Alex Baxter is the Associate Director of Competitive Aquatics at the Wilton YMCA in Wilton, CT and Head Age Group Coach of the Wilton Y Wahoos. He is a certified ASCA Level 4 Coach with over 15 years of coaching experience. Among the thousands of young swimmers Coach Alex has worked with have been; multiple future NCAA DI athletes, a handful of USA National Top 20 Age Group Swimmers and Olympic Trials qualifers, as well as over 35 YMCA National Top 10 swimmers. In the last year Coach Alex has led the Wahoos to the Connecticut Swimming Long Course Age Group Combined Team Title and the Connecticut Swimming Short Course Age Group Boys Team Title.
Prior to arriving in Connecticut Coach Alex was the Director of Competitive Aquatics at the Lionville Community YMCA in Exton, PA. He grew up in Boise, ID where he was a typical "pool rat" every summer. He enjoyed his time around the water enough that it carried him through competition at the club, high school, and college levels.
Part time coaching after graduation left Coach Alex dreaming of spending all of his days around the pool and that eventually led to him to head east to make coaching his full time profession. His experience with swimming culture on both sides of the country has given him a unique perspective on the sport. He enjoys teaching and tinkering with stroke mechanics to help each swimmer reach their potential.
@SwimCoachAlex
A few of Coach Alex's favorite tips:
"In freestyle and backstroke pretend you're making your body into a kayak. Ride high and level using your arms as paddles and your legs like a little propeller!"
"Breaststroke and butterfly are related in that both should use the body dolphin motion of the chest and the hips to begin the stroke and create the power."
"In flip turns remember the 3 T's- Tight ball (smaller the ball the faster it flips), toes Up (flip straight over), Turn Shoulders (and your feet will follow)."