Gregg Parini on The Importance of End of Season Goal Meetings

Photo Courtesy: Allen Rich

By Ailish Dougherty, Swimming World College Intern.

Now that many college swim seasons have ended for those not headed to Nationals with the conclusion of conference championships, it is critical to take the necessary steps to recap the season and to prepare for next year. Goal meetings between swimmer and coach are a great way to evaluate the season – whether it was successful or not – as well as to gain closure and set concrete goals for the upcoming month.

I asked Gregg Parini, head coach of DIII powerhouse Denison University Men and Women’s Swimming and Diving teams, about his take on the importance of off-season training and swimmer-coach goal meetings. As NCAA rules prohibit coaches from requiring their teams to swim during the spring and summer, goal meetings are crucial in offering recommendations and suggestions for swimmers to improve during their time off.

AD: What do you tell your swimmers to keep them in shape and motivated during an extended off-season?

GP: We really put the responsibility on their shoulders to be sure that their willingness to prepare and train is consistent and in alignment with their goals. Most importantly, we openly discuss their goals for the upcoming year, assess what steps will be necessary for them to secure their goals, and then talk about how they can use their summer to their advantage in reaching them. The post season is a critical time for athletes to do some serious soul searching in terms of what they want, where they want their swimming to go, and what they’re willing to do in order to achieve it. Ultimately, if the swimmers want to experience serious breakthroughs in the pool, then their options are pretty limited. The path to excellence is pretty narrow.

AD: How do you suggest swimmers recover mentally from the season while also staying physically active?

GP: We encourage them to take a short break from training and to do some of the things that they’ve had to put off due to their commitments in the pool. We also work quickly to put the previous season in their rearview mirror. It’s important that all the swimmers get closure on their seasons and begin making plans for the next one. We encourage post-season assessments with all our swimmers. Whether they’ve been highly successful, or they are coming off a particularly difficult season, it’s important that all our swimmers get the chance to put things to rest. We have found that this process can be particularly energizing and motivating for the next season.

AD: Do you often see sophomores struggling to keep up during fall practices after returning from their first real off-season?

GP: I’ve seen it go both ways. Some suffer from the sophomore slump – as one of our former NCAA champs described sophomore year, “I feel like yesterday’s news.” It’s often hard for some to come off the excitement of freshman year when everything is fresh and new. I’ve also seen people really find themselves during sophomore year and have breakout seasons. For these folks, freshmen year adjustments are often overwhelming, which carry over to the pool. As things settle down sophomore year, these individuals get comfortable and begin to excel. This dynamic, as much as any, is why we think the post-season assessment/goal setting sessions are really important. They help the athletes make that transition and set them up for a more successful second season.

Goal meetings are a vital part of the athlete-coach relationship, a chance to voice some concerns or frustrations you may have had with your season, and an opportunity to set some concrete goals that will hold you accountable during your off-season. If you haven’t already set up a post-season meeting with your coach, do so as soon as you can!

All commentaries are the opinion of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Swimming World Magazine nor its staff.

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Julie Wolfe Beadle

7 years ago

I still use the methodology that you used with me to this day 20+ years later… What are the 3 things you want to do in your swimming life and now prioritize them.. and then go do it. Its the doing part that sets champions apart… Thank you for that life lesson.
How lucky was I to be around a group of student athletes and coaches that challenged me to be better everyday. Thanks Coach Gregg… Wolfie