Swimming Mentoring: An Introduction

Last Updated on April 27, 2022 by admin

**Swimming mentoring is a proven and effective way of developing a mentee to achieving optimum swimming performance.**

In this article, will provide advice, hacks and tips on the benefits of swimming mentoring for both swimmers and January coaches.

Contents

What is swimming mentoring?

Swimming mentoring is an educational development process, where a mentor (For example a Senior Coach) helps a mentee (For example a junior coach or swimmer), to acquire either a skill, experience or knowledge.

Swimming mentoring is a proven and effective way of developing a mentee to achieve either an optimum swimming performance or improved coaching performance.
It is designed to support and build confidence in the mentee so that they are empowered to take control of their own development.

What is a swimming mentor?

A swimming mentor is usually a more experienced and knowledgeable person than the mentee.

Examples of swimming mentors are a senior coach, a senior swimmer or a senior swimming official.

What is a mentee?

A swimming mentee is usually a less experienced and knowledgeable person than the mentor.

Examples of swimming mentees are a junior coach, a junior swimmer or a junior swimming official.

What are the benefits of swimming mentoring?

Swimming mentoring has many benefits. For example,

Helping a mentee to achieve swimming qualifications.
Enabling a mentee to gain experience in a new role.
Enabling a mentee to learn a new series of skills or drills.
Helping a mentee to gain confidence and self-belief.

How does swimming mentoring work?

Swimming mentoring is proven to be more effective if both the mentor and mentee are focused on the same desired outcomes.

Although formal mentoring training can be important, the most effective natural mentors are usually senior coaches, swimmers and officials.

Identifying the main objectives

The mentoring process usually starts with the identification of its main objectives.

Conducting a SWOT analysis

Once the main objectives have been identified, the mentee usually conducts a SWOT analysis.

A SWOT analysis is designed to evaluate their swimming strengths and
It also identifies prospective opportunities, as well as potential threats or barriers, in regard to achieving their main mentoring objectives.

Finding a suitable mentor

Once a SWOT analysis has been conducted, it should become easier to identify a suitable mentor who could best help the mentee in achieving these objectives.

Finding a suitable mentor is usually the responsibility of the head coach.

Setting swimming mentoring goals

Once a mentor has been found, the mentor and mentee should agree on the swimming mentoring goals.

These help to establish and to focus on clear targets, priorities and expectations.
Many mentors or head coaches produce specific swimming monitoring goal sheets to assist in this process.

Scheduling swimming mentoring sessions

The next step is to plan regular mentoring sessions.

These should be agreed upon between the head coach, the mentor and the mentee.

Monitoring and evaluating the process

Once the mentoring process is underway, it’s important that the mentor performs ongoing monitoring and evaluation of the process.

This helps to ensure that the process is on track.

Mentoring timeframes

Swimming mentoring is usually more effective if it’s conducted regularly over a period of time.

Ideally, this should be for an hour a week and depending on the size of the task in hand should ideally be conducted over a period of between 3 to 18 months.

Swimming mentoring formats

Swimming mentoring can be conducted in a variety of formats. These include,

One to one or group format

Swimming mentoring can take place either as a one-to-one or in a group format.

Group formats work best if the group is small, ideally consisting of four or fewer mentees.

Face to face or remote

Swimming mentoring can also take place either face to face or by a remote format.

Remote formats usually include using conferencing technology such as Skype or using correspondence such as email or social media.

Formal or informal mentoring style

Swimming mentoring can be conducted as part of a formal mentoring programme.

However, most mentoring sessions are held informally.
Usually by participants from the same club, team or organisation.

**An effective swimming mentor should possess a range of qualities**

The key attributes of an effective swimming mentor

An effective swimming mentor should possess the following qualities

A willingness to share their skills, knowledge, and expertise.

They are willing to pass on and share what they know.

Good communication skills

They have good communication skills and are able to adjust their communication to the preferred style of the mentee.

Empathy with their mentees

They have empathy with their mentees.

As they can remember what it was like when they were less experienced.

A willingness to put in the time, effort and commitment

They have an understanding that effective swimming mentoring takes time, effort and commitment.

Acts as a positive role model
They act as a positive role model by demonstrating to the mentee, what it takes to be successful in our sport.

By setting a good example, these actions can highly motivate a mentee.

Providing support and guidance

They provide ongoing support and guidance to the mentee.

A good coach, teacher or trainer

They are a good coach, teacher or trainer.

They are also knowledgeable, with great communications skills.

Empowering

They strive to develop the mentee, by empowering them to develop their own good attitudes, beliefs, behaviours and habits.

A love and passion for the sport

They demonstrate a love and passion for swimming.

This enthusiasm can be contagious and highly motivating for the mentee.

Setting goals

Together with the mentee, they set and monitor agreed mentoring goals.

This helps establish and focus on clear targets, priorities and expectations.

Constructive feedback

They provide regular constructive feedback to the mentee.

This can help the mentee to stay focused and help keep the mentoring process on track.

Examples of swimming mentoring

Coach mentoring examples

A senior coach mentors a less experienced coach during their coursework for a coaching qualification.
A coach mentors an assistant coach to enable them to play an increasingly active role in the coaching of a squad.

Swimming mentoring examples

A coach mentors a swimmer to learn how to perform an effective turn.
A coach mentors a swimmer about the benefits of invisible swimming training. Specifically, nutrition, hydration and rest.

Senior swimmers and junior swimmers (peer monitoring)

One of the most effective forms of mentoring in our experience is when a senior swimmer mentors a junior swimmer.

This is often referred to as peer mentoring.
Junior swimmers naturally look up to the senior swimmers in their club.
They can see for themselves how hard they train and how fast they swim.
This makes them ideal role models and mentors.
Senior swimmers can effectively give junior swimmers practical demonstrations of how to perform drills correctly, in the water.
This usually focuses the younger swimmer’s attention on the task.
Peer mentoring enables senior swimmers to get to know the younger swimmers on their team and help provide future support.
This can provide the junior swimmer with a great sense of confidence and belonging
Peer mentoring often reminds senior swimmers of their responsibilities as role models.
It can also remind them of their time as a junior swimmer and this can lead to increased empathy and future support.
Often senior swimmers use these peer mentoring sessions as an opportunity to refocus on their own technical swimming skills.
We have found that as a result of peer mentoring our swim teams are generally happier and more supportive of one another.
We have also found that some senior swimmers really enjoy mentoring.
For some this can be their first steps toward later becoming a swim teacher or coach.

Introducing peer mentoring

The successful introduction of peer mentoring usually requires some pre-planning.

Mentoring groups need to be organised.
This should be in line with the mentees swimming goals and the mentor’s knowledge and skill set.
Weekly mentoring sessions should be scheduled by the coach or mentor.
The mentoring could take place during a particular activity during a training session.
For example, if the mentoring is technically based, the mentoring session could take place, in the session after the pool warm-up.
To make it easier to schedule, ideally, the mentor and mentee should train at the same venue at approximately the same time.
During the mentoring process, the senior swimmers should remember their role model status and should be prepared to set a good example at all times.
Senior swimmers need to regularly encourage the younger swimmers with plenty of encouragement, praise and positive feedback.
This is especially the case whenever a younger swimmer is finding the process difficult.

Takeaways

Swimming mentoring is an educational development process, where a mentor helps a mentee, to acquire either a skill, some experience or some knowledge.