In episode #111 of Heavy Or Not, The OG Swim Guide, we do a video refresh with an interview conducted with Doug Cornish. His ground-breaking survey exposes many of the hidden cracks threatening swim coaches today. We begin to unpack and reveal why the sport's "passion‑first" model is no longer sustainable. Doug comes to the discussion with hard data that shine a light on the underlying causes, and he has concrete steps clubs must take to keep good coaches on the deck.

• Survey results: 38% of coaches lack a current contract, 38% have no health insurance, and 70% are on single‑year agreements.

• Why it's happening: a clash between the old "grind" culture and modern coaches/parents, plus boards that misuse nonprofit status and ignore reserve building.

• The financial fallout: no retirement plans, zero COLA (Cost Of Living Adjustments) adjustments, and coaches paying out‑of‑pocket for travel and basic expenses.

• Real‑world impact: personal stories like Doug Cornish's breakdown, career switches, and the growing exodus from the profession.

• Actionable blueprint: 3‑5‑year contracts, 2‑3% annual COLA, full health/retirement benefits, paid parental leave, meet‑day compensation, protected supplemental income, and dual‑purpose life insurance.

This episode presents an invite to the course, C.Y.A. as part of the Learning Management System of the International Swim Coaches Association. Check out all the results of the survey in the PDF in that lesson.

https://Read.SwimISCA.org/courses/cya

"What if a 6‑year‑old could upload a quick clip of a 10‑meter freestyle, and an AI instantly replies, 'You passed!'—issuing a shiny, blockchain‑ready certificate that parents, coaches, and sponsors can see in real time? Welcome to Zlix, the free‑forever swim‑passport that's turning splash‑offs into badge‑holders."

In episode #110 of Heavy Or Not, The OG Swim Guide, Valentin Milkov shares the story behind Zlix, an AI‑powered verification tool for beginner swimmers. Hear how it works. He also discusses the platform's free‑forever model, certification monetization, and future growth plans.

Learn:

• The origins of ZLiX and Valentin's swimming and tech background.
• How the AI assesses video uploads to confirm skill progression with ~90% accuracy.
• The free‑forever user model and the certificate‑based revenue strategy.
• Customizable school branding and curriculum flexibility for swim programs.
• Upcoming features, potential partnerships, and steps to drive user adoption.

This exploration helps to shape efforts within the project of Coach Mark within the new book, Chapter Zero, Our AI Coaching Wizard, just published. Get it at https://SwimISCA.com.

Also see the AI tool discussed in episode #104 of Heavy Or Not to hear from Ali, founder of OrcaVision.computer.

Subscribe for more insights on AI, Coaching, Leadership and Sports Reform. Also follow at https://Substack.com/@rauterkus.

Full posting at https://WAFSU.org in the course for Season 3 of Heavy Or Not.

Val was a fast swimmer and was coached by at Indiana University by Kris Kirchner and later, while redshirted due to a shoulder injury, he assisted Ray Looze as a coach.

Part 2 of Shitty Best, a book recap by Pavel Samov, Ph.D. in episode #109 of Heavy Or Not

• The myth of the "unified self" and why akrasia isn't just weak will

• How competing neural coalitions (pre‑frontal cortex vs. amygdala) drive split‑second mistakes

• Why traditional self‑esteem is a liability and how self‑acceptance builds true resilience

• Acceptance‑enabled perfectionism: practicing without panic and accelerating improvement

• The past‑present‑future coaching model and radical compassion for opponents, officials, and yourself

Turning Mistakes into Momentum: The Past‑Present‑Future Framework for Elite Coaching

Get the book!