World Champs are starting soon, but I don't know if I'll watch all of it. I think watching 12 & under Champs was more exciting...am I alone in that sentiment?How do we make all swimming more exciting for all spectators? Coaches, athletes, and

Episode 21 - The Inner Ear

Jun 12th, 2019 12m 44s

The inner ear is responsible for our sense of balance, and that's what we're discussing this week. Last year at this time I talked about June Syndrome, and I'm realizing that June Syndrome for coaches often equates to burnout. I'm exhausted, an

Episode 20 - I'm Back

Jun 6th, 2019 26m 59s

I've been on hiatus. The last five months were a lot to handle, and the podcast took a backseat. But now I'm back, I'm motivated, and I'm ready to dive back in (to sitting in my computer chair and talking about swimming).Let's talk about prac

Episode 19 - My Workout is Harder than Your Workout

Dec 22nd, 2018 11m 44s

News! I'm starting a new role at a new club. I'm also talking about what constitutes a "hard" workout. ProSwimWorkouts.com - use code SwimmersEar for a discounted subscriptionFind me on Twitter @coach_SarahMac or Instagram @sarah.swim44

Episode 18 - Old Boys, Older Tricks

Nov 25th, 2018 23m 12s

Basically I rant about how difficult it is for women in the world of coaching because of the Old Boys' Club. Use code SwimmersEar at ProSwimWorkouts.com for a discounted subscription!Find me on Twitter @Coach_SarahMac or Instagram @sarah.swi

Episode 17 - Take Pride

Oct 6th, 2018 17m 24s

I want to briefly discuss two different scenarios I found myself faced with recently, both of which caused me to think more critically about the ways I take pride in my profession as a coach. Hopefully you can relate in some way to what I'm try

Episode 16 - Catfish in the Pool

Sep 17th, 2018 22m 14s

It's been a minute! This week I'm telling you why having catfish in your pool is important for you and your athletes. That's all I'm saying. You'll have to listen to figure out what I mean.Use code SwimmersEar @ ProSwimWorkouts.com for a disc

Episode 15 - Guessing Weird Drill Names

Jul 19th, 2018 22m 16s

I took to Facebook to find the weirdest drill names that coaches have in their arsenal, and I tried to guess what the drills were! We've got some very strange ones in here...Thanks to everyone who submitted a weird drill name! Please let me k

Episode 13 - Burnout

Jun 26th, 2018 27m 26s

This week I discuss some research I've been doing for my Masters project. How do parents, peers, and coaches impact a swimmer's engagement in the sport? Whose fault is it when a swimmer quits for good?Source: Jessica Fraser-Thomas, Jean Côté

Episode 12 - June Syndrome

Jun 18th, 2018 9m 52s

Bonus podcast! It's a short one, and one wherein I solicit advice from fellow coaches.

Episode 11 - Breaststroke, Best Stroke?

Jun 18th, 2018 37m 6s

This week I'm talking about how BAD I am at breaststroke and how my failure at it fueled my coaching of it. I've learned a lot along the way, and if you listen all the way to the end, I provide you with my number 1 drill for teaching good breas

Episode 10 - Quality vs. Quantity

Jun 9th, 2018 24m 17s

Today I discuss the age old question of quality versus quantity: we know swimmers need to swim a lot of metres, but shouldn't those metres mean something? I delve into my swimming career and the beginning of my coaching career to discuss how I

Episode 9 - Rudy

May 22nd, 2018 18m 12s

This week, I'm talking about my favourite sports movie (no judgment, please) and how it helped me stay involved in sport over the years.Visit ProSwimWorkouts.com to listen to the rest of my podcasts, and use code "SwimmersEar" when you subscr

Episode 8 - Worst 400 IM Ever

May 15th, 2018 19m 6s

Do you remember the first time you swam 400 IM? I imagine it wasn't the greatest. In this podcast I discuss why you should consider embracing the "worst 400 IM ever" mentality with your young swimmers.

Episode 7 - Yoga for the Young Swimmer with Jeff Grace

May 5th, 2018 34m 45s

This week I had the pleasure of discussing yoga for 12 & under swimmers with Jeff Grace from Swimming Specific Yoga! Jeff has been a swimming coach for 20+ years, a swimmer before that, and has been a champion of yoga since (at least) 2011. Add

Episode 6 - Teaching Feel

Apr 30th, 2018 21m 48s

This week, Twitter users voted that I should discuss how to teach "feel!" As promised, this week I provide a description of "feel" as well as some tools coaches can use to teach it to their young athletes.

Episode 5 - No Bad Fly

Apr 23rd, 2018 22m 7s

This week I discuss my efforts to change my coaching style to embrace my swimmer's abilities in a more positive way. I spent a week coaching my athletes to stop swimming bad butterfly - but you'll have to listen to find out how.

Episode 4 - Turning a Bad Practice into a Good Practice

Apr 16th, 2018 24m 35s

I had to completely throw out two consecutive practices last week. In this podcast, I talk about the reasons why and discuss how productive it was to embrace my failure and use it as a springboard into success.

Episode 3 - Test Sets for Development Swimmers

Apr 2nd, 2018 20m 45s

What metrics are most useful to you in your coaching? Which ones give you the best sense of your athletes' development? In this episode I share the five sets I'm using this year to gauge my group's progress through my season plan.

Episode 2 - Mindful vs. Mindless Swimming

Mar 26th, 2018 21m 53s

When you swim, are you mindful of what you're doing, or mindless? Many of us use swimming as a means of "shutting off" our brains and taking some time to be without thought, without worry. I don't think this works for competitive swimming; list

Episode 1 - Intro to the Ear

Mar 20th, 2018 4m 54s

Episode 1 is an intro to the podcast and to its host. Sarah MacDonald is a Canadian coach who has worked with 12 & under Age Group swimmers for the past 14 years. In completing her Masters in Coaching Studies, she has found great value in excha

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