Personal Blogs

I coach two squads: PC1 (10–12 years) is chasing County times, and C2 (14–16 years) has already achieved them. That means early mornings, evening sessions, and everything in between. Like most coaches, I wear many hats: planner, motivator, communicator, administrator, mentor, and fixer of kicks and breaks.

But now I’ve got help.

ChatGPT is my AI assistant—and honestly, it’s been a game changer.

Here’s how I use it:

1. Session Planning, Done in Seconds

I give it the squad, time, and focus:

“PC1, 1 hour, butterfly kick + dive + backstroke start skills.”

It delivers a full Swim England–aligned session, with HR zones, drill ideas, rest intervals (e.g. 10”, 1’), and even formats it for the whiteboard.

2. Instant Feedback for Stroke Corrections

Poolside, I describe a problem:

“Fly kick loses rhythm after breakout.”

It suggests cues, drills, and fixes on the spot. I’ve used this live off my phone. It works.

3. Swimmer & Squad Summaries

I upload swim times, and it:

• Highlights who’s near County/Regional qualifying
  

• Tracks progress
  

• Helps me prep one-to-ones or squad updates
  

4. Emails, Reviews, and Admin

Need to reply to a parent query?

Need to write a swimmer review?

Need to update the coaching team?

I ask. It writes clean, clear, professional responses instantly. I tweak and send.

5. My Daily Schedule, Managed

Coaching life means early starts, late finishes, and the risk of caffeine-fuelled burnout. So I ask ChatGPT to help manage my day.

It builds me a schedule with:

• Meal timing
  

• Nap windows
  

• Caffeine cut-offs
  

• Creative time
  

• Travel buffers
  

• Realistic rest
  

My brief? More rest, less coffee! It listens.

Bottom Line?

This tool doesn’t replace me—it supports me. It frees my brain for what matters: coaching, connection, and care.

If you’re a swim coach spinning too many plates, give it a try. It might be the most reliable assistant you’ve ever hired.

If you’d like a demo, or want to know how I integrate it with spreadsheets, whiteboard plans, and daily logs—just ask. Happy to share what’s working.