Be prepared to address problems that surface. Swimmers who talk the talk but do not walk the walk may have to rearrange their goals. It is tough for some swimmers to realize that innate athleticism and genetics may present challenges to the upper limits of success. BT will help inform and motivate your swimmers too see ways to work past possible challenges if they are willing to pay the price for that success.
Use measuring tools that are relevant and practical. To time breakouts for example, the Hillmen Swimming Start Comparison Chart is a great yardstick (an alternate version of the swim time and distance scoring chart, based on the Hillmen Chart, is also available; either chart can be used for scoring any activity that involves scoring a short time/distance effort, like a start or a turn). Whatever method you use to measure a skill be sure it is accurate and repeatable. In other words, use a method that other coaches can use easily.
Your charts or data sheets will serve many purposes. They are the first thing swimmers look at before starting each set. Swimmers should include that data in their training journals. A swimmer who is mature enough to read a clock should also be old enough to keep an athletic journal. It is interesting how young swimmers give convoluted times when asked how fast they swam a practice effort. Of course, when their meet time is considerably different, they begin to realize the importance of recording correct times.
I conduct a summer training camp for swimmers from a myriad of teams. Each swimmer leaves camp with data that they are able to share with their high school coaches. Some coaches may look it over and toss it in the circular file while others will use the data to produce ever improving, faster swimmers.
Swimmers can be empowered by baseline training to such a degree that they begin to coach themselves. When swimmers begin to celebrate improvements and begin to ask you thoughtful and technical questions, you will see that baseline training is worth your time and effort.