pay $50 and my kid (who is 15 and has three sectional times) can swim more hours at SCAC then they are getting right now and I am paying about $250 a month.
DeleteMy kid knows the workouts. Knows how to taper. He can pretty much run the whole show himself.
What he can't do is watch himself in the pool.
That is what a coach is for... and I'm not getting my money's worth.
Am I getting 4 times a better workout for him by paying $250 instead of $50?
I don't think so. Not at all.
He may be getting a slightly better workout but not 4 times the quality!"
Very well said.
The coaches need to step their game up. Or get out.