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?
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.
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.
