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Friday, February 1, 2008
Heist 2 O
Greater Reading, PA
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By: Michael J. Esterly , VYPE
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Photo(s) By: Phil Marabella
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First year Gonvernor Mufflin High School swimming coach bob Heist has been involved in cross-country, track, and water polo. He will now get his feet wet full-time as the boys/girls swimming coach
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When you coach an athlete, you have to let them know that you care.”
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HSSTM: What differences do you find between coaching the running sports vs. the water sports?
Heist: It’s not so much outdoor sports versus indoor sports but more a matter of team size. When the team is smaller (the cross-country team had about 25 athletes), you get to know the kids more on an individual basis. Water polo and swimming tend to have 60-plus kids on a team. This makes it harder to work with each individual athlete. What I like about water polo, swimming, and track is the fact that you can adjust the lineup during the event. Cross-country is completely different because once the kids leave for the race, it’s out of your hands.
HSSTM: What philosophies do you try to teach the kids on the swimming team?
Heist: They have to budget their time and look at their priorities. Family and academics come first, but they also have to rank swimming high on their priority list. They must do everything they can not only in the pool but at home as well. For instance, what they eat, the amount of sleep they get, remaining academically eligible, and staying out of trouble are all very important. If they do everything they can to help the team, they will be successful and we will have a very good team.
HSSTM: Do you face any challenges when coaching some of your water polo players on the swim team?
Heist: The two sports are completely different. You could be a very good water polo player and not a great swimmer, or you may be a very good swimmer but lack some of the ball skills and mindset needed for water polo. Also, as coach, I try to make sure they don’t get tired of me and I don’t get tired of them. I try to inject humor and keep things light. When you coach athletes, you have to let them know that you care.
HSSTM: How do you get peak performance out of a swimmer?
Heist: You need a combination of things. First, you have to teach a skill because 50 freestyle consists of a start, turn, and finish with a few strokes in between. You have to teach the different turns, stroke types, and breathing technique. It is very important to teach the right blend of skills to perfect the athlete in their event.
HSSTM: Is it important for your swimmers to be part of a club team and swim over the summer?
Heist: I prefer the kids play water polo, because it keeps them in very good shape and it won't make them tired of swimming. If they swim year-round that’s alright for a select few individuals, but they have to want to do it. I think kids need to be well rounded. If an athlete has a devastating injury or illness and all they did was swim, it would be tough for them to overcome. The kids need time for themselves, their families, and other activities.
HSSTM: What’s a typical practice like?
Heist: We usually start out with a team meeting to inform everyone of what’s ahead. Afterwards we do a group warm-up which is the same for everyone. Then we break down and some swimmers will do distance work while others work on their technique. I also have an “education lane” that is used to help swimmers who need more instruction with their pacing and stroke technique. I like to work with all of my swimmers on all strokes to make them well-rounded swimmers.
HSSTM: What are your goals as the head swimming coach at Governor Mifflin?
Heist: I want to help student athletes achieve their potential, build up the numbers on the swim team, and serve the community. I think that in any extracurricular activity, whether it’s music or any athletics, you are there to serve the community. Having students involved in these activities keeps them off the streets away from trouble and provides them with life lessons. Just interacting with people from other school districts is an important skill that they will use the rest of their lives.
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