The letter V in the swimmers alphabet refers to visualization and no we are not talking about staring at your devices 24 hours a day. We are talking about the ability to see your race unfold before your eyes, from the moment you walk onto the pool deck and that familiar smell of chlorine hits your senses and you know it's time to go to work.
When you were little (maybe some of you still are) did you ever have those days where you filled your heads with imagination. It could have been a day were you thought you were a super hero and you had the powers to save the world or maybe something as simple as looking up at a plane in the sky believing you were being whisked away to some place exciting. Believe it or not you were already starting to develop your power of visualization and now we can use that in your swimming.
Just as you are trying to create muscle memory physically in your swimming workouts going through all of your stroke drills, turns and race scenarios, you are trying to create muscle memory in your brain through the power of visualization. This skill needs to be practiced often just like anything else if you want to master it, and the best part is that you can use it anytime in life and not just in your swimming.
When you show up on race days with negative vibes, we have to ask ourselves, what was it all for?
When you use visualization in your swimming you are creating your own movie and the best part is it's low budget (FREE). You get to be the director, the editor, and the main star. It's yours! You own the copyright. I hear a lot of things from swimmers at meets such as; I can't! I'm tired! I'm not going to get my best time! It will hurt! The list goes on and on way too many negatives being tossed around to waste our time on. The point is why do we spend so much time and energy on all the negative things, things that in no way help us relax or put us in a position of success. If you need an example of how your body feels with all those negative thoughts and feelings try the following exercise. Take a empty gallon container and hold it with one hand at a 90 degree angle. Have someone help you by adding some water every time you say a negative phrase or word. See how it just weighs you down as you begin to tense up.
How do you practice visualization? Practice by closing your eyes and talking to yourself out loud, and how you feel and want to accomplish during the race frame by frame --- a perfect start where you feel yourself explode off the blocks---how you and the water become one---how your break out stroke carries that feeling and speed to that first turn---how the turn feels fast and strong---the sounds as your body knifes through the water---how each stroke feels more powerful than the last--- how you feel that power off the last turn all the way to the last touch on the pad. Use all your senses! Can you smell the chlorinated water and air? Can you see the backstroke flags? Can you feel yourself grabbing the block your toes wrapping around the front? Can you hear the BEEP?
Now become the spectator and visualize how your parents, teammates and coaches look at you standing on the blocks. They are in awe with the confidence you exhibit standing there strong and powerful. Smile at them knowing that you have this. Then turn and get to work.
"Winners make a habit of manufacturing their own positive expectations in advance of the event."
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