October 8, 2026 · 5 min read
October Counts
What keeps kids in sport, and why fueling a practice in October matters as much as a championship meet in March.
Essays on athlete development
Long-term athlete development, with the data behind it.
For swim parents, coaches, and athletes who want to know what actually builds a swimmer — over years, not seasons.
Latest essay · No. 10
What keeps kids in sport, and why fueling a practice in October matters as much as a championship meet in March.
Read the essay →Written first as memos to the families of a USA Swimming Gold Medal Club, these essays lay out why movement comes before volume, how skill is actually built, what the research says, and what our own data shows.
October 8, 2026 · 5 min read
What keeps kids in sport, and why fueling a practice in October matters as much as a championship meet in March.
July 7, 2026 · 8 min read
A group move is not a ranking. How new coaches, new teammates, and new expectations help swimmers build confidence and handle change.
June 11, 2026 · 4 min read
Nerves are often a sign that your body is preparing to perform. Why athletes should embrace pressure and reframe anxiety as readiness.
May 12, 2026 · 6 min read
A parent asked whether swim culture pushes families to do too much. A direct answer on private lessons, training load, burnout research, and what TAC asks of families.
May 7, 2026 · 5 min read
Swimming faster and lasting longer is often more about efficiency than fitness alone. What running economy research teaches the pool.
March 20, 2026 · 11 min read
LTAD is a stage-based framework that guides athletes through the right skills at the right time, based on individual development rather than age.
February 3, 2026 · 11 min read
Performance isn't just physical. How fueling, focus, and recovery shape young athletes across long meet weekends.
January 22, 2026 · 6 min read
Why consistency matters, how focused repetition strengthens neural pathways, and how swimming supports long-term development.
January 13, 2026 · 3 min read
Why a movement-first approach matters, why swimming is uniquely powerful, and what this philosophy looks like across TAC programs.
January 6, 2026 · 2 min read
The start of a communications series sharing the intentional design behind TAC programs and our commitment to helping young people thrive.