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Building muscle is one thing. Building better athletes takes more. Strength training, exercise technique, coaching communication, and thoughtful program design all contribute to athletic development. In Episode #121 of Heavy Or Not, The OG Swim Guide, host Mark Rauterkus welcomes the insights of Janaka Samarasinghe of Sri Lanka, representing the International Academy of Sport Sciences (IASS). This episode features selected highlights from Janaka's Bodybuilding Program Design seminar, presented to the international coaching community at WAFSU.org. Janaka moves beyond bodybuilding for appearance and explores how strength training can support performance in swimming and other sports. His presentation offers practical lessons for coaches working with beginners, experienced athletes, sprinters, and distance swimmers. Five Coaching Takeaways Muscle Development for Sport: Understanding the relationship between muscular development, strength, and athletic power. Teaching the Movement: Using demonstrations, verbal instructions, correction, motivation, and feedback to help athletes learn proper exercise technique. Progressive Program Design: Building appropriate strength-training programs for athletes at different stages of development. Efficient Training: Combining squats, presses, and rows into practical workouts that make effective use of available equipment. Training for the Event: Recognizing different muscular endurance, strength, and power demands in distance swimming and sprint competition. Throughout the episode, Coach Mark connects Janaka's ideas to swimming, dryland training, and the responsibility coaches have to develop athletes through thoughtful instruction. Continue Learning at WAFSU.org This podcast presents selected highlights from a much longer seminar. Watch Janaka's full presentation, explore the accompanying slides, and discover additional coaching seminars at: https://wafsu.org/ Full seminar video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3yNkiS6Eot4 Get Your Feet Wet – Exercises Coaches and athletes can explore more than 50 instructional exercise demonstrations through the Get Your Feet Wet – Exercises course at Read.SwimISCA.org. https://read.swimisca.org/why/get-your-feet-wet-exercises/ Connect with the Coaching Community The National Interscholastic Swim Coaches Association (NISCA) conference comes to Pittsburgh in June 2027, bringing together coaches and leaders in scholastic aquatics. About Heavy Or Not, The OG Swim Guide Hosted by Mark Rauterkus, this podcast explores swimming, coaching, sports science, athletic development, and valuable lessons from across the world of sports. Strong athletes need knowledgeable coaches. Keep learning, keep sharing, and keep building relationships through sport.

Pickleball can teach swimming a few lessons about friendship, wellness, coaching, and lifelong participation! In Episode #120 of Heavy Or Not, The OG Swim Guide, Coach Mark Rauterkus welcomes Ken DeHart, a tennis and pickleball teaching professional from San Jose, California. Together they explore healthy aging, social connection, skill development, and playing well with others. Ken explains why pickleball brings people together in public parks. Coach Mark connects those lessons to swimming, water polo, underwater hockey, and more social aquatic programs. The message: Play more. Make friends. Stay active. Keep learning. WATCH, LISTEN & LEARN Watch Ken DeHart's full pickleball seminar and explore international coaching education at WAFSU.org: https://wafsu.org/ International Swim Coaches Association: https://swimisca.com/ MEET KEN DEHART Ken discusses longevity research associated with racket sports; pickleball's welcoming culture; public park play; the kitchen and third shot drop; eye-hand coordination; warm-ups and injury prevention; and how coaching improves the coach. EPISODE CHAPTERS 00:00 – Ken's opening on longevity 00:15 – Welcome to Heavy Or Not #120 00:33 – Ken DeHart and the swimming connection 00:55 – Tennis research and the 9.7-year finding 01:13 – Competition, coordination, and social play 02:11 – Pickleball's welcoming beginnings 03:23 – Skill levels and inclusion 04:22 – Park play and paddle rotation 05:14 – Making swimming more social 06:04 – Pickleball noise and neighborhood concerns 07:10 – Sharing tennis and pickleball courts 07:44 – Pool space and lane-line conflicts 08:16 – Warm-ups, balance, and injury prevention 09:11 – The kitchen and soft shots 09:45 – Third shot drops and ball control 10:55 – Paddle skills and eye-hand coordination 11:51 – Cooperative drills and rallies 12:19 – Dinking and touch 13:17 – Visual, auditory, and kinesthetic cues 14:26 – Coaching basics and certification 15:07 – Teaching improves playing skills 15:36 – Junior and second-career coaches 16:08 – Online coaching shortcuts 17:04 – Cross-training swimmers in Peoria 18:04 – Play, have fun, make friends 18:26 – Full seminar and coaching resources 19:03 – Mental Skills for Young Athletes THE BIGGER LESSON FOR SWIMMING Pickleball courts are gathering places. Players talk, rotate into games, and build relationships. Swimming brings major physical benefits, but lap swimming can be solitary. Coach Mark encourages more relays, water polo, underwater hockey, SKWIM, and other group activities that make pools more social. Sports are games of time, space, and relationships. READ THE COMPANION ARTICLE Explore pickleball, swimming, longevity, and social fitness: https://wafsu.org/course/120-pickleball-meets-swimming-unlocking-longevity-and-social-fitness/ Coach Mark's Substack: https://rauterkus.substack.com/ LISTEN TO HEAVY OR NOT The OG Swim Guide features conversations about coaching, aquatics, wellness, sports culture, and community recreation. Find podcast episodes at https://HeavyOrNot.com Subscribe on YouTube for future episodes. RESOURCES FOR COACHES Mental Skills for Young Athletes by John M. Hogg, Ph.D., offers practical sports psychology lessons for developing athletes: https://swimisca.com/ WAFSU seminars and certifications: https://wafsu.org/ ISCA coaching education and books: https://swimisca.org/ JOIN THE CONVERSATION Share this episode with a coach, recreation director, swimmer, or pickleball player. Leave a comment about ways to make sport more social. HOST, Coach Mark Rauterkus brings decades of experience in swimming, aquatic education, youth programs, publishing, and community recreation to Heavy Or Not, The OG Swim Guide. #Pickleball #KenDeHart #HeavyOrNot #Swimming #SportsCoaching #HealthyAging #SwimISCA #WAFSU

