WHY SWIM FOR EXCEL?

Why?  That's a great question.  I'll break down the answer into 3 parts: 1. History; 2. Commitment; 3. Coaching.

First, History.  Excel Aquatics is a 24 year old Non-Profit organization which has been training in Sumner County at the Gallatin Civic Center since the Center opened in 1994.  We are here to stay.  We have been training swimmers from Sumner County since that time.  Even after another club set up shop in Sumner County, we continued to draw Sumner County swimmers to our Gallatin facility due to the success and positive coaching we provide.   Excel/Sumner County is one of two training facilities for Excel Aquatics.  Positive leadership and involvement by our parents, our Board, and our Coaches leads to growth and stability.  We are unique in our positive leadership history.

Excel consistently produces Championship Meet Qualifiers beyond SES.  In 2004, 2005, and 2006 we sent several swimmers to Senior Sectionals, and one swimmer to Junior Nationals.  During those years we had two swimmers who were USA Swimming Academic All-Americans.  In 2007 a 13 year old qualified and participated in Senior Sectionals.  We are simply the gold standard for producing qualifiers from Sumner County.  That has been our history.

Training at Excel/Sumner County opens up many opportunities for your child during swim meets.  We can combine the swimmers we train with our other locations, and form some fantastic relays.  Other clubs do not enter relays unless they have a reasonable chance of winning, at Excel we believe that relay participation is an important component of being on a team, and we have always entered as many relays as possible in every age-group to further provide a positive swimming experience for your child, and develop their sense of being on a team.  Excel Aquatics is not a bunch of individuals, we are a team.

Second, Commitment.  Excel Aquatics is here for your child.  As a club we are 24 years old.  Excel has produced High School State Meet Qualifiers, SES Qualifiers, Sectional Qualifiers, Junior National Qualifiers, National Qualifiers, and Olympic Trial Qualifiers.  We will train your child to compete in a wide array of events, to further their development, and not just be a one-stroke wonder swimming in one or two specialty events.  We seek to develop well-rounded swimmers that can compete at any distance, and at any level.  From the 50 Free to the 1500 Free.  From the 100 Breaststroke, to the 400 Individual Medley.  Our swimmers enter meets with the goal of improving in all events possible, not just one or two a day.  Excel stands apart in this focus, we are committed to your child's complete development.

Also, positive active coaching is a commitment, we will hold the course, and not change with the wind.  We will do what is right for your child, we will commit to you as you commit to us.  A Commitment to Excel is a Commitment to excel.

Third, Coaching.  Excel Aquatics' coaches are there for your children.  It is our number one concern, and our number one commitment to your family.  Our coaching staff are all USA Swimming registered, ASCA Certifiied Level 1 (at a minimum), and safety trained. 

-Our Sumner County coaches commit to you that we will be actively involved in the development of your child.  At no time will you see us sitting down in a chair while your swimmer is in the water, we will not be talking on the phone, we will not be in an office somewhere leaving a lifeguard on deck to "coach", and we will not be distracted by non-team issues. 

-We will be actively watching the swimmers, correcting techniques as we identify any problems.  We do not administer a practice, we coach the swimmers in practice.

-We will actively plan out the training schedule for your child's training squad.  We will not write a workout after we walk on deck because it will have already been written and planned out to fit into the training cycle, nor will we just re-cycle old workouts another coach wrote years ago. 

-We will design seasonal training cycles and daily workouts based on the swimmers we coach. 

-At meets, we will be actively involved with all children, before, during, and after the race.  We will provide constructive feedback on their swims, and will do our best to help them adjust to the meet situations and swim to the best of their ability. 

-We will be the best positive role-models we can be for your child, and provide feedback on any negative behavior.

-We will work not to treat anyone special, we will treat everyone fairly according to their progress.  We are team coaches, not private coaches for individuals.

-We will provide honest feedback to you, we will not mislead you, nor will we promise performances for your child that we cannot deliver.

-We will listen to your concerns, consider your concerns, and satisfy your concerns as best we can. 

-We will keep you fully informed, we will not try to hide anything or evade any questions.

-We will not shift blame on those who have left our organization.

-In short, we will be coaches, we work for you.  Other club coaches do not want to be held responsible by a Board, and by extension, the parents.  We relish the challenge, the responsibility, and the opportunity, it holds us accountable to you, our customers.

The answers above are the personal opinion of Coach Barnes.  They have evolved over time, as new experiences and challenges have affected him.  The answers in the future might change as well.