Gutter Talk: What Are Your Favorite Memories Of a College Training Trip?
This month’s edition of Gutter Talk asked several college coaches to take a look back at some of their training trips and select memories that jump out.
Jeff Dugdale
Head Coach, Queens University
Christmas training for Queens is where we train our brains to be fast. Since we don’t have to worry about school, we focus on fast swimming. We leverage low cortisol levels with our athletes.
We also choose to stay home to keep our structure. It is important to me to be consistent with meals, recovery modalities, trainers, sport psychologists, weight room and sleep—all things I feel can get turned upside down if traveling.
My greatest memories come from our last day of training in which we ask our athletes to put on suits and choose one main event and one off event and expect to go a best time. They are shocked when the majority—not all—end up meeting their expectation. Doing well gives them the confidence going into the final phase of training.
Jesse Moore
Head Coach, Dartmouth College
Our December 2021 training trip in Miami was my first training trip as a head coach, and the team worked hard and stepped up the challenge. Since we didn’t compete in December, we swam in an intrasquad meet on the last night of the trip. The team was tired, and we squished warm-up and a meet in two hours with a lot of tough back-to-back swims—everyone did three races. We had people getting lifetime best and unsuited best times—I was shocked! Their resilience and tenacity were so impressive.
When I reflect on the meet, it’s a tribute to our seniors’ legacy—they are building a foundation that will forever change the trajectory for Dartmouth! I’m so proud of this team!
Tanica Jamison
Head Coach, University of Houston
Every holiday training is unique and special for coaches and athletes alike. I for one really look forward to this time to bond with our athletes, whether it’s going to an escape room, laser tag, bowling, scavenger hunts, team skits, motivational speakers visiting with the team or team meetings that lead to a stronger team bond.
This is the final step as we move toward championship season to maintain and build confidence. It’s a growing opportunity for our athletes, the team and an opportunity for growth amongst our staff. I look forward to it every season!
Courtney Hart
Head Coach, Georgia Tech
We love to use a winter trip to get our athletes off campus and out of their routine. We really feel that it helps them renew focus after a tough exam period and also promotes valuable lessons about flexibility and teamwork.
Two years ago, we were able to go to Hawaii, which was a fantastic trip and even better experience. Our team was able to work hard and improve while also learning to surf, snorkel in beautiful waters, visit the North Shore and its awesome waves, hike Diamond Head and all the while building team camaraderie and promoting mental health.
Stephanie Juncker
Assistant Coach, University of Louisville
I think some of my favorite memories are from both in-the-water and out-of-the-water moments. I love watching swimmers have breakthrough moments tackling a set they didn’t know if they could make or shifting to a new level.
On the other hand, I think a major component of the training trip is watching the team grow together and bond outside of the pool. Our setup allows us to room people with others they might not normally live and train with, and grow to become better friends with new people!
Matt Barany
Head Coach, University of Richmond
Winter training offers the most significant team-bonding opportunities. It’s the first time they get to be together without worrying about classes and academic stress. Personalities are true and easy.
Nick Nichols
Head Coach, Amherst College (Mass.)
Winter training has always been one of the best team experiences our swimmers and divers have. We typically go to Puerto Rico, where we have the space to train that we don’t have in a six-lane facility. We have lots of hard work in the water and a myriad of different dryland work that we cobble together to bridge the gap without a strength and conditioning facility down south.
But for me and most of the members of our teams, the most memorable experiences are related to food—class dinners, open-air BBQ places, the team cooking for each other, and fruit stands on the side of the road.
Our day off is also a highlight: We charter a catamaran and take the team out for a day of snorkeling, deserted beaches, a fabulous lunch on the boat and down time with the team.
We also have a day with a single workout in the morning. Then, in the afternoon, we take a group to El Yunque, which is a national park not too far from San Juan. I believe—although I could be wrong—it’s the only tropical rainforest in North America.
Josh Huger
Assistant Coach/Recruiting Coordinator, University of Tennessee
I believe that Team Training Camps can serve many different purposes, ranging from team building to training. As a student-athlete I enjoyed getting away to the beach with my teammates while getting the opportunity to work hard in a new environment. Now as a coach, I still find myself enjoying those components, but have also now discovered over the years the importance of team building exercises and activities during training camps that bring about conversations surrounding the team and growth.
Here at The University of Tennessee, we take a somewhat unique trip each year during fall break, when we head to Wilmington, N.C. for about five days, where we don’t swim in a pool until the last day of the trip when we compete against UNCW.
Each day we do double,s but those doubles consist of an hour of surfing lessons and an hour of dryland on the beach twice a day. This time for us is about connecting as a program through working hard, having fun learning how to surf and through meaningful team meetings that are scattered throughout each day. The team walks away from this trip having made new memories and grown new relationships.
I believe these trips at Tennessee have been the most beneficial ones I’ve been a part of because every moment is truly about the team.