What Good Swim Coaching Looks and Feels Like

It’s a strange situation to be in as a coach: wanting to help more people, but running out of hours, pool space, and capacity.

Most days I’m answering messages from swimmers who want to join the squads, book a 1–1, or finally sort out their swim technique – and I’m having to say some version of “I don’t have any space right now.”

It’s a good problem… but a problem all the same.

And last week, after I mentioned it to one of the swimmers, she sent me a message that stopped me completely:

“I think it’s more of a ‘Bryan problem’ than a swim coaching availability problem. There are other squads and groups and clubs out there… that can never fill their spaces.”

That thought has been sitting with me ever since. Not because of the compliment (although it was a lovely one), but because it made me ask a genuine coaching question:

• Why do some squads fill when others don’t?

• Why do some groups grow, and some stay half-empty?

• What are people actually coming for?

Here’s where I ended up: good coaching isn’t just what you teach. It’s what people feel when they’re in your lane.

Good swim coaching, I’ve found, isn’t about showing someone the “right” way. It’s about noticing, guiding, and creating space for swimmers to find their own way – and being there to support them while they do.

Here’s what it often feels like:

A session might have a clear plan, but it shouldn’t feel like a test. It’s about understanding why we’re doing something, and having the freedom to try without fear of “getting it wrong.”

Sometimes it’s just a gesture or a few words. Feeling like someone is paying attention to you – your effort, hesitation, or small wins – makes a huge difference.

There are lots of cues and technical ideas in swimming. The best coaching distils them to the one adjustment that actually helps you feel smoother, easier, or more in rhythm.

Feedback works best when it’s a conversation, not a lecture. Honest, simple, actionable guidance – paired with encouragement – builds confidence, not doubt.

Yes, some things feel repetitive. But when you understand the purpose behind it, every length becomes a building block, and those small wins start to add up.

Above all, coaching is relational. Swimmers return not just for sessions, but because they feel welcome, included, and understood in the pool.

Great coaching isn’t about being “right” or superior. It’s about creating moments where swimmers feel capable, supported, and a little more confident every time they leave the water.