By Paul Shepherd
Star Correspondent
Some high school swimming coaches consider this time of year critical in the training and development of their teams for the stretch run of the season.
With their swimmers on break from academics, many coaches relish the opportunity to work more with their teams.
"It's like, 'Now, I get you,' " laughed Heritage Christian boys and girls coach Meg Gates Osborne. "We have all these freshmen, and they're all looking at the upperclassmen like, 'What's she talking about?' But the kids are pumped. They're ready to go into Christmas training. That's all we've been talking about."
The Eagles will have plenty of time to train with their next competition more than a week away on Jan. 8 at Lawrence Central. Girls sectionals begin Jan. 31, and boys sectionals are Feb. 14.
Carmel coach Chris Plumb, whose girls team is seeking to defend its state title for a record 22nd consecutive year, estimates his Greyhounds will increase everything related to their workouts by 10 percent to 20 percent.
"We might get one more workout in per week," Plumb said. "We might go 10 (percent) to 20 percent harder and 10 (percent) to 20 percent farther."
Plumb likes his swimmers to lock in on their training during their time away from school.
"It just allows a little bit more time from a coach's perspective, and you don't have to worry about athletes, in theory, getting adequate rest or being concerned about their homework or grades or teachers and things like that," Plumb said. "It's just a time to focus in on swimming."
The Greyhounds will have had 23 days in between meets when they return to action Thursday at Hamilton Southeastern.
Fishers coach Ken Stopkotte uses the extra pool time to work on different facets of training with each swimmer, depending on the individual's needs. Some might rest more, while other swimmers might intensify their workouts.
"Some kids are going to benefit from the extra stroke work," Stopkotte said. "Some kids are going to benefit from having less stress, (allowing them) to focus on their workouts more. Some kids are going to be able to heal injuries up.
"I think the benefits of it are very multifaceted, as opposed to it being a time of year where you just grind it out."
The Tigers have not had a meet since Dec. 1. Fishers returns to action at 10 a.m. Saturday at home against Richmond to begin a stretch of 10 meets that extends through the month of January.
Stopkotte, who coached three girls and three boys state championship teams at Carmel from 2001-03, considers this the pivotal time of year for a team.
"Regardless of whatever you get out of it, it can make or break your season," Stopkotte said. "It can make a good season great. It can save a bad season and make it a good season."
Source: IndyStar.com
