Self-made swimming coach aims high

Press, 21 December 1977, Page 18

Self-made swimming coach aims high

This novel idea is indicative of the zeal which Mclntyre injects into his coaching. Being chosen as coach for Edmonton and West Berlin is not the first recognition of his ability. In 1974 he was coach of a New Zealand age-group team to the Australian age-group championships, and the same year he was an assistant-coach of New Zealand’s extremely successful Commonwealth Games team. In 1975 he was assistant-coach to the New Zealand Games team. Already Mclntyre’s duties as coach for' the Commonwealth Games — from August 3 to 12 — and the world championships — from August 20 to 29 — have started. He has had discussions with the New Zealand Amateur Swimming Association on the most suitable preparation for the two

By

KEVIN TUTTY

Nine years ago Bob Mclntyre arrived in New Zealand on the first stage of a round-the world working holiday. He landed from Brisbane and intended to find work on the Manapouri power project, but Auckland’s temperature was so cold compared with Brisbane’s that he decided not to venture to the deep south. Instead, Mclntyre found himself work as a physical education teacher in Auckland, and coached swimmers in his spare time — an activity he started five years before in Queensland.

Now Mclntyre considers himself a “dinkum Kiwi,” is a full time professional coach, and next year will guide New Zealand swimmers’ fortunes at the Edmonton Commonwealth Games and the world championships in West Berlin.

He has made swift progress as a swimming coach. Mclntyre was not a competitor himself, but his enthusiasm has enabled him to quickly grasp the scientific aspects of coaching, and his jovial personality makes him popular among both swimmers and administrators.

In Auckland, Mclntyre’s Marlins has developed into the strongest squad in the city. Based at the Mount Wellington pool, the squad calls on swimmers from eight clubs. Last year Mclntyre’s

keenness to obtain frequent competition for his squad as cheaply as possible led to the squad buying an old bus and converting it to a mobile camper, capable of sleeping a team of 26. In August last year the team made a tour of the South Island and next March the bus will be in Christchurch again — to accommodate members of the Marlins squad competing in the national championships.

“We have to decide the duration of a training school in New Zealand before the team leaves, and where that venue will be. Once the Commonwealth Games are finished we have to get from Edmonton to West Berlin as quickly as possible, with those who m a k e the world championships team.” Mclntyre’s most

discuss with his fellow coaches around the country the potential of various swimmers.

“Some kids are aiming at the wrong events and I have been talking to coaches to work out the best method to obtain selection. We look at past results and performances

and advise some swimmers to change their event and use their current event as a second string to their bow.” Mclntyre said he had also talked with swimmers about the best method of attacking the target times for the Games and world championships. “We spoke about when they should do their fastest times. Some swimmers won’t need to peak for the national championships (at Queen Elizabeth II Park from March 15 to 18). They will be able to reach the target times with a lesser peak and reach a full peak for the Games. Those nearer the border of selection will have to reach a peak at the nationals.” The international series next month will create a problem for the New Zealanders chosen for the carnivals. If competitors can produce good times and be reasonably assured of selection for Edmonton the series will be good value, Mr Mclntyre said. “They can start from there and begin their preparation for the Games, but if they have to be at a peak again for the nationals two months later, it will be bad for them.” “We would like an undertaking from the selectors that if those chosen for the international series break target times, and then record reasonable

times at the national championships, that will be sufficient to win them selection. If they would agree to this it could help our results at both Edmonton and West Berlin. "It’s difficult to advise these swimmers to go all out to do their best times during the series if they are not going to be able to secure a Games nomination on their times.” Since the Edmonton and West Berlin targets were announced in August, several people, including some coaches, have said the times are too tough. But Mclntyre does not believe they are. “They are attainable, and although they would put swimmers high in Commonwealth rankings at present, by March they will not be so high on the list.”

Although no Games standards have been bettered yet, Mclntyre has confidence in New Zealand’s swimmers. He says with authority, he will have a team of 10 to 15 to handle at Edmonton, and at West Berlin, between five and eight. The target times for the world championships are. in the majority of cases, faster than those for Edmonton.

, Mclntyre is determined the team at Edmonton will be as successful as the 1974 team in Christchurch. The coll determination with which he approaches his coaching should build a winning squad.