Conflict Resolution

Resolving conflicts effectively is almost as important as making good decisions, but it is much more difficult because there are two people involved, and not everyone thinks in the same ways. However, in many ways, conflict resolution is very similar to decision making. Conflicts arise over pretty much anything, a spot on a team, a girl or boy, or something that happened over the summer. One way to make sure you resolve your conflicts without violence, and ensuring that you get what you want out of the discussion. In order to resolve your conflicts, use this method.
Step One: Set the Scene
Step Two: Gather Information
Step Three: Agree the Problem
Step Four: Brainstorm Possible Solutions
Step Five: Negotiate a Solution
Using these steps, you and the other party in the conflict will find a good compromise without violence or anything nasty like that. Remember, whenever you have a conflict, violence is never the answer. It will only inflame the problem, and make you seem like a bully. Fighting is never the best way to solve your problem.

Decision making- different models

Making decisions is a very important skill that every single person on the earth needs to use every single day. Some decisions are more important than others, obviously choosing lunch is not as important as choosing whether or not to give in to peer pressure when alcohol is involved. How can you make sure that you make the best decisions possible? Using a dedicated model to guide you step by step through the decision making process can help you get the most out of life. We learned the GREAT decision making model in class, but what other models are out there to guide you? First, you can use the seven step process, which goes like this.
Identify the decision to be made - exactly what are you trying to decide?
Know yourself - what are your strengths, weaknesses, skills, values and interests
Identify options - list the various choices so far
Gather information and data - about each alternative
Evaluate options that will solve the problem, pros, cons and risks of each alternative
Select the best option- may be necessary to loop back and gather more info
Develop a plan of action - and implement it!
This will help you get more out of all the decisions that you have to make throughout your life. Next, the PLUS model, which provides for ethical decision making, goes like this.
Six Steps to Ethical Decision Making
Step 1: Define the problem PLUS
Step 2: Identify alternatives
Step 3: Evaluate the alternatives PLUS
Step 4: Make the decision
Step 5: Implement the decision
Step 6: Evaluate the decision PLUS
Both of these models look and work like the GREAT model, as you identify all your alternatives, or choices, decide which would work the best, or give you the best outcome. All these models also provide for you to look back and think over whether or not your decision was a good one or not, so you can improve in the future, if at all possible.

Weight-lifting for swimming

Obviously, the best way to get faster in the water is to swim, but not everyone can stand ten hours of chlorine exposure. So how can you gain speed out of the water? Weight lifting is a great way to get the most out of your time when you aren’t swimming. But not every exercise that uses dumbbells will work the right muscles. Which exercises will work best? Naturally, using something like a vasa trainer, which is specifically crafted to add resistance to the motions of all four competitive strokes, will be the best because you are doing the strokes as you would in the water. Other than that, these exercises should be done. SquatsLeg PressLeg ExtensionLeg CurlLat Pull-downSeated RowingBent-over RowingLateral RaiseShoulder PressBench PressDumbbell CurlPush-upAbdominal WorkAssorted StretchesThis should not be continued through your taper, and you should do no extra work for a week or two before your big meet. The stretches should be preformed after the workout in order to improve range of motion, as flexibility is vital to swimming, but not before. Dynamic warm-ups, where static stretching or holding a stretch is avoided, will maximize what you get out of your workout. Static stretching within an hour of your workout will slow you down, therefore taking a little bite out of your workout. If you follow this workout plan, as well as work hard during practice, your times should drop, providing your stroke doesn’t fall apart under heavy stress.