What: Implementing an Effective Swim Coaching Strategy: Mental and Physical Approaches" -- A one-day workshop at the University of North Texas to enhance swim coaches' strategies and training plans. Sponsored by UNT's Center for Sport Psychology and PerformanceExcellence. Part of the UNT Coach Workshop Series.
When: 8 a.m.-5 p.m. May 17 (Saturday)
Where: Room 110 of UNT's Business Leadership Building, 1307 W. Highland St., Denton
Cost:$90 if registered by May 12 (Monday); $115 same-day registration. Participants may pay an additional $15 to receive a continuing education unit certificate. Register at the workshop website.
Contact: Center for Sport Psychology and Performance Excellence at 940-369-7767
DENTON (UNT), Texas -- Coaches of high school, club, and Texas Amateur Athletic Federation swim teams will learn techniques for enriching their coaching strategies and training plans when they attend a one-day workshop at the University of North Texas May 17 (Saturday).
The workshop, "Implementing an Effective Swim Coaching Strategy: Mental and Physical Approaches," will be held May 17 (Saturday) in Room 110 of UNT's Business Leadership Building, 1307 W. Highland St. in Denton. The workshop will begin with registration at 8 a.m. and will end by 5 p.m., with a break for lunch. A networking hour will follow the workshop.
Sponsored by the UNT Center for Sport Psychology and Performance Excellence, the workshop will feature Brendon Bray, head coach of UNT's swim team, and Matt Atkins, assistant director for sport psychology services in the center, as speakers.
Bray was hired as coach of UNT's Division 1 women's swimming and diving team in May 2013, and helped the team adjust to its first year in Conference USA. UNT finished fifth in the conference. In March, the College Swimming Coaches Association of America announced that UNT's team had one of the second-highest grade point averages for members of Division I women's teams. UNT swimmers achieved a team GPA of 3.55, tying for second with swimmers from Grand Canyon University in Phoenix and Southern Illinois University.
Bray was previously the associate head coach for San Diego State University's swimming and diving program, leading the program to back-to-back Mountain West Conference Championships and to annual NCAA Championship appearances. He was also a men's and women's assistant coach at his alma mater, the University of Washington. Bray received bachelor's and master's degrees from the University of Washington, where his collegiate swimming career led to his participating in the Pac-12 Conference and NCAA championships
Atkins has been the assistant director for sport psychology services for UNT's Center for Sport Psychology and Performance Excellence since receiving his doctoral degree in counseling psychology, with a specialization in sport psychology, from UNT in 2012. He was a consultant in the center from 2006 to 2011, working with a variety of NCAA Division athletes and coaches to help them integrate psychological skills into their training and competition. He also worked as consultant with FC Dallas from October 2009 to November 2010, assisting injured athletes to return to the field more quickly.
Participants in the swimming coaches' workshop will identify values for their coaching philosophies, learn strategies to effectively communicate with and provide feedback to their athletes, understand the characteristics of a championship mindset and learn how to implement Ultra-Short Race Pace Training, which Bray has implemented at UNT.br /> The registration fee for the workshop is $90 until May 12 (Monday). Same-day registration will be available for $115. Participants may pay an addition $15 to receive a continuing education unit certificate.
To register, go to the workshop website. For more information, contact the Center for Sport Psychology and Performance Excellence at 940-369-7767.