Chris DeSantis
Greg Meehan Coming into His Peak
Chris DeSantis
Volatile Confidence

For example, someone “has” confidence, or they don’t. Another person might “have” motivation, or not. When I coached in Denmark, I noted several swimmers when quitting or contemplating quitting would say they had “lost” their motivation. It was almost as if it were a set of keys they had left under a couch cushion and had given up on finding.

Chris DeSantis
Passing the Developmental Buck

Yesterday I had the opportunity to speak to a special working group at Boston Consulting Group. To say I was excited would be an understatement. At the conclusion of my talk, I got a lot of very good questions. I want to address one of them in greater depth here.

Chris DeSantis
Lost Art of Confrontation

Confrontation is a life necessity. If it wasn’t, I’d guess that most of us would hardly ever do it. Constitutionally, I think human beings are designed to be confrontation averse. That is, we are all more or less “pro-social”. Our extent as a species rely on the fact that we have found ways to cooperate with each other at a very high level.

Chris DeSantis
Fat Tailed Coaching

I’ve often spoken about “Fireman Mode” coaching, where you find yourself running from place to place putting out fires. Most of the time, it’s in the context of the mental health of the coach. Fireman mode is very detrimental over the long haul of a coach’s career, as you begin to anticipate (with considerable worry) problems popping up and having to react to them.

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Curious Eagles: The Impossible to Define Boston College Team

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Curious Eagles: The Impossible to Define Boston College Team

With the holidays came the quiet resignation of Boston College's 45 year Head Swimming and Diving Coach Tom Groden. Coaches have been openly salivating at the prospect of taking over Groden's program since before I even swam in college. Over time, just as the article indicates that BC's swimming future is clouded, so is the prospect for any new or interim coach to make a meaningful difference in the team's performance.

There's No Rush: Wait Until Swimmers Can Choose

There's No Rush: Wait Until Swimmers Can Choose

I believe in aI believe in a fundamental rule in the long term development of athletes. I see it broken all the time, across teams at all levels. I believe athletes ought to choose their sport, but oftentimes are never given that choice. fundamental rule in the long term development of athletes. I see it broken all the time, across teams at all levels. I believe athletes ought to choose their sport, but oftentimes are never given that choice.