Did you know that it takes the average swimmer 4,000 hours to get to the world-class level? 4,000 hours!
With that in mind, I have prepared a short list of the "must read" books for swim coaches who want to build value to their swimmers.
This list will give you great insights on training, motivation, racing strategies and much more.
Here is the list of the books you should read to improve your job as a coach and grow your athletes.
| Name | Category | Product |
|---|---|---|
| The Swim Coaching Bible | Best Overall |  |
| The Score Takes Care of Itself: My Philosophy of Leadership | Budget Pick |  |
| Science of Swimming Faster | Upgrade Pick |  |
1. The Swim Coaching Bible
"A fresh look at the art and science of coaching, and by far the most well rounded book of its kind on the market today. It took me a while to find a great reference on swimming – and I’ve read them all. I wish someone had written 'The Swim Coaching Bible' many years ago.”
– John L. Hargis, National High School and National Open Water Coach of the Year; winner of the 2003 U.S. Open Water National Team Trials and the 2003 U.S. Olympic Trials (Open Water)
"I have purchased a number of swim coaching books in the past, but this one stands out above the rest. It is truly the Bible of swimming. Quality swim books are hard to find, but this book is a must have for experienced coaches as well as coaches just starting out. It gives a complete breakdown of all elements that are key to the coaching process."
2. Science of Swimming Faster
If you are just starting to make a name for yourself as a swimming coach, you should be very familiar with Halswelle’s magnum opus. In it, you will learn everything there is to know about the science of swimming. How, for example, it is possible to swim after your arms have been cut off.
This quite special book is not something you’d read for pleasure, but it’s still a must-have on your shelf. If you think that your swimming coaching has no use for science, think again.
Within the pages of this book these topics are covered extensively:
This quite special book is not something you’d read for pleasure, but it’s still a must-have on your shelf. If you think that your swimming coaching has no use for science, think again.
3. How Good Do You Want to Be?: A Champion's Tips on How to Lead and Succeed at Work and in Life
Pros:
- Easy to read
- Inspirational
- Gives some of the best practical tips to date on athlete performance
- Perfect for Corporate CEOs
- Care-free read that will keep you coming back for more
Cons:
- One-sided on how Phelps views things
- Won’t help to build a team outside of athletics
- Might just be full of clich�s
- Recommendation should have been for a different book
As a motivated swimmer that strives to be the best I can be, the book “How Good Do You Want to Be?” by Michael Phelps helped me to see the world in a different way and helped me to switch from being a swimmer to a coach. It provided me with the inspiration and motivation to take my love of swimming from the pool and to the workplace. It taught me that there are more things in life than just swimming and that I could achieve even more.
4. The Score Takes Care of Itself: My Philosophy of Leadership
Pros:
- The book reveals the strategy behind Bill Walsh’s success
- An easy to read and entertaining book
The Score Takes Care of Itself tells the story about how Bill Walsh, the greatest coach of all-time, changed football with his three-yards-and-a-cloud-of-dust philosophy. Bill Walsh managed to turn a losing team into a dynasty by focusing on what truly mattered: winning games. This bestseller is full of valuable lessons on leadership and management that will help you achieve success in your life whichever walk of life you may be in.
5. The Culture Code: The Secrets of Highly Successful Groups
Author: Daniel Coyle
Book Summary:
Determining how to make the best swim team is no easy feat. However, author and venture capitalist Daniel Coyle has a few effective strategies to add to your roster.
6. Championship Swim Training
Pros:
- Well Organized
- Great Design
- Long-time Successful Swimming Coach
- Good Use of Examples for Coaching
- In-depth coaching
- Covers the right amount of information
Volume 1: Swimming Faster, Training Smarter, and Getting Faster Every Dayby Ray Jones
This coaching resource is more or less a textbook that an experienced coach might use to educate other coaches. Despite this, many swimmers of all levels can still glean a vast amount of value from this book.
The writing is very straightforward and even a beginner swimmer will be able to follow along. The author has definitely devoted his life to the sport, with several decades of experience behind him.
7. The Golden Rules: Finding World-Class Excellence in Your Life and Work
This book has something for everyone. If you are looking for a fun but very informative read about success, we highly recommend reading this book. It is jam packed with tools that can help and make a huge difference in your life.
You will learn from real-life quotes from professionals like Michael Jordan, Vince Lombardi and Steve Jobs. You will discover the secret of success is all about changing your mindset and embracing the journey.
The authors delve deeply into what they call the “Golden Rules.” These are the six core philosophies that will help you build a successful life and business.
8. No Limits: The Will to Succeed
Pros:
- Good for learning about goal setting
- Motivating for personal coaches
- Helps you identify and fix problems
Cons:
- May be too basic sometimes
- May be useful for non-coaches
No Limits: The Will To Succeed by Eddie Izzard is a how-to certification trainer for personal trainers and a book that tells you how to teach people to use weights. I recommend reading this book if you want to learn practical do-it-yourself exercise techniques.
Conclusion
Everyone has a different opinion on the role that books can play in the life of a swim coach or an experienced swimmer. In this resource, we have carefully selected the best books that have had an impact on our own coaching and that have been the inspiration for us to cover in our training guides. We hope this collection will be of value to you for years to come.
Our Recommendation
| Name | Category | Product |
|---|---|---|
| The Swim Coaching Bible | Best Overall | |
| The Score Takes Care of Itself: My Philosophy of Leadership | Budget Pick | |
| Science of Swimming Faster | Upgrade Pick | |