2019 World Clinic Michael Lawrence: The Newbies Speak- New Ideas from Coaches (Ted Style) 

Michael Lawrence, an ASCA board member, hosted a TED Talk-style event to find new speakers for the American Swimming Coaches Association (ASCA) clinics. Twelve speakers presented, including Dan Ascolo, who discussed transitioning a swim team in South Carolina, and Marion Sobota, who emphasized storytelling in coaching. Megan Esting highlighted the importance of commitment in team culture, while Tom Cross from Ireland linked swimming techniques to jellyfish studies. George from Uruguay focused on developing young swimmers, and Jason Polano stressed innovation and collaboration among coaches. Dave Babbit shared personal stories of impactful coaching relationships. Speaker 12 emphasized the importance of proper technique in swimming, particularly in the pull-down phase, to avoid creating unnecessary drag. Key points included maintaining a straight body line, keeping arms within shoulder width, and using a thumb-loaded catch. Speaker 13 discussed the discrepancy between theory and practice in swim training, stressing the need for correct repetitions to form good habits. He highlighted the challenges of technique-first training, such as time constraints and resistance from swimmers. Speaker 14 introduced a rehearsed performance approach to coaching, emphasizing the importance of segmenting practices and focusing on quality over quantity to improve performance.