“Anybody who gets an opportunity to take a Total Immersion lesson should take it!”
In the person of Glasgow’s Robert Hamilton, there are 25 years of prudence and prowess in the swimming industry. Hamilton is a Level 3 Total Immersion coach, who runs a successful Open Water Swim Event Series. He has guided 03 Butterfly swimmers at Olympic Trials and has helped many of his students win scholarships at reputed universities.
The Sports Column caught up with this inspirational human being.
Ravi: Thank you, Robert, for accepting our invitation for an interview! How did your career unfold?
Two legends: Robert Hamilton (left) and Terry Laughlin (photo, LinkedIn)
Robert: My career started when I was a competitive swimmer until the age of 13. Then I came out of it, reprising it again after 10 years when I was involved in triathlon and introduced to the teaching element.
Ravi: Could you give us insights into what motivated you to go into swimming and aquatic events?
Robert: My motivations are enjoyment, understanding of human movement, the technical element of stroke analysis, and the national progression into open water events.
Ravi: Who were the biggest inspirations for your career? What have been the keys to your success?
Robert: The biggest inspirations to me include Ernest Maglischo, whom I met in Ireland. He inspired me to learn more about the technical aspects of swimming. There’s also Phil Boomer, whom the great Terry Laughlin makes reference to in his manuals. Another inspiration would definitely have to be Terry Laughlin. The keys to my success are continuously learning, and understanding more about physics, anatomy, and the physiology of human movement.
Ravi: There’s a lot of talk about confidence. What improvements did you make to your training schedule and daily routine to become more confident?
Robert: I have done a lot of courses on sociology, personal development, and personal goal-setting. I always want to add to my personal knowledge around the sport in all aspects of coaching. Let’s also add interacting effectively with the client base.
Ravi: Where does passion fit into the mix?
Courtesy: Amazon.com
Robert: Passion is a big part of what inspires me to move forward. If you know me personally, then you can see where my passion lies.
Ravi: What is your philosophy of coaching and its relationship to education?
Robert: I think philosophy is paramount to a clearer understanding of aims and objectives from a personal level. Education needs to be an ongoing pathway to growth and to succeed in any sphere of personal development.
Ravi: What are some of your personal and/or professional goals for the future?
Robert: My personal goals are to continuously gain more knowledge about the sport, as well as to better understand my clients’ goals and aspirations.
Ravi: What is the most important thing you’ve learned through swimming and aquatics?
Robert: I’ve learned about human movement and analysis, and the effects of the body on the water. Also important is learning about the physiology of fear, phobia, and anxieties, and ways to modify the learning experience for each individual.
Ravi: Talk about setbacks and hindrances that you’ve faced along the way.
Robert: You have to search for what’s right for your client. The same thing is not necessarily the right thing for everyone. You also have to have a degree of willingness and openness to divulge past experiences and knowledge from swimmers or coaches.
Richard Hamilton: “Become ‘weightless’ by learning to cooperate with gravity instead of fighting it.” Courtesy Facebook and Vigourevents.com
Ravi: Describe a coach’s role as the motivator. How do you motivate players and get them to buy into their role on the team?
Robert: By being open and willing to invite people in by being interested in their pursuits–whether that be the introduction into open water swimming or improving their time for an Ironman triathlon. You also need to be open to their plans, not just tell them what to do.
Ravi: What is the most unforgettable and the most memorable moment of your playing career?
Robert: The most unforgettable moment in my career was the Grand Prix in Sheffield in 2000. The most memorable would have to watch the Olympic Trials, also in 2000, when I watched Ingrid De Bruin win two world championships in just over two days.
Ravi: Who incentivized you into the noble sport of Total Immersion Swimming?
Robert: A young child with multi complex disabilities was my incentive. When immersed in water, he was taught to swim through the support, motivation, and encouragement. He managed to achieve the same skill level as mainstream children in the class. And he did it in just 6-8 weeks.
Ravi: Could you describe the current scenario of Total Immersion Swimming in the United Kingdom?
Robert: Through its re-structure Total Immersion is being re-energized. It’s finding its feet, exploring new opportunities, establishing new bases, and networking into new markets.
Courtesy: Total Immersion Swimming
Ravi: What plans are going to be put up in times ahead? What areas are you concentrating on in nurturing the young talent?
Robert: My plans are to complete the master coach position, which will give me greater opportunities to nurture new coaches in Scotland. With that, we’ll have more opportunities to develop TI in Scotland.
Ravi: Do you have final thoughts that you’d like to share with the TSC audience?
Robert: Anybody who gets an opportunity to take a TI lesson should take it!
Interesting one!