Sports Psych question

My kid is a terrific swimmer - to a degree. He has Jr.Nat's cuts & has even placed quite high at things like JO's & Sr.Champs. However, he does best when he comes in 9th. He can swim super fast in Prelims, but if he comes into finals higher than 9th, he seldom (if ever) improves upon his morning time. If he is 9th or worse, he will always improve & so may have two best times in one day. I have to say, I think he likes being the big fish in the small pond - if he seriously outclasses everyone, he often will do a best time then, as well. I think he has a psychological block or something about performing well in finals & other high pressure situations, but I don't know how to help him get past it. Also, I don't want to screw him up by saying something stupid! He has one more big meet this year, and then he is going into semi-retirement for 2 years, so I'd love to see him perform at his best. Can anyone help me/him?
  • What does he say? What does he want? It's OK to be a big fish in a little pond. Maybe he doesn't want to "get past it.":2cents:
  • Former Member
    Former Member
    Why is he going into semi-retirement for two years?
  • I think it is harder, both pysically and mentally, to swim in the 7 or 8 (and the 5 or 6 spot too) in a final because of the outside lane placements, especially if there is a significant time gap to the 1 - 4 swimmers from prelims. You're kind of stuck out there in the outside lanes, facing what seems to be an insurmountable time difference. Also, there's physical backwash and drafting disadvantages. Seed 9 or 10 in a consol final, your in the middle and its much easier to be confident and expect a fast swim. The situation seems manageable and confidence is easier to come by. If you're going to swim a successful final, i think you need a great plan worked out with your coach before the swim. That plan has to be practiced, hitting the splits at shorter lengths in practice that you want to acheive, thus proving to yourself that you can do it. The more you acutally do it in practice, the more confident you become. Before the finals you need to see yourself doing it, visualizing the race, and most importantly confident that you will do it. It's very hard to do something you aren't sure you can do. In golf, you have to see the putt going into the whole to have a chance to make it. Seeing it happen, believing it will, help produce confidence climbing up on the block. Remembering this is fun and part of a long journey helps to reduce the jitters that can often tighten a swimmer. My kids always seemed to swim better when there was something else on the line beyond their own performance - dual meets, relays, etc. I read the USA swimming article mentioned and found it interesting, but wasn't sure i fit into either category at least at this point. Good luck and believe he'll swim well coming down the stretch.
  • Do not push him so hard he quits because of the pressure!! I have coached TOO MANY kids that just outright quit some where in there teen years because of the pressure to always be faster/better/beat last meet's times!!!
  • If he is going on a mission, he must be 17 or 18 right? So, I'll go back to my original question...what does he think, what does he want?
  • I think this is quite common. While scanning meet results, I'll see how the winner of consols compares to those in the finals. Often, their times will beat at least one if not more people in the final. Having the center lanes and the confidence you have a good chance of winning the heat probably explains this.
  • Diane Nyad posted this USAT article on her Facebook page: www.usatriathlon.org/.../mental-fitness-pt-2-athletes-011012.aspx It categorizes athletes' motivation as "Fear of Failure" or "Desire for Success". An athlete who falls into the "Fear of Failure" category will do much better when he/she is the underdog, or when he/she is the clear favorite. This was actually a pretty good article,although I am always wary of the generalization that there are 2 kinds of people.( There are 2 kinds of people,those who think there are 2 kinds of people and those who don't.My favorite in that genre is "there are 3 kinds of people,those who understand math and those who don't.)(Sorry about getting off topic for a second.)
  • Former Member
    Former Member
    He does want to swim in college at least a couple of years, though, when he gets back (at least he says he does). Maybe he's lying to you! You should have a professional psychologist investigate this possibility.
  • Why is he going into semi-retirement for two years? He's going on a mission for our church. He does want to swim in college at least a couple of years, though, when he gets back (at least he says he does).
  • This is a really complicated question.It is hard to go faster in finals than prelims.Everybody wants too,but many don't.Is he "Psyched Out" swimming in the top eight,was he mad that he didn't make the top 8 and he swims faster mad,was he so psyched up to make the top 8 that when he did he relaxed a little too much,is it your idea of a big fish in a small pond,or is is something or things else? Knowing the causes makes it easier to correct. There is no one size fits all solution,but visualization and positive imagery rarely hurt and usually help. Is he aware of this tendency and what does he say?
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