I had an idea that came from an author whose message was so powerful, I knew I had to share it with my young swimmers. The only problem? The author was Theodor Geisel, better known by his pseudonym Dr. Seuss.

At first, I hesitated. Most people think of Dr. Seuss as the writer of Green Eggs and Ham or The Cat in the Hat. That’s what I thought too—until I read Oh, the Places You’ll Go!

This was different. It wasn’t about silly food or mischievous naughty cats. It was about life: the highs, the lows, the tough parts, the good parts, and the resilience to keep moving forward. It was a story of hope.

Setting the Stage

I wanted to share this with both my teenage group and my university-level swimmers. But I couldn’t just walk into a room and announce, “Today we’re reading a children’s book.”

So, I came up with a little surprise.

I stacked up a pile of my favorite swimming tomes—serious works on psychology, anatomy, and training. Councilman, Maglischo, even a Johnny Weissmuller biography. Each book looked every bit the part of a “serious coach’s library.”

I began introducing the books one by one, explaining why they were important. Then I set each aside. Finally, from behind the stack, I revealed the real book: Dr. Seuss. The room erupted in laughter and chatter.

The Reading

Once the commotion died down, I explained: “You need to listen to this story and ask yourself why he wrote it for children. What is the message?”

Then I read. Like a kindergarten teacher, I held the book out to the side so everyone could see the pictures while I tackled Seuss’s playful rhymes and tongue-twisters. Reading Dr. Seuss out loud is no small task—it’s a workout in calisthenics for the mouth!

The Reaction

When I finished, something surprising happened: the swimmers spontaneously clapped and cheered. Then we talked.

I asked them: What did you take away from it? What’s the real message here?

The discussion that followed was one of the most honest and engaging I’ve had with my teams. They connected to the story in ways I hadn’t expected.

Why It Matters

Sometimes, as coaches, we need to be a little unconventional. Books like Oh, the Places You’ll Go! open the door to important conversations about resilience, expectations, and coping with life’s ups and downs.

And perhaps the most powerful reminder of all comes in Seuss’s playful words:

“Be your name Buxbaum or Bixby or Bray
or Mordecai Ali Van Allen O’Shea…”

No matter who you are, the journey will have challenges—but there’s always hope, and always places to go.

I always read this book at our swim camps. It always goes well, I hope it goes well for you!