Ten Things I Wish I Knew When I Started.

Ten Things I Wish I Knew When I Started.

Author: Glenn Mills & Wayne Goldsmith May 20, 2023 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 coach looks back at their coaching career at some time and asks "If only I knew that when....." or "I wish I'd known that when I ....."

In this Episode - the final episode of our current series, Glenn and Wayne share the Top Ten Things they've learnt from their combined 80 years in swimming and provide you with the insights and knowledge they've gained from what at times seems to be several lifetimes in the sport.


1. Learn How To Build Relationships With Humans! Stop Watches, Heart Rate Monitors, And Pace Clocks Are Only Tools - People Are Everything.

2. Technique Beats Everything Every Time.

3. Training = Competition = Training - What You Accept In Practice Is What You Will See On Race Day.

4. Talent Is Overrated - Character Counts.

5. Learn Something New Every Session - Every Day.

6. What You Say Is Important - But What You Do Is Everything.

7. Ask Questions Of Experienced Coaches - We Stand On The Shoulders Of Giants.

8. Technique Is Not A One Size Fits All.

9. A Practice From The “Stoics” - The Problem Is The Way Forward - Learn To Embrace Problems, Difficulties, Challenges - They Are Usually Presenting You With The Greatest Learning Opportunities You Can Imagine.

10. Don’t Take It Too Seriously - Even At The Highest Levels, It’s About Fun. If They’re Not Enjoying - You’re Doing It Wrong!


Why The Third 50?

Because it's the third 50 of a 200 that matters. (We could have called this The Third 100 because it's the same principle!)

The 1st 50 is fast because you're fresh and fired up, ready to race.

The 2nd 50 flows because you're trying to relax and keep it smooth.

The 4th 50 is about fighting and staying strong to the finish.

But the 3rd 50 is where the magic happens. It's where the integration of your mind and body, your skills and technique, your stroke mechanics, and your hard training all come together.

The 3rd 50 is the "championship" lap, where the great swimmers take control of themselves and the race and power away to victory.

We want to share our almost 80 years of experience with coaches, swimming teachers, swimmers, triathletes, and people who love being in and around the water worldwide.


Who Are Wayne and Glenn?

Wayne Goldsmith is an Australian coach, mentor, writer, speaker, and presenter. He's worked in swimming for over 30 years and is an internationally respected sports performance professional. He's been recognized for his contribution to the sport of swimming with the Outstanding Contribution to Swimming in Australia Award and been recently received the Al Schoenfield Award from the International Swimming Hall of Fame.

Visit Wayne's Website - https://wgcoaching.com/


Glenn Mills is an American coach, writer, and video producer. He's been involved in swimming for over 55 years. He's competed at every level of the sport, from winning the US Olympic Trials and NCAA Championships and even setting a few Masters World Records. For over 25 years, he's produced swimming technique content as the Co-Founder of GoSwim.tv, the Official Technique Partner with USA Swimming. He has also won the Paragon Award from the International Swimming Hall of Fame for his contribution to competitive swimming.


Visit Glenn's Website - https://www.goswim.tv/


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: 18

The Third 50
Podcast Episodes
The Third 50 - E18 - The Talent Myth [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 37:57
Visit Wayne's Substack: https://swimminggold.substack.comVisit Glenn's Website: https://www.goswim.tvBUY & Review Wayne's book, The Talent Myth:AMAZON EBOOK AMAZON PAPERBACK Glenn Mills and Wayne Goldsmith discuss Wayne'…
The Third 50 - E17 - When to Start Teaching Data [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:22
Glenn Mills and Wayne Goldsmith discuss the importance of starting to teach data and swimming fundamentals early, emphasizing that teaching kids concepts like length and tempo at a young age makes their learning easier a…
FIFTIES at NCAAs [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:34
Glenn Mills and Wayne discuss the potential inclusion of the 50-meter event in NCAA swimming, proposed by the College Swimming Coaches Association (CSCA). They highlight concerns about the event's underwater nature, whic…
FIFTIES!!! [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 17:33
Glenn Mills and Wayne discuss the impact of the new 50-meter sprint events on swimming, particularly at the Olympics. Wayne shares insights from a meeting with Bill Sweetenham, emphasizing the positive opportunities for…
The Third Fifty Rides Again! [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 12:44
Glenn Mills and Wayne discuss their recent life changes: Wayne moved from the Gold Coast to Bagotville, NSW, and Glenn from Arizona to near Chicago. They address the impact of Olympic rule changes, such as rugby's shift…
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 -…
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…