Chris DeSantis Coaching
The Blog

Notes on mindset, coaching, and the craft of sport.

Essays on Positive Psychology, talent development, and what it really takes to perform at your best.

Mindset

Ways to Compete in Swimming, Ranked

Can you remember the most fun you ever had swimming? For me it was my first year of high school swimming. I...

April 4, 2017 · 3 min read
Mindset

Guest Post: Maximizing the Pro Swim Series

The Arena Pro Swim Series is just like any other USA Swimming toy. They have the resources to make a great event,...

April 3, 2017 · 3 min read
Mindset

The Retirement That Launched A Hundred Resumes

In the world of swimming, there aren't that many "good jobs". That is not to say there aren't many jobs that are...

March 30, 2017 · 2 min read
Mindset

Overqualified: “Experienced” Coaches Change NCAA Fates

Post-men's NCAA, the focus is rightly on Texas' dominant victory and the possibility that Eddie Reese is immortal and may go on forever....

March 27, 2017 · 2 min read
Mindset

Dear Eddie Reese: Please Retire

I started coaching college swimming in 2007, which means that I have now heard a decade of rumors started by jealous rivals...

March 26, 2017 · 2 min read
Mindset

When Internal Motivation Is Bad

Two weeks ago, I wrote a post about why hard working athletes often struggle with "rest" and "taper" season. At the core of this...

March 22, 2017 · 2 min read
Mindset

Three Things Mallory Comerford Did Better Than Ledecky

NCAA Swimming is great. One of the reasons it's great is that the short course format magnifies a different skill set from...

March 21, 2017 · 3 min read
Mindset

Project Under: Back in Competition

When I stood behind the blocks last Friday, about to swim the 100 breaststroke for the first time in four years, I...

March 20, 2017 · 3 min read
Mindset

Stop Doing General Warmup

Today, I'm swimming in my first swim meet for four years (more on that in another post after the weekend). I will...

March 17, 2017 · 3 min read
Mindset

Why College Swimming Always Improves Yet Loses

College swimming gets faster every year. While you may be able to find some events in this years NCAA Championships across all...

March 15, 2017 · 3 min read
Mindset

Why College Swimming Always Improves Yet Loses

College swimming gets faster every year. While you may be able to find some events in this years NCAA Championships across all...

March 15, 2017 · 3 min read
Mindset

Why the Hardest Working Athletes Struggle With Rest

It's championship season. That means racing suits, fast times, shaved heads (check that, it's not still 1996) and the end of the...

March 13, 2017 · 3 min read