My coach today told me that cooling down at the end of practice was not good for the body. He said it could rip muscles that were just worked. I have always been taught that the cool down was important, especially after working hard and getting the heart rate up.
Keep in mind that this is an USA-S practice and those I'm swimming with are teenagers.
I'm curious what others think?
I remember back in high school none of the pools we swam meets in had a separate warmdown area at all. For dual meets I believe there was a short warmup break either before or after diving, but other than that you swam your events and then sat on the bench and waited for your next event. That said, I think coaches should be encouraging kids to cool down if it is possible.
I remember the same as well. In fact, I had been swimming masters (after a 10 year break) for about 2 or 3 years before I realized the importance of a warm-up and cool-down since I never did either as a kid.
I know the few USA-S meets I have done there have been warm-up/cool-down areas and the coaches encourage them now.
I remember back in high school none of the pools we swam meets in had a separate warmdown area at all. For dual meets I believe there was a short warmup break either before or after diving, but other than that you swam your events and then sat on the bench and waited for your next event. That said, I think coaches should be encouraging kids to cool down if it is possible.
I remember the same as well. In fact, I had been swimming masters (after a 10 year break) for about 2 or 3 years before I realized the importance of a warm-up and cool-down since I never did either as a kid.
I know the few USA-S meets I have done there have been warm-up/cool-down areas and the coaches encourage them now.