Heavy Or Not, Episode 119: 200 Fly Anthem and Philippines Football Pioneer Insights Groove and toe tap into the 200 Fly's Pain and Celebrate Rebecca Audrey's Football Legacy Singer‑songwriter Martin Plummer gave permission for the sharing of his tunes about the brutal 200  fly and 200 breast events.  Plus, hear a quick spotlight on Philippine football pioneer, Rebecca Adri, Ph.D. Martin Plummer's original "The 200 Fly" song – lyrics, history, and why the event feels like torture. A deep‑dive into the 200 breaststroke: pacing, technique, and the legends behind the race. Head‑to‑head comparison: which event is more demanding, the 200 fly or the 200 breast? Interview clip with Rebecca Adri, Ph.D. on coaching women's football in the Philippines. How to follow Martin Plummer (Instagram, website) and where to find the full football seminar (wafsu.org). Follow Martin! https://Instagram.com/martiinplummer Get the song lyrics and an article in the Podcast Course for Heavy Or Not at https://wafsu.org/?post_type=tva_lesson&p=4945 Thanks for the folow and subscribe to Heavy Or Not, The OG Swim Guide.

Swimming coaches love to correct strokes. But, let's be certain that those corrections actually stick! Finnish swimming coach Eetu Karvonen, Ph.D., challenges conventional approaches to swimming technique, stroke correction, drills, and skill development in Episode #118 of Heavy Or Not, The OG Swim Guide. Eetu begins with a powerful observation: swimming is a skill sport, and opportunities for technical improvement extend throughout an athlete's career. Consider his coaching calculations. A swimmer might take 15,000 strokes in a week while receiving only seven minutes of individual feedback. Those thousands of repetitions have an enormous influence on how a swimmer learns. Coach Mark Rauterkus shares highlights from Eetu's WAFSU seminar, exploring how coaches can make every practice a better learning environment. The conversation covers swimming drills that transfer into full-stroke technique, simple and effective coaching cues, the importance of swimmer ownership, and the integration of skill development into demanding training sets. Eetu also makes a compelling case for giving swimmers room to experiment, discover better movements, and become active participants in their own technical development. The coach shapes the learning environment. The swimmer owns the learning. This episode offers a taste of Eetu's complete presentation, available with its slides at https://WAFSU.org. His earlier WAFSU seminars are also available for coaches seeking additional insights into swimming technique and athlete development. Listen, learn, and share with a swimming coach who wants to make stroke corrections stick. Heavy Or Not, The OG Swim Guide Hosted by Coach Mark Rauterkus Episode #118 https://HeavyOrNot.com

Transforming Pennsylvania High School Swimming: The I‑League Inclusion is explained in depth in the Playbook so that any interested student can have a swim team experience. Coach Mark Rauterkus breaks down the I‑League, a new plan to bring swimming to every high school in Western Pennsylvania. He explains why it matters, how it works, and how you can get involved. The current gap: Half of WPIAL schools have no swim teams or aquatic programs. I‑League solution: Year‑round swimming, lifeguard training, water polo, triathlon and open‑water options for all students. Dual benefit: Provides competition for schools without teams while keeping elite swimmers in scholastic programs with all‑star meets and NIL opportunities. Tech edge: AI tools and new resources to train the next generation of swim coaches and instructors. How to join: Download the free PDF of Coach Mark's Public Policy Playbook via Crew Lab, grab the paperback for $26, and help push rule changes for more frequent scrimmages. https://Read.SwimISCA.com to get the book.

