He comes from the hotbed of college basketball and horse racing, yet Drew McClure’s comfort zone is now on Canada’s West Coast — working along the pool deck at Watermania.
The Kentucky native is in his fifth season with the Richmond Rapids Swim Club . As Head Age Group Coach, he is helping youngsters chase their dreams by often working six-days week over a campaign that stretches nearly 11 months.
“We are getting towards the end of our long season and are a couple of weeks away from the provincial championships,” explained McClure. “Age Group Nationals are about six weeks out and, for our older kids, this is our last big fitness push before bringing them down (to get ready for competitions).”
The Rapids can thank McClure’s wife for bringing their dedicated coach to B.C. He met her while travelling abroad in Scotland and the Nova Scotia native wanted to study for her master’s degree at UBC.
The club looked after the necessary paper work to get the U.S. citizen onboard as a paid staff member and there has been no looking back.
McClure wasn’t an All-American swimmer with a resumé full of accomplishments. Instead, he relied on a strong ethic to be competitive and he makes sure he gets that message across to his athletes.
“I was a very OK swimmer,” he smiled. “I had to work for every single second that I dropped. I was not super talented but I learned how how to work.
“I took a shot and decided to move out here. I’m very happy and enjoying everything B.C. has to offer.”
McClure is part of Head Coach Rob Pettifer’s 32 member staff that is currently overseeing roughly 360 swimmers.
The club’s grassroots program is based out Minoru and features children 10 and under. Once they have completed certain requirements or turn 11, they move over to Watermania where the Rapids have several levels of programs, depending on the swimmer’s ability. “They can move over as early as eight or age out when they are 11,” explained McClure.
The constant theme throughout the season for the competitive swimmers is skill development. The club believes the personal best times and race results will take care of themselves if the swimmer’s ability and skill base is progressing.
“We are constantly focusing on technique and it’s really the only thing we talk about,” said McClure. “It’s about knowing how to win and be at a higher skill level than your opponent.
“When it comes time to dig deep, you know your stroke is not going to fall apart. You are able to maintain your efficiency. You won’t see me with my stop watch out. (Laughing) the only time I do is to measure how long I have been talking so I will shut up.”
McClure has watched kids in less committed programs suddenly blossom into elite swimmers and move on to greater challenges. Among them is current standout Nic Dekker.
“When he was coming through the 11-to-14-year-old age group it clicked for him and he made the jump to a different track,” he said. “Sometimes you have no idea and suddenly the kids will make the big jump and want to have the opportunities.”
The club also has experience dealing with kids coming from summer swimming who want to make a greater commitment and see where the sport will take them. Typically, they have had a lot of success and it’s the coaches’ job to harness in their expectations and re-set their goals.
“Usually, they are really excellent at racing but lack some of the technical development because they are are not training as often as we do. The challenge is getting them to step back and not just beating the tar of the water.
“It’s learning how to win and that’s the convincing we have to do. It’s a different deal here.”
For more information on the Rapids visit www.richmondrapids.com
