The Buddy System

Coach Anthony Tse implements corporate strategies to run his swim team

Staff Writer

In his second year as Varsity Head Coach for the AHS Swim team, Coach Anthony Tse has implemented an aspect of team building known as “the Buddy System.” This team’s male Varsity Swimmers are currently ranked 14th in California, which places them higher than the top 1 percent.

“My son started [swimming] 10 years ago at American High School. I understand what they are going through,” said Coach Anthony. “You jump on the block, you’re barely wearing anything, everybody’s watching you, and then you got to perform.”

How do the swim coaches work to combat this? “We have a buddy system where we pair a JV swimmer with a Varsity swimmer,” said Coach Anthony.

“So they’ll just come up to you. And then you’d give them pointers on where they can improve on their technique or help with their speed in general,” said Varsity swimmer Donavan Tse (12).

“[The Buddy System] started last year with the new coach,” said Edward Huang (12), another Varsity swimmer. “You really get to communicate with them. You can kind of teach them if they aren’t as advanced or experienced.”

On the inspiration behind this system, Coach Anthony said, “I work in the corporate world. And I’ve managed teams. Taking some of those playbooks and changing it for swimming can help work through any kind of challenges that we have.”

Coach Anthony also passes his corporate knowledge to the Swim team’s captains. “I take captains through this training, business leadership book to help them become leaders because it doesn’t come naturally,” said Coach Anthony. “Leaders aren’t born. They have to be made and have challenges.”

“My captains will be the ones to work with their players. This is another leadership interaction moment right for them. To help put the players in the right events,” said the Varsity Coach.

“I’m one of the team captains so I get to decide who swims what event. Most of the time, [coach] will go with whatever I give the kids, but the kids suggest the events and I try to get them their events,” said Tse, one team captain.

One aspect of the buddy system is the idea that it provides a comfortable environment for athletes. “There are people on the team who just want to have a good time with their friends, and I’m cool with that,” said Coach Anthony. “The worst thing that can happen is trying to force some person to go through such a rigorous system, that’s gonna lead to burnout.”

“I call it the grandpa test. When you’re really old and you look back on high school, did you miss out on growing up with your friends and competing in meets that are really fun. Versus being this machine to get your best time and training where you don’t talk to anybody,” said Coach Anthony. “I bring that perspective to make sure that we’re educating the whole student and helping them with not only school challenges, but life challenges, social challenges. So it’s not just all Swim.”

“You’re hanging out with friends while you’re practicing and always having goals to strive for. It’s having fun doing it,” said Huang.

Caption: Swimming at a home meet against Kennedy, Donavan Tse (12) races ahead of a Kennedy swimmer. “Don is my son. Certainly his work ethic rubs off and people desire to do better but at the end of the day, my success measures [are] Did you have fun? Did you grow? And was there minimum drama?” said Coach Anothony. (PC: Daniel Davis (11))