Most communities already have more aquatic capacity than they realize. They have pools, schools, coaches, instructors, recreation departments, and community organizations. The opportunity is to connect these assets and put them to work. In Episode #116 of Heavy Or Not, The OG Swim Guide, Coach Mark Rauterkus introduces The Community Aquatics Directive, a practical playbook co-authored with Coach Ron Usher, inventor of OtterBall. The book presents ten pillars for transforming underused swimming pools into thriving community assets. The episode explores drowning prevention, learn-to-swim instruction, vertical swimming and aquatic fitness, youth retention programs, school partnerships, competitive pathways, lifeguard development, smarter scheduling, and sustainable funding. Discover how better programming can expand participation, develop local employment opportunities, strengthen public health, generate revenue, and make existing aquatic facilities more valuable to the communities they serve. GET THE BOOK FREE: Visit https://SwimISCA.com and join the International Swim Coaches Association team on CrewLAB to access the free PDF edition of The Community Aquatics Directive. AN INVITATION: Coach Mark is also seeking foreword contributors for future editions of the book, with opportunities to feature the contributor's name on the cover. A pool is a major community asset. Strong programming is what makes that asset come alive. Heavy Or Not, The OG Swim Guide | Episode #116

Coach Mark Rauterkus announces the launch of the new book's arrival: "Public Policy Playbook for Pittsburgh Aquatics & Recreation – Yinzer Edition." Co-author is Ron Usher. Heavy Or Not, The OG Swim Guide, episode #115 hits current events and then a view into the first book of 2026, Mental Skills for Young Athletes and how that can fit into your sports programs and teams. See the reveal on how to get a free PDF, and let's discuss key strategies to improve city recreation, arts, and youth mental health. You'll also hear Mayor Corey O'Connor weigh in on new rec‑center partnerships and community initiatives, just before the book gets handed to him. Mayor is in full agreement. Time will tell. Overview of the Playbook: 10 pillars, strategic principles, meta plays, and actionable "plays." How to download the free PDF via CREWLAB (crewlab.io) and purchase the printed copy at SWIMISCA.com. Mayor Corey O'Connor's plans for expanding rec‑center hours, school‑facility partnerships, and arts programming. The three‑tier mental‑resilience action plan for youth athletes, based on Dr. John Hoog's research. Next steps: community involvement, feedback opportunities, and upcoming expansions of city sports camps and cultural events. "The ball's in your court—action is the kicker that will transform our rec centers into life‑saving community hubs."

Barry is pushing for a group to form to consider local recreational needs in Salmon Arm, BC, Canada and has called for a meeting on October 1 at the local university.  In a similar front, but different setting, Mark Rauterkus, is pushing the reformation of the Athletic Reform Task Force in Pittsburgh, PA, USA.  Follow along as these stories unfold. None of us know what to expect and what happens next. In episode #114 of Heavy Or Not, The OG Swim Guide, we launch a new Substack too, 1Shuswap.Substack.com and give a boost to Barry Healey's efforts in BC, Canada. We  discuss building an athletic reform task force, navigating government roadblocks, and a clever way to fund a new public park. We also take a quick look at the VASA trainer's retirement and its impact on swim training. Learn: How to design and launch a city‑wide athletic reform task force from scratch. Strategies for getting provincial and federal sport funding when councils push back. The "case of beer" pitch that secured a $13‑per‑household‑per‑month park funding plan. Engaging schools and universities in community sports development. Updates on the VASA trainer's retirement and alternatives for swim‑ERG training.

ISCA Coaches Hall of Fame honored Ray Looze, Indiana University, in the class of 2026. Episode #113 show the tribute video.

The episode, #112, is a ISCA Hall of Fame tribute built around Matt Kredich, Tennessee swimming, team culture and an ISCA interview segment.

Coaching Without Security: The Hidden Costs Driving Talent Away from Pools In episode #111 of Heavy Or Not, The OG Swim Guide, we do a video refresh with an interview conducted with Doug Cornish. His ground-breaking survey exposes many of the hidden cracks threatening swim coaches today. We begin to unpack and reveal why the sport's "passion‑first" model is no longer sustainable. Doug comes to the discussion with hard data that shine a light on the underlying causes, and he has concrete steps clubs must take to keep good coaches on the deck. Survey results: 38% of coaches lack a current contract, 38% have no health insurance, and 70% are on single‑year agreements. Why it's happening: a clash between the old "grind" culture and modern coaches/parents, plus boards that misuse nonprofit status and ignore reserve building. The financial fallout: no retirement plans, zero COLA (Cost Of Living Adjustments) adjustments, and coaches paying out‑of‑pocket for travel and basic expenses. Real‑world impact: personal stories like Doug Cornish's breakdown, career switches, and the growing exodus from the profession. Actionable blueprint: 3‑5‑year contracts, 2‑3% annual COLA, full health/retirement benefits, paid parental leave, meet‑day compensation, protected supplemental income, and dual‑purpose life insurance. This episode presents an invite to the course, C.Y.A. as part of the Learning Management System of the International Swim Coaches Association. Check out all the results of the survey in the PDF in that lesson. https://Read.SwimISCA.org/courses/cya

