Terri Vince’s Post

What to Know Before Joining a Swim Team Swimming on a competitive team can be an incredibly rewarding experience. But before you or your child take the plunge into team participation, there are some important factors to consider: Time Commitment Between lengthy practices, extra dryland training, and weekend meets, expect a sizable time investment. Review the schedule to ensure it fits with school, family, and other activities. Costs Team fees (if applicable), equipment, travel expenses for away meets, and team uniforms/gear can add up. Calculate estimated costs to determine if it fits your budget. Skill Level Most teams hold tryouts and set eligibility standards for each age group that swimmers must meet. Assess your abilities honestly before committing. Team Culture Observe practices to gauge the team's general atmosphere, coaching styles, and how swimmers interact. Make sure it's an encouraging environment. Locations Look at meet/practice locations and whether significant travel is involved. Factor in commute times and transportation needs. Goals Define what you hope to achieve. Is it about fun, fitness, technical mastery, competition, or bonding with peers? Match goals to team. While swim teams require dedication, joining one can accelerate skill development and push you to achieve more. Weigh these key factors, then dive in! What other advice would you offer someone new to competitive swimming? Please share your thoughts below.

Ignore the discount wars. I help clients set realistic fees to cover the costs of delivering a high-quality swim school experience. Even if their fees are higher than others in the area, this approach ensures they can achieve their ambitions. Recently, a client hesitated citing local council significantly discounts and another program in their area who hadn't changed fees since 2018. Through discussion, it was agreed that without generating the required revenue, they are unable to deliver the desired program standards, and the experiences the customers were seeking. By setting proper fees, they can: ·       Select, train, and develop skilled swim teachers, unlike programs relying on quickly trained staff who often rely on laminated reference sheets to guide them through their lesson’s delivery. ·       Spend time weekly with their team, providing continuous support, coaching, and education. ·       Offer a top-notch, personalised customer experience. ·       Connect regularly with others in the sector, experts and peers, for inspiration and growth. ·       Maintain a clean, well-kept facility, with dedicated staff for venue presentation. ·       Deliver the outcomes and experience the customers were looking for. I am pleased my client chose to invest in quality over joining the discount wars. Make sure you set your fees at the level where your revenue stream allows you to deliver the standard of program and the customer experience you aspire to. #swimming #swimpeople #swimpeoplespeak #swimschool

Business for Sale | Coffs Harbour NSW SWIM CARE SWIM SCHOOL BOAMBEE - COFFS HARBOUR - NSW Proudly serving the community for over two decades, a rare opportunity emerges with the sale of a highly esteemed swim school nestled in the coastal gem of Coffs Harbour, NSW. With its prime location and established reputation, this swim school has been a cornerstone of the local community for over 20 years, providing valuable swimming lessons to children and adults alike. Featuring modern facilities, top-tier equipment, and a team of dedicated instructors, the swim school is primed for seamless ownership transition and continued prosperity. Whether it's teaching toddlers their first strokes or coaching competitive swimmers to reach their full potential, this turnkey business is ready to continue making a splash in the lives of its students. Boasting a loyal customer base and a strong community presence, the swim school enjoys steady enrolment and revenue streams throughout the year. If you're looking to enter the market or expand your portfolio, this offering provides a chance to tap into the region's demand for quality aquatic education. Extensive training for new owner to insure ease of transition into the business. Independent, third-party valuation of all fit out, premises, plant and equipment. Current business owner also owns the premises so is very negotiable for a fair long-term lease. Financials have been normalised for an accurate and quick due diligence process. With minimal competition in the area, this swim school stands out as the premier destination for swimming lessons, promising unparalleled growth potential and profitability in the vibrant community. For discerning investors seeking a lucrative venture in one of Australia's most desirable coastal destinations, this swim school represents a rare opportunity to own a thriving business with a rich history of achievement in Coffs Harbour, NSW. BUSINESS SUMMARY Easy operated Well, established Very profitable Trained staff Long lease No local competition No experience necessary Extensive training Confidentiality Applies View more details: https://lnkd.in/g-iE9Zzm #businessforsale #businessopportunity #sellingabusiness #swimmingschoolforsale #buyabusiness #smallbusinesscoffsharbournsw #businessbrokers

Ever put 100% into something! This is me happy but exhausted having completed the very nice but challenging Island Swim in Limerick City on Saturday. Open water swimming is something I really enjoy, even better when it is a race! My process in a race is piece by piece, the start is very different to the end,and I never leave it out on the water. I always give it everything I have.... That is so aligned to career move, it's challenging to even begin the journey of thinking of making a move, and there are so many steps to actually making it happen. It is however like my race very possible to do so. 📍Make a plan.... break it down to bite size pieces.... 📍 Set yourself some goals - short, medium, and long term and make them SMART goals. 📍Get under the skin of each stage, exploring what it is you want is very different to the more process parts such as writing a CV etc 📍Give it everything you have got; you will not regret it. 📍If you are stuck ask for help. Reach out if I can help. Photo credit Deirdre Power #careercoaching #careertransitions #giveiteverything

We offer year-round swim lessons and Jump Start Clinics to boost swim skills. We understand busy schedules and believe swim lessons are valuable. Here are a few reasons why #swimlessons should stay on your calendar all year 🐚

Swim in Lane 6. Ok, hear me out. I’m not a competitive swimmer (even using the word competitive in a sentence is generous), but my daughter is on our local Y swim team and I’ve been dropped in to this new world. My wife swam growing up, so she is familiar with the heats, strokes, timing, etc. But, when we have meets at our pool, you don’t need to be a former swimmer to hold a stop watch. You volunteer to help. One day, I’m paired up with a parent of an older swimmer on the team. We happen to be her timer (Lane 4). So, she rips down the first heat and won by 1-2 seconds. That’s great in swimming for short distances. It’s an eternity from what I’m told. Next time down, she wins by the same amount, a couple of seconds. And I said, “your daughter is really good. She keeps beating people.” He goes, “thanks, yeah, she’s doing alright but I wish she swam in the outside lanes.” See, for heats, they usually put the faster swimmers in the middle lanes, and the slower, but close swimmers, outside. He wanted her to be on the outside, because then she would have swam that much faster to try and catch the better swimmers. She does that 3-4 times a season, and swims with faster kids, she’ll get even that much better. If you don’t have anyone you are chasing, you may get complacent. Are you really giving it your all? Is there something left in the tank? Are you working on technique? It was an “aha” moment for me because there are always things we can be doing better or faster, or even streamlining processes. But if we don’t have anyone to chase, who knows if we are pushing ourselves. I work the same way with my clients - we want to push a little bit, get outside our comfort zone, and continue to drive towards the goals. It’s about accountability, support, coaching. There are so many life lessons we see each day and week. We can all be better! If you are in growth mode, swim in the outside lane and catch some people!

💷 Money vs Saftey ⛔️ Are some swim schools sacrificising standards for retention?! This may be controversial for some, but it’s time we have an honest conversation about long distance swimming badges in smaller pools… Lately, I’ve encountered too many situations where children arrive at a new swim school with a 100m badge for example, yet when they swim in a standard 25m pool, they struggle to complete a length without stopping, holding the side, or resorting to doggy paddle. So, how did they earn that badge? Many swim schools working out of smaller pools are handing out these long distance badges as a way to keep kids and parents happy. I get it as a parent when your kids gets an award not only do the kids feel great, you’re happy, you feel like their progressing, so you keep paying. But truth is, this practise isn’t just misleading, it’s potentially dangerous. Swimming is a life-saving skill, not just a box-ticking exercise. If as a swim school, you’re giving children a false sense of achievement or overestimating their abilities, you’re undermining the very reason you teach them to swim. I’ve seen firsthand the frustration this causes when a child is moved down a group because their badge doesn’t match their true ability in a larger pool. The child feels demotivated, parents feel misled, and the swim school is left to deal with the fallout. Not to mention, we’re putting children’s safety on the line. A badge should be a mark of real achievement, not just as a marketing tool, right? As a consultant, I help swim schools strike that balance between providing the care and love needed to be an excellent swim teacher while maintaining the commercial aspects of running a swim business. A lot of swim schools lack confidence or knowledge on commerciality opportunities, therefore rely on small subsidies like badges to uplift revenue. Let’s make sure that in our pursuit of growth, we’re not sacrificing safety or quality. What are your thoughts? #SwimmingSafety #SwimSchools #LongDistanceBadges #SwimEducation #ChildSafety #SwimSchoolConsultancy

Since the beginning of May, whenever I'm asked, "So where are you now?" I respond with a proud smile, "I'm in the second semester of my final year." It's exciting to think that I'm almost done with school. I planned for this to be my best semester, enjoying the experience and trying new things. I envisioned taking advantage of all the perks my student ID offers, like discounted swimming lessons and free therapy. Sounds great, right? But five weeks into the semester, reality has hit hard. Nothing is going according to plan. I'm swamped with group projects, presentations, and assignments. The workload from my final year project, discussions, and lectures is overwhelming, leaving me no time to even inquire about those swimming lessons. People often look back at their undergraduate years with nostalgia, downplaying the stress and struggles. While I might laugh at this post in a year or two, right now, nothing feels funny. The race feels hardest just before the finish line. I've learned that when things get tough, I need to get tougher. Enjoyment is subjective, so I'll embrace every challenge this semester throws my way. I'll find joy in the process of perfecting my projects, even if I have to pay full price for swimming lessons. I'll relish the thrill of assignment deadlines, presentations, lectures, and the demanding final year projects. If you know any final year students, please motivate them with words and deeds. Trust me, we prefer deeds more. PS: This is my "I'm exhausted" face, but we will sail through.

Let’s talk about setting standards. Last week, I had an interesting conversation with one of my senior swimmers. We were hanging out while he was doing recovery work when he asked me a question I was not expecting. “Hey, why do you have different standards for different people in the program?” I smiled and replied, “Because not everyone requires the same standards to achieve their goals.” This sounds strange. We have probably all been taught that having high standards is necessary to achieve our goals or to run an effective program. And that is true. You do need to have your standards that you are unwilling to compromise on to have a successful program. However, I would argue it is then relative to the individual and their goals. Let me explain. Some of the swimmers in the program have very high goals. We are talking about world records and Olympic games-level goals. They dedicate their entire lives to their swimming, and most of the decisions in their lives are centred around this single-minded pursuit. If they miss sessions, neglect their recovery or aren’t 100% committed at every session they attend they will not reach the goal we have committed to. However, on the other hand, we have parents of young families who are looking to complete a Rottnest Channel Swim for the first time. They have a family and a job. Although their swimming goal is very important to them, it is only a small percentage of the decisions in their lives, and often, it is less important. If they miss a session because they have had a busy week at work or they can’t make it in because their kids are unwell, they will still be able to achieve their goal. This doesn’t mean we let them get away with being slack. It does not mean we don’t hold them accountable for their goals. And we are not playing favourites. It just means we are meeting them where they are at. And guess what, It allows us to help more people achieve their goals and enjoy the journey that they are on. By meeting our swimmers where they are, we build more trust and respect, get them to buy into our programs, and, as a result, achieve the results we do. We could not do this if we helped everyone to the same standards that we hold some of our more elite swimmers. And that’s where we see a lot of programs fail.

"Stay in your lane" yelled the swimming coach yesterday morning when a young schoolboy (obviously) accidentally changed lanes. The unexpected nudge I received led to a shocked "yelp" as I came out of the water. How does this metaphor relate to your academic journey and writing a thesis: ➜ Discipline: Just as swimmers stick to their lanes to avoid incidents like being nudged underwater, you should focus on your specific research area. Straying into different academic 'lanes' can lead to confusion and hinder progress. ➜ Concentration: The shock of an unexpected encounter in the pool, like being bumped, mirrors the distractions you may face in your studies. Staying in your lane requires undivided attention to your thesis, avoiding unnecessary diversions. ➜ Pace yourself: In swimming, each lane has its own pace. Similarly, progress in your thesis depends on your unique pace. Don't compare your progress with others; focus on your own academic rhythm. ➜ Expect the unexpected: Just like the surprise bump in the pool, unexpected challenges may arise in your research. Be prepared to handle them calmly without losing your focus. ➜ End goal: Swimmers aim for the end of their lane. Your thesis completion is the end of your academic lane. Stay committed to this goal, navigating through all challenges with determination and focus. ➜ Breathe: When you're feeling overwhelmed and feel like you're drowning - stop and breathe. I know this relates to you is some way or another. Can you add anything more? Follow #thedalemethod hashtag #highereducation #personaldevelopment #phd