Different Strokes

“Enthusiasm” and “experience” are words that can easily be attributed to new Palisades-Malibu YMCA swim team coaches Brian Timmerman and Caroline Ryan, who join current coach Eric Butler on deck. Both Timmerman and Ryan are experienced swimmers, not just coaches. Ryan qualified as a junior national level swimmer in the 100 and 200 Butterfly and was the swim team captain at Columbia University. Timmerman was a high school All-American as well as an NCAA Division II national qualifier at UC Davis. Timmerman started swimming as a six-year-old in Santa Monica and eventually joined the Santa Monica High team. In college he took his first coaching job in Sacramento for a summer league team. He remembers having about 200 swimmers all practicing in a four-lane pool. The team practiced from April through August and ended up with faster swimmers than a year-round USA team. After graduating from UC Davis in 1995 with a BA in English, he went to Steven Weiss and coached their aquatic team. Four of his “boys” made the U.S. national team and he traveled with them as they competed throughout California, Washington and North Dakota. “It was fun to travel around the country and go to the big meets,” says Timmerman, who is anxious to begin his new assignment. “As a head coach, I have a chance to help swimmers improve and get them excited about swimming.” While coaching 11- to 14-year-olds and serving as the head boys water polo coach for the CCAT, Timmerman was approached by Paly Aquatics Program Administrator Gayle Kirkpatrick, who asked him to substitute for departing head coach Kameron Kennedy, who left in the winter to pursue an advanced degree. “I liked the kids, I liked the location,” Timmerman recalls. “So when she offered me the head coaching job, I accepted. I wanted the opportunity to set the program. It’s an interesting mix of kids in the Palisades because you have those that could be national swimmers as well as those who are just acquiring their skills.” Timmerman explains that for many kids swimming is not an exciting sport because their heads are always in the water looking at the bottom of the pool, or in the case of the backstroke, they are on their backs looking at the sky. “It takes a lot of dedication and commitment,” he says. “I try to make practices as interesting, exciting and fun as possible. The kids get faster because they want to come and in the process they also get fitter.” Coaching techniques have evolved over the years and Timmerman says the old school method of “how far” and “how intense” was predicated on repetition–doing the same workout over and over. The new school of thought implements more interesting methods and varied training to achieve similar, if not superior, results. Timmerman’s objective is to increase the intensity and time his swimmers spend in the water in a way that coincides with the individual’s age. Above all else, however, he wants workouts to remain fun. He encourages all ages and abilities to try out for the Paly team, especially novices in the 12-14 age range. He and his wife Lisa, a second grade teacher at Marquez, have two children, Lia, 6, and Quincy, 3. Ryan, meanwhile, is a graduate student in social work at USC, where she is currently on the Dean’s list. She was hired as an age group coach and is looking forward to infusing her energy into the Paly program. “I’m definitely excited and enthusiastic,” she says. “I love it, the kids banter and play around.” Ryan grew up in Arizona and swam competitively on a USS swim club team for 19 years. One summer she even taught swimming to ADHD and autistic children. Despite training 20 hours a week, she made the Dean’s list at Columbia. “Time management was huge, getting everything done–the work, swimming, enough sleep,” Ryan said. “The upside was that when I first got to college I already had a built in network. I also got to travel.” Up at the Y pool in Temescal Canyon, Ryan pointed to a lane of six girls who were finishing their workout. “It’s nice because they’re 14 and 15 years old and you can see they’ve developed close friendships. I definitely remember what it’s like to be in high school. I never had a female coach, so I’m glad I can be for them.” If your child or teen is interested in the Paly swim team, call Kirkpatrick at 454-9637 or e-mail gaylekirkpatrick@ymcala.org. For swimmers in need of more lessons before trying out, the Y is offering a special May Madness session where you can sign up for five private or semi-private lessons and get a sixth free