"What if a 6‑year‑old could upload a quick clip of a 10‑meter freestyle, and an AI instantly replies, 'You passed!'—issuing a shiny, blockchain‑ready certificate that parents, coaches, and sponsors can see in real time? Welcome to Zlix, the free‑forever swim‑passport that's turning splash‑offs into badge‑holders." In episode #110 of Heavy Or Not, The OG Swim Guide, Valentin Milkov shares the story behind Zlix, an AI‑powered verification tool for beginner swimmers. Hear how it works. He also discusses the platform's free‑forever model, certification monetization, and future growth plans. Learn: The origins of ZLiX and Valentin's swimming and tech background. How the AI assesses video uploads to confirm skill progression with ~90% accuracy. The free‑forever user model and the certificate‑based revenue strategy. Customizable school branding and curriculum flexibility for swim programs. Upcoming features, potential partnerships, and steps to drive user adoption. This exploration helps to shape efforts within the project of Coach Mark within the new book, Chapter Zero, Our AI Coaching Wizard, just published. Get it at https://SwimISCA.com.  Also see the AI tool discussed in episode #104 of Heavy Or Not to hear from Ali, founder of OrcaVision.computer.  Subscribe for more insights on AI, Coaching, Leadership and Sports Reform. Also follow at https://Substack.com/@rauterkus. Full posting at https://WAFSU.org in the course for Season 3 of Heavy Or Not.  Val was a fast swimmer and was coached by at Indiana University by Kris Kirchner and later, while redshirted due to a shoulder injury, he assisted Ray Looze as a coach.

Part 2 of S****y Best, a book recap by Pavel Samov, Ph.D. in episode #109 of Heavy Or Not The Coach's Guide to Accountability, Responsibility, and Compassion in High‑Stakes Sports In this episode, #109 of Heavy Or Not, part 2, with insights into Dr. Pavel Somov's "S****y Best" framework, showing why athletes miss the mark and how coaches can turn those misses into growth. Learn how unconditional self‑acceptance can coexist with high standards and real accountability. The myth of the "unified self" and why akrasia isn't just weak will How competing neural coalitions (pre‑frontal cortex vs. amygdala) drive split‑second mistakes Why traditional self‑esteem is a liability and how self‑acceptance builds true resilience Acceptance‑enabled perfectionism: practicing without panic and accelerating improvement The past‑present‑future coaching model and radical compassion for opponents, officials, and yourself Turning Mistakes into Momentum: The Past‑Present‑Future Framework for Elite Coaching Get the book!

Meet the work of my friend, with his book, S****y Best. Come and get acquainted with Dr. Pavel Somov's game‑changing ideas from S****y Best — the logic behind unconditional self‑acceptance and radical compassion for athletes and coaches. Discover why embracing an athlete's "moment‑specific s****y best" can be your competitive edge. In Heavy Or Not, episode #108, you'll learn: How the "s****y best" concept reframes perfection and mistakes in high‑stakes sports. The three categories of performance variables: knowns, unknowns, and unknowables. Why the "I am perfect" mantra is a neuro‑plasticity drill, not fluffy motivation. How to transform film review from a blame‑session into a data‑driven laboratory. The "time‑machine" thought experiment that proves contextual inevitability of every play. Buy the book!

Open water swimming is exhilarating—but safety must come first. In episode #107 of Heavy Or Not, The OG Swim Guide, we talk with Barry Healey of BC, Canada about an event in his town. Get into the new open-water course and check out the ISCA Open Water Festival. The upcoming festival with a 5K swim is hosted at Smith Mountain Lake State Park in Virginia. Progress is being made on the insurance issue. New free open‑water swimming course (read.swimisca.org) and the East Coast Open Water Festival at Smith Mountain Lake Introduction of a university division for collegiate squads and how to register Ongoing insurance work and why coaches and need to stay informed about liability risks The July 18, 2026 Across‑the‑Lake Swim disaster – what went wrong and the key safety failures New mandatory safety gear: high‑visibility swim buddies and why they're now required for all open‑water events