Driven By Details into 2026
January 4, 2026
As we embark on a New Year and stay mindful of our 2025/26 mantra Driven By Details, following are some thoughts for our athletes.
It is better to do less, and do it right, than to rush through work believing you are gaining something.
Early in our season, 4K is the average yardage per practice for the 11 and over groups. —that’s roughly 140 laps and 12–16 strokes per lap, nearly 2,000 strokes each day. Every stroke matters. That’s why we don’t swim just to swim. We emphasize quality, precision, kicking, and drills.
When you slow down and do things correctly, you will advance further and faster than you ever will by rushing.
The best swimmers in the world are the best kickers. They move efficiently, stay calm, and stay connected to their bodies.
Your nervous system values familiarity over comfort. Repeated thoughts build neural pathways. Repeated behaviors become identity. If you want to reach the next level—if you want to grow into the athlete you know you can be—then you must train your mind as much as your body.
During kick sets, your mind will tell you to quit. Your body can do more. When your heart rate rises, it’s often because breathing is out of control. Focus on slow, complete exhales underwater instead of holding air. Stay relaxed through each stroke. Never rush a breath. When tension builds, CO₂ builds—and everything feels harder than it needs to be.
From this point forward, warming up and warming down with 3–5–7 breathing and working 4–6 controlled underwaters will teach your body that rising CO₂ is not an emergency. The goal is not to hold your breath longer—it’s to control your breathing, stay calm, and perform under pressure.
Individually, we push our limits.
Together, we go beyond them.
Shared effort. Shared trust. Shared rhythm. When we commit to the process as a team, we create something powerful.
This year, we are capable of accomplishing something truly remarkable.
Coach TC