Team Philosophy

First and foremost, the Prattville Sea Lions (PSL) is a YMCA program in thought, word, and deed. Our program is founded on providing a safe and challenging learning environment for our swimmers.  We appreciate the fact that children should and do have other interests besides competitive swimming.  PSL encourages our families to maintain a balanced approach when it comes to the sport of swimming. Our swimmers are children exploring their world and figuring out what pursuits appeal to them; and what appeals to them may not always appeal to their parents—and vice versa!  The bottom-line: We encourage all of our swimmers to try other pursuits with the understanding childhood is the best time to explore and find what one likes. As life presents our children with countless opportunities to try other things, we encourage them to do so. We will welcome them back each and every time.

Coaching Philosophy

The Sea Lion coaching staff considers itself the personal coaching staff of each dedicated, disciplined, and conscientious swimmer.  Coaches are aware of the variations in each individual’s ability to respond, recover, and adapt to training loads; PSL is a technique and recovery-based team.  We do not focus solely on our fastest swimmers—we do focus on constant individual improvement. Our job is to work with each athlete as if their next breakthrough is only seconds away.  And because breakthroughs in swimming happen just as they do in every other aspect of life: on their own timeline and in their own way, we want to give every swimmer the chance to develop to their fullest potential.

Since our program is technique based our goal is create a technically proficient, well-rounded swimming athlete.  The coaching staff will accomplish this through verbal feedback on the pool deck at practice and meets; visual feedback utilizing video taping and analysis; teaching proper technique and mechanics through drill and verbal instruction; video presentations; and most importantly by having fun while doing all of the above.

The other part of our job, which is more important than teaching any swimming skill, is to instill in these young athletes a sense of leadership, teamwork, respect and sportsmanship. Even though the majority of swimmers’ athletic accomplishments are singular in nature, it is only with the strength of a team that the individual’s accomplishments are possible. Teammates are there to cheer on one another, to push their lane mate in practice, to congratulate them when a goal is obtained, or to offer encouragement when faced with a setback. These ‘other’ skills are not the results of good swimming, but rather good swimming is the result of a great team.