Julio Zarate

Many of us were taught to think about sport or competition a certain way. Perhaps it’s part of the culture of living in the U.S. or our modern worlds monetization of time. You compete to win, earn something; Medals. Trophies. Rankings. Records. Glory. Fame. Prestige. Pride. Win or lose. First or forgotten. But there is another way to look at it—one that feels older, deeper, and far more honest. Sport, at its core, is not about beating someone else. It is about meeting yourself. We do the thing...

This week, I had to deal with something that every coach eventually experiences. We had morning practice with our top senior group—the group with the highest standards, the biggest goals, and the expectation of full commitment. Out of 18 swimmers, 10 showed up. Not terrible. But not great. Later that afternoon, when everyone was back together, I decided not to lecture. Instead, I asked a few questions. “How many of you spent more than two hours on your phone today.” No words but knowing...

Big swim meets can be emotional, for swimmers and for the parents watching from the stands. Swimmers feel the pressure to perform, while parents want nothing more than to see their child confident, calm, and proud of their effort. Stress and anxiety often show up at high-level meets, and that’s normal. What matters is how swimmers learn to manage those feelings. One of the simplest and most effective tools for doing that is routine . Stress Is Normal. Especially When Kids Care If a swimmer...