Psychology of Masters Swimming - Your Input Please
Former Member
I trained and worked as a sport psychologist before I took up masters swimming (and about the same time stopped private practice due to my boring corporate job), and for the first time really I'm looking to put both together with some articles for the web.
There's no lack of material on swimming performance but there's not much out there, for physical or mental aspects of swimming, that really acknowledges the specific challenges that masters swimmers face.
I'd really like to hear your own views on what you have to manage as a masters swimmer. This doesn't have to relate to racing specifically.
For example, I have to plan around my family, never manage to do as much training as I'd like, so I have to manage my own expectations, yet bring what I have in my locker on race day and make the most of it. I also have my 'former' life as a swimmer and the negative experiences that led to me quitting at 18 that shape my motivations now.
Thanks,
Rob
P.S. I've yet to start my own site, but I do have a swimming psychology page on facebook and I'm on twitter. I'd really appreciate a boost with likes/shares as I build a readership.
I swam in summer leagues until I was 12. I begged my parents to let me swim year round on a club but had no luck with that. I don't blame them. I wasn't deprived of activities growing up and a swim team would have been stretching it. 30 years later I'm basically living a childhood dream. Getting up early 6 days a week for a long hard practice is no problem for me. I'm grateful that I have the opportunity to do it.
My biggest worry is injuries. I'd be devastated if I had to stop swimming for any length of time. Swimming does take time away from family. I am able to swim and be home before everyone wakes up but I also have to go to bed fairly early at night. When I don't swim, it aggrivates the arthritis in my back and I end up in bed for a day or two every month or so in severe pain. I think my family prefers me not complaining about my back all the time.
Overall, swimming is a huge net positive for me. There are aches and pains to manage, anxieties over injury and time issues. But the benefits far outweigh the negatives.
I swam in summer leagues until I was 12. I begged my parents to let me swim year round on a club but had no luck with that. I don't blame them. I wasn't deprived of activities growing up and a swim team would have been stretching it. 30 years later I'm basically living a childhood dream. Getting up early 6 days a week for a long hard practice is no problem for me. I'm grateful that I have the opportunity to do it.
My biggest worry is injuries. I'd be devastated if I had to stop swimming for any length of time. Swimming does take time away