Heavy Or Not, The OG Swim Guide

ISCA
  • 5.0 (3)
  • Swimming
  • Updated Semiweekly

A thought-provoking and insightful exploration of the intersection of aquatics, swimming, sports, technology, and human potential.

  1. Aug 9 ·  Video

    #111 - Doug Cornish on the Swimming Coach Crisis: Why Passion No Longer Pays the Bills

    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

    #111 - Doug Cornish on the Swimming Coach Crisis: Why Passion No Longer Pays the Bills

  2. Aug 3

    Digital Swimming Passport: Valentin Milkov and Zlix - episode #110

    "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.

  3. Jul 30

    S****y Best: Redefining Athletic Failure with Unconditional Self‑Acceptance and Neural Science

    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!

    S****y Best: Redefining Athletic Failure with Unconditional Self‑Acceptance and Neural Science

  4. Jul 29

    S****y Best Explained: How Known, Unknown, and Unknowable Variables Shape Performance (part 1)

    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!

    S****y Best Explained: How Known, Unknown, and Unknowable Variables Shape Performance (part 1)

  5. Jul 26

    World Drowning Prevention Day Highlights New Free Open‑Water Course and Upcoming East Coast Festival

    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

    World Drowning Prevention Day Highlights New Free Open‑Water Course and Upcoming East Coast Festival

  6. Jul 23

    Open water swimming is poised to grow with new competitive opportunities for college teams

    In Heavy Or Not, #106, we bring a dream into reality for long-time Southern Illinois University Head Swim & Dive Coach, presently retired, Rick Walker. Open Water Festival Sign up at https://swimisca.org/event/east-coast-open-water/   News Release about College Teams at https://read.swimisca.org/courses/open-water/lessons/isca-hosts-open-water-festivals/topic/press-release-college-swimming-gets-an-upgrade-in-september-with-a-5k-and-open-water-knockout/   Coach Walker has been a leading force for USA Open Water Swimming Teams in recent years — and he helps with Pan Am Aquatics and speaks to coaches at WAFSU.org / UCSSC seminars. Let's get to the core of the dream of what Open Water events mean for athletes and coaches. Get the details on the upcoming East Coast Open Water Festival and how a new college and university division is being created. Plus, you can get involved. Open water as an additional collegiate season – benefits for Title IX compliance and athlete counts. East Coast Open Water Festival at Smith Mountain Lake (Sept 2026) is with a new college & university division. Race formats: knockout 1,500 m, 5K, 1‑mile, splash‑and‑dash (swim + run) and more. How open water training boosts pool performance for distance and sprint swimmers. Resources & future events: online prep course (reed.swimisca.org), May Jamestown meet, coach/parent participation. New Open Water Course, for free, for limited time: https://read.swimisca.org/courses/open-water/

    Open water swimming is poised to grow with new competitive opportunities for college teams

  7. Jun 22

    For the frustrated swimmers and creators - Hear from author, Brian Holliday, of the UK who talks of the mind-body connection

    Over think much.... or not. Brian Holliday, once a frustrated swimmer in the UK, now an author and creator, shares how he reinvented swimming by focusing on mind‑body awareness instead of traditional technique. He reveals the journey from personal struggle to his "Intuitive Swimming" method and why the industry resists it. You'll learn: Why over‑thinking kills learning and how awareness of the body changes swimming. The key mind‑body‑water connection: floating, balance, and whole‑body movement. How Brian reverse‑engineered swim strokes and built a three‑step online course. The clash with conventional coaches and the challenges of marketing his approach. Insights from his book Why Front Crawl Feels Hard and how it can help swimmers of any level. Break the Cycle of Overthinking: Learn to Swim With Whole‑Body Balance and Presence "When you quit copying the coach and start listening to your own body, the water stops being a test and becomes a teammate – that's when you really learn to swim."

    For the frustrated swimmers and creators - Hear from author, Brian Holliday, of the UK who talks of the mind-body connection

  8. Jun 18

    How OrcaVision Powers Coaches, Parents and Broadcasters with 20‑40 Data Points Per Second

    OrcaVision is about to hit the market place and aims to revolutionize swimming with AI‑powered video analytics that capture 20‑40 data points per second for every swimmer. In this episode of Hevy Or Not, #104, we hear the first part of an interview and introducation from Adi Segal Dori, an entrepreneur and Chairwomen of the two-year-old firm. Learn a bit as to how the system works, why it matters, and what's next for the sport. Real‑time computer‑vision captures detailed metrics (speed, stroke count, turn efficiency) without manual tagging. Simple installation: one (25 m) or two (50 m) cameras, calibrated remotely and used for both races and training. Scalable data ecosystem: 25,000+ races analyzed, benchmarking tools for athletes, coaches, parents, and broadcasters. Business model & pricing: low‑cost subscriptions, revenue‑share with facilities, free installs for larger clubs. Company background: bootstrapped start, angel funding, upcoming venture round, and plans for global expansion. Watch the full interview at the ISCA Facebook page, at HON.LAP.red, or in the Heavy Or Not course at WAFSU.org. There are plenty of other insights shared in the later part of the conversation, especially valuable when you can peek at the screen too.  https://WAFSU.org

    How OrcaVision Powers Coaches, Parents and Broadcasters with 20‑40 Data Points Per Second
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5
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3 Ratings

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A thought-provoking and insightful exploration of the intersection of aquatics, swimming, sports, technology, and human potential.

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