Effort from Start to Finish

A Swim Coach’s Advice for the Chicago Bears and Our Swimmers

One thing that has been undeniable about the Chicago Bears this season is how well they finish games. They’ve been fantastic in the back half, staying composed under pressure and finding ways to win when it matters most. That ability to close is special and it’s not something every team has.

Now comes the swim coach perspective.

If I were offering advice to the Bears ahead of the game against the Rams this weekend, it would be this: don’t wait until the final minutes to become the team you’re capable of being. Attack the entire game.

In swimming, we talk about this all the time. You can’t swim a great race by saving everything for the last 25 yards and hoping it works out. The strongest races are built from the start, using controlled speed, smart effort, and confidence throughout. Yes, you finish fast, but only because you raced the whole race well.

The same idea applies in practice. We don’t want swimmers who are only strong during their favorite stroke or their favorite set. We want consistency from warm up to warm down. Within sets, it’s not about going all out on the final repeat, it’s about holding pace, staying focused, and executing every repeat with purpose.

That’s where growth really happens.

For the Bears, the challenge is similar. The ability to finish is a strength, but imagine pairing that with stronger starts, sharper execution earlier in the game, and sustained pressure throughout all four quarters. Great teams don’t just survive until the end, they build the game so the finish is a continuation of what they’ve already established.

For our swimmers, the reminder is the same. Race the entire race. Be present for the entire practice. Bring effort and focus even when it’s not your favorite stroke, set, or event. The habits you build early show up when it matters most.

Finishing strong is important, but finishing strong is even better when it’s backed by intention, effort, and execution from the very beginning.

🏈 Strong finishes are built early. 🏈

Coach Jessica

GO BEARS! 🧡🐻💙