How Learning Actually Happens

Learning can seem complicated, so let’s break it down as simply as possible.

Whether you're an athlete, coach, or just someone trying to get better, here are the three things that need to be in place for learning to actually happen:

1. There Has to Be a Feedback Loop

You can’t improve if you don’t know what’s working. There has to be some way to measure progress.

That feedback could come from:

• A stopwatch (time)

• A coach’s observation

• Reaction speed

• Physical constraints (equipment, setup, cue)

In swimming, we usually default to time. But here’s the thing — just because a change feels better or looks cleaner doesn’t mean it’s immediately faster. And that’s okay.

Sometimes a technical fix shows up slower at first. Doesn’t mean it’s wrong — it means you’re still learning it.

Instead of asking "Did it work?", ask:
Am I improving at a consistent rate?

If the answer is yes, even if the gains are small — you’re on the right path.

2. The Brain Has to Be Working

Let’s do a quick exercise.
What’s 5 x 14?
Answer: 70.
Now… what’s 5 x 14 again?
You don’t have to think — you just remember it.

That’s not learning. That’s just recall.

We do the same thing in training. Repeating the same drill over and over until it looks clean — but the brain stops computing. You’re not solving the problem anymore, you’re just repeating the answer.

That’s where most training goes flat.
Repetition feels good, but it doesn’t mean you’re still learning.

If your brain isn’t engaged, you’re not adapting. That’s why variety — small shifts in reps, rest, pace, or feedback — keeps the brain working. It forces you to actually learn, not just repeat.

3. It Has to Be Individualized

Not everyone learns the same way, and not everyone needs the same thing.

That doesn’t just mean:

• “You work on turns, you work on starts.”

It means:

• One swimmer needs more lift off the start

• Another needs to tighten their angle

• One athlete might respond well to visual cues

• Another might need pressure, competition, or verbal coaching

A cookie-cutter approach won’t cut it in a competitive environment.

If you want to see real improvement, you have to build space for adjustments — not just follow a rigid plan. Flexibility matters. So does knowing why you’re doing what you’re doing.

Bottom Line

If you want to create real progress — not just busy work — you need these three things:

• A clear feedback loop to track improvement

• Mental effort (not just muscle memory)

• An individualized plan that actually fits the person in front of you

The goal isn’t just to do more reps.
It's to give each rep more intent.