S3E3 - NEEDLE IN THE HAYSTACK

S3E3 - NEEDLE IN THE HAYSTACK

Author: Glenn Mills & Wayne Goldsmith September 4, 2026 Duration: 1:04:19

Overview

The meeting established a stage-based framework for measuring swimmers, emphasizing technique before maturation and integrated performance testing after maturation.

  • Glenn and Wayne endorsed measuring the athlete’s developmental stage rather than chronological age.
  • Pre-maturation focuses on building movement foundations with consistent body position, symmetry, breathing, balance, stroke mechanics, and comfort in the water.
  • Post-maturation focuses on refining individual performance because growth and maturation create greater differences between athletes.
  • Skipping foundational stages in pursuit of early speed can create technical problems later.
  • Development Framework

Glenn Mills and Wayne Goldsmith have spent their lives in and around the pool, and in their The Third 50 podcast, they dive into the conversations that happen after the stopwatch is put away. Named for the most grueling leg of a 200-meter race, this series explores what it truly takes to push through when everything hurts and the finish line still feels far away. Each episode feels like a candid chat between two seasoned experts, moving fluidly between the granular details of stroke technique and the broader, essential themes of athlete wellness and mental resilience. You’ll hear them unpack coaching philosophies, analyze the psychological demands of competition, and share stories that reveal the human side of high-performance swimming. It’s more than just tips for faster times; it’s about building the toughness required for that critical third fifty in a race and, by extension, in sport and life. Tune in for a thoughtful, grounded perspective that only decades of direct experience can provide, making this podcast a unique resource for swimmers, coaches, and anyone fascinated by the intersection of physical mastery and mental fortitude.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 24

The Third 50
Podcast Episodes
The Third 50 - E13 - Swim Parents [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:00:26
Swim Parents - Partners in Potential and Performance Every swimming coach in the world has to find a way to work effectively with the parents / carers of the kids they coach. The concept of Partnership is important. In e…
The Third 50 - E12 - What Makes a Great Coach? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 57:25
Wayne and Glenn discuss what makes a great coach. From the public perception of greatness to the reality of everyday people being great. We asked ChatGPT it's definition of what is a great coach, and the answers were pre…
The Third 50 - E11 - Brent Rutemiller - Swimming in Legacy [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:02:44
The Third 50 - E11 - Brent Rutemiller - Swimming in Legacy It's difficult to describe Brent Rutemiller. He's a swimmer. There's a good start. He's been a coach. OK - you sort of get the picture but.... He also has been -…
Ten Things I Wish I Knew When I Started. [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:07:41
Ten Things I Wish I Knew When I Started. Imagine if you could commence your swimming coaching journey - with 10, 20, 30 years of experience somehow magically imprinted on your mind right from the first session! Every coa…
The Third 50 - E9 - Getting Better at Getting Better [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:13:54
The Third 50 - E9 - Getting Better at Getting Better! Some coaches have been coaching for 20 years. The question is - do you really have 20 years of experience - or do you have 1 year of experience….20 times over. Humans…
The Third 50 - EP 8 - Living a Coach's Life - Coach - Coach Thyself! [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:08:50
EPISODE 8 - Living a Coach's Life - Coach - Coach Thyself! Coaching is a wonderful profession - coaches change lives. Coaches inspire the hearts, minds and spirits of the people they coach. Coaches create opportunities f…
The Third 50 - E5 - The Need for Speed!! [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:05:19
Welcome to The Third 50! EPISODE 5 - WE HAVE A NEED - A NEED FOR SPEEEEEEEEEEEED! Speed is the most precious thing in swimming. It's what it's all about! The training, the sets, the repeats, the workouts, the dryland ses…
The Third 50 - S1 E4 - Drills Drills Drills [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:02:07
Welcome to The Third 50! The Fourth Episode...DRILLS DRILLS DRILLS and more DRILLS!!! Download Wayne's chart here: Swimming coaches collect drills like kids collect candy! There are tens of thousands of swimming drills:…