SWIMMER VERSUS SWIMMER

READY TO DIVE IN

"You don't have to be great to start, but you have to start to be great."

There is something special about starting a new swim season and although the pool feels familiar after that first dive, everything else feels different.  New groups, new teammates, new goals, new dreams and just maybe a new sense of what you are capable of this season.  

As we prepare to dive into those first practices this season hang onto this thought, "you don't have to be the best swimmer on the first day.  You just need to show up ready to get better."

All swimmers have this one thing in common, they show up that first day with a goal and whatever that goal is, it is important to them.   Most young swimmers look towards a time on the scoreboard as a goal

and that is a great goal to have, but there are other things to look towards that will influence that goal.  Try not to be narrow minded when establishing your goals for this season.  Other goals might be:

• "I want to be a better teammate."
• "I want to work harder when practice get's harder."
• "I want to focus on doing things correctly during practice.  No GARBAGE SWIMMING."
• "I want to be more confident when I step up on the blocks."
• "I want to listen, learn and always give my best effort."
• "I want to take meet feedback back to practice and focus on improving."
• "I want to improve my streamlines."
• "I want to be aggressive and master all my turns."
• "I want to be consistent and start all practices on time."
• "I want to challenge myself with new events this season."
• "I want to stay POSITIVE during tough times including bad races.

The important thing is to pick goals that matters to you.

"SEASON STARTER SET"

Has it been a while since you jumped into the pool and did some swimming?  Over the next few weeks would be a great time to go down to your summer pool and dive into those lap lanes and get in a small non stress workout.  How Often?   Two or three times a week in the water will make that first week of practice go smoothly.

SET:  Purpose is to blow out those cobwebs and reset your feel for the water

200 controlled swim (alternate 50 free/50 kick)

4x50 free @moderate effort 15 rest (focus long stroke and breathing every 3) 

4x50 kick with snorkels and position 11 (focus on your body lines)

2x4x25 IMO (10 seconds rest) Focus on your streamlines and first 2 strokes during breakouts)

4x50 free descend speed on each 50 (15 seconds rest)

SWIM DOWN WITH a 200 kick with boards.)

This won' t take you long but it will shake off the cobwebs and set your feel up for the water again.

DON'T FORGET YOUR WATER!!

TIME FOR A REST

 

So now what?  The last, meet, the last cheer, the last race is over for this season.  The times are recorded and in the books and the medals and ribbons have all been passed out. 

The season that you've just completed was not only about the races-- it was about much more even thou you may not realize it at this exact moment.  It was all about building relationships and creating memories long after the races fade with time.

It's was also about building the swimmer and person you want to become.  You learned how to train hard and trust that training in competition.  It was about learning how to celebrate your wins (big or small) and how to bounce back after suffering setbacks.   It was about showing up with a purpose.

What You Should Be Proud Of:

• Your Consistency-- showing up on those days you were tired.  Going hard during sets when you were exhausted.
• Your Courage-- going outside your comfort zone and racing an event that struck fear in your heart.  Pushing past your comfort zone and trying new skills.
• Your Growth--stronger streamlines, stronger and faster turns, improved race strategies with better pacing.

I know it is hard sometimes to step back and take a break from activities.  Now is the time to be proud of everything you accomplished this year and treat yourself to a small break.  Enjoy your vacations with your family and enjoying hanging out with friends.  Reflect on the past year and how far you have come not only as a swimmer but a young person.  Celebrate that.

Use the next few weeks to start preparing for the upcoming academic year.  It will be here before you know it.  Don't wait until that Sunday night.  Success starts with preparation.

As for your swimming start looking at setting up some goals for the upcoming season both time base and non-time base.  Ask yourself these two questions' 

1) What areas do I want to work on?

2) What is my major weakness?

In a couple of weeks we will post some things here to help you prepare for that next season.

As for now rest. Recharge. Enjoy your break.  And when you get back, we'll build something stronger and better--together. 

BEHIND THE BEST TIMES

 "Swim your own race.  Be in competition with no one but yourself."

The best times in swimming come from a mix of physical, technical, and  mental factors working together.  There's no magic ingredient-- you hit your peak performance when all these systems align.

Let's dive into what actually drives best times;

• Stroke efficiency-- DPS is one of the strongest predictors of your race performance.  You must be able to hold that DPS at high stroke rates and when fatigue.  This comes from consistency in practice.  Pretty simple stuff. Right.
• Stroke rate-- Speed= stroke rate+ distance per stroke.  Learn to push your stroke rate up without losing DPS.  Critical for sprinters.
• Starts and turns-- Explosive starts and turns are where you can outperform your competition in races.  You might not be able to win races here but you can definitely lose a race or swim harder to come from behind.
• Lower body power-- Don't be lazy in your kick sets in practice.  Strong legs drive starts, turns and that sprint to the wall.
• Swimming velocity-- faster top end speed is a key factor in your race performance.  This all means you need several race strategies depending on the event you are swimming.

MAKING PROGRESS TOWARDS YOUR BEST TIMES

Progress is not magical its takes commitment, dedication and focus.  Focusing on the drills and your technique during workout is critical especially at a young age.  The reason is simple because progress towards those best times will begin as you get faster and older.  Performing each set and repeat with a purpose will keep you on track for those best times.

Know how to pace the event your racing in and don't be afraid to challenge yourself somewhere in the race.  Have the confidence in the event your racing and be the swimmer you've trained to be.  Focus on the the execution of your race.

SET OF THE WEEK: DIVISIONALS  this was Tuesday 

meet warm up

4x50 free @1:00 descend to fast

4x25 kick @40 descend to fast

4x50 @1:10 (IMO/free or stroke /free)

SPEED DRILL 16X25 (4SETS OF 4)  swim the stroke your swimming Saturday and stay with each stroke thru each round

 3x25 spin drills @45

1x25 fast stroke @45

rest 15 between each round.

Back shoulders up arm tempo

Breast and Fly with free kick

Free head up and steady

swim down

IM SWIMMERS 3 rounds on me

25 fly

50 fly to back

25 breast

50 back to breast

25 free

50 breast to free

swim down

TRIVIA TIME

Last week’s answer: When the league started the first difference from today and then was that the 8 and under's did not swim fly.   There were also only 12 swimmers who qualified in each event.  The 13-14 and 15 -17 age group (yes it was 17) all swam 100's at divisional's and all stars.  And yes I had to do those 100's.

 THE CROSSOVER TURN.  ( some people have asked). 

B

Before you use this remember on race day be the swimmer you’ve trained to be.  

WHEN THE LIGHTS COME ON

 "Keep your face always toward the sunshine--and shadows will fall behind you."

You ever had one of those days where everything lines up or a swim meet where every race it seems like everything just seems to go off without a hitch.  My little swimmers that’s when the lights go off in your head and you begin to believe that when you work hard, pay attention to the little things during practice the process will come together on race day. 

As you begin to head into the last weeks of your season begin to lock in to the little things during practice that will pay big dividends during championship week.  You know what they are;

• starts

• streamlines
• strong breakouts
• strong kick
• fast turns 
• big finishes 

Coaches say when the lights on it refers to that mental shift from preparation to performance.  It's the moment the meet begins, your name is called, and it's time to trust your training instead of thinking about every detail.

• TRUST THE WORK.  You've already done the hard training.  Race day is about executing, not overanalyzing.
• EMBRACE THE PRESSURE.  The "lights" aren't something to fear--they're an opportunity to show what you've prepared for.
• STAY IN THE PRESENT.  Focus on your race plan and what you need to accomplish: the start, underwater kicks, turns, finish.  Don't worry about times until your fingers touch the wall and the task at hand is complete.
• RACE WITH CONFIDENCE.  The goal is to be aggressive and enjoy the challenge.

When those lights go on, don’t try to become a different swimmer.  Be the swimmer you’ve trained to be.  Trust your preparation, race with confidence, and let your hard work shine.   The lights do not make the swimmer they only reveal the swimmer that’s already there. 

SWIM SET OF THE WEEK

FRIDAY JULY 3. Annual dolphin triathlon 

500 swim (rules no flip turns. Odd lengths breathe head up)

2.0 run

500 kick (replaces the bike)

TRIVIA CORNER

LAST WEEKS QUESTION WAS: how was swimming different 250 years ago?

Most people could not swim and those that did swam out of necessity rather than for leisure or sport.  In the colonies swimming was done as a vital combat skill for scouting or retrieving equipment.  However, Native Americans were know for their aquatic skills.

This weeks question. How did NVSL DIVISIONAL meets differ in the 1970’s from today?

YOUR PATH

" Everything you've ever wanted is on the other side of fear."

 What is your swimming path?  What are your goals?  Your aspirations?  Your dreams?  Your practice habits?  Your work ethic?

Your swimming comes down to writing your own story and not someone else's story.  The story you write on your curiosity, experience, goals and aspirations which may be different from swimmer to swimmer.

There are many "WINS" involved with swimming and these wins differ from swimmer to swimmer.  A lifetime personal best may be a huge win for most swimmers while just winning a heat or event might be huge for others depending on their path for that race.  Then their are swimmers who try a new event/distance and finishing with good technique under fatigue.  A big win might also come in practice with a great set with great effort all the way through.  Then there are those wins when you walk away feeling good about the improvements/strides your making in starts, turns, breakouts, kick, finishes and race strategies.

Swimmers also thrive on many things.  It could be the thrill of competition and racing that they are looking forward to or it may be all the fun things that happen in swimming.  It could be the joy of jumping

into that water and letting it engulf where you feel like you have super powers as you move through that quiet atmosphere.

Your mindset will also have a direct impact on your journey down the path in your swimming.  You have probably already discovered that competition brings with it the "thrill of victory and the agony of defeat" and you need to grow emotionally and confident as you go down your path.  

These paths aren't separate, they're parallel paths and need to move in the same direction on the way to your destination.

FAVORITE SET FROM LAST WEEK 

MEET WARM UP (THE USUAL)

4x50 free @1:00

4x25 kick @40 descend 

4x50 stroke/free @1:10

BREATH CONTROL SET on coaches whistles 

 

3x25 free (breathe every 2/ every 3 and every 4) + 1x25 fly fast from a start

3x25 free (breathe every 3/ every 4/ and every 5) + 1x25 fly fast from a start

3x25 free (breathe every 4/ every 5/ and every 6) + 1x 25 fly fast from a start 

HUMP DAY SET (back and fliers stay in competition pool. Breaststrokes go to trap pool)

200 of stroke you picked (focus on smooth and long + strong turns

3x25 sprint stroke from a start walk around

150 of your stroke same as above but more effort

2x25 sprint stroke from a start walk around

100 of your stroke same as above but get I to race speed on back 50

1x25 sprint stroke from a start walk around 

Everyone to competition pool deep end for a 5 minute treading water

NUTRITION CORNER--"THE BREAKFAST of CHAMPIONS"

• THE CLASSSIC--A plain bagel or slice of white toast with a thin layer of peanut butter or almond butter topped with sliced bananas.
• THE WARM BOWL--Instant oatmeal or low-fiber cereal made with low-fat milk, topped with some kind of fruit.
• THE POWER COMBO-- Scrambled eggs with a side of fruit and a slice of whole wheat or white toast.
• FOR NERVOUS SWIMMERS-- A fruit and yogurt smoothie with a handful of oats blended in.

TRIVIA CORNER 

Last week’s answer— the average strong swimmer can swim at a 1.0–1.2 miles per hour which is equivalent to 2000-3000 meters an hour.

In honor of AMERICA 250 this week’s question is, how was swimming different in 1776 than it is today in 2026?