Coach - Ellen Parchen

Ellen has been coaching age group swimmers since 1988, starting with summer rec programs, to age group teams, as well as assisting with an NCAAII collegiate team. She also coaches adults in Masters workouts, from 1994 to now. Ellen learned how to swim at the age of 4, in swimming pools, lakes and the ocean. Swimming is one of those hobbies/ skills that have brought challenge, relaxation, socialization and many opportunities for personal and professional growth.

Ellen has worked in the aquatics industry for over 25 years - teaching swimming, training instructors and lifeguards all over the country. It has stayed a part of her life even when doing other jobs to make a living. In 1990 Ellen decided to try swimming competitively as a Master swimmer here in Missoula. It is from masters swimming that many important life lessons have been learned -- how to set goals, how to train, the value of good technique and continuing to work on stroke improvement, and how to have fun even during competitions. Ellen has served as a volunteer for Montana Masters in a variety of leadership capacities, since joining the organization.

As a coach of young swimmers, Ellen prioritizes swimmer/squad goals from a basis of making swimming fun and worth doing for a lifetime. Through her own training, Ellen learned that good technique makes for faster and better swims, especially as a competitive adult. This is one of the things that continue to carry through in her coaching youngsters. Good technique prevents injuries, and allows for development of strokes and speed. Fun is another key component when mixed in the right amount of hard work, a key in coaching young swimmers and old. Coaching kids of all ages brings great joy to Ellen, watching swimmers develop and change as a swimmer, experience success in their goal setting, and just having fun with others who enjoy the water, what could be better than that?