mertrix.com

mertrix.com:
Swimming Notes

Photo Gallery
>SWIMMING HOME:

     Parent's Role

     Swim Meets

     Hydration & Nutrition

     The Gear

     Shave & Taper

     Officiating

     Glossary of Terms

 I remember four things about when I was in elementary school.  One, I remember my school and the games that we used to play on the blacktop including fox across and kickball.  Second, I remember boy scouts and the fact that my dad was the den leader and we had meetings in an auditorium that had a particular smell that I've never quite forgotten.  Third, I remember soccer practices and soccer games.  I don't think I was ever particularly good at handling the ball, but I remember loving running the ball down the field.  And the fourth thing is swimming.  Forcing myself into the cold water for a 5:30am practice outdoors, layering up the old Speedo's in order to maximize the drag, eating What-a-burger breakfast taco's on our way to swim meets.  Little did I know or could I have ever imagined how much the sport would end up being incorporated into my life.

I've been coaching for Cougar Aquatic Team in New Jersey for the past five years and have coached for two other club teams for the last fourteen years.  Blue Dolphin Aquatic Club in Brownsville, Texas which was my old team growing up and Alamo Area Aquatics Association in San Antonio, Texas where I coached while I was in college.  I've done everything from teaching Learn-to-Swim through coaching age group developmental swimmers to coaching Senior level swimmers.  As most coaches, I don't do it for the money and sometimes I find myself wondering why I put myself through the difficulties that come with having a full time job and coaching 7 days a week.

All in all, I can safely say that when I'm on break from swimming - I have no idea what to do with my extra time.  I go crazy really.  So a few years ago I started collecting information for my own little book of swimming.  Maybe it's more like a manual for new parents or maybe it's just for reference for swim coaches.  It's really just a collection of different works either original or from other sources (I've done my best to site when needed).  I only get to work on it once or twice a year so I've never been able to finish it, but the links to the left are the different sections or chapters that I have completed.  

Since I know I won't be writing a book anytime soon - I figured it might be fun to post a little of this and a little of that to share with the world wide web and hopefully get either input or be able to share ideas with others.  So feel free, as you scan through the following pages to shoot me a note with anything that may pop into your mind.


Wet Floor
Water Polo

"Pain is weakness leaving the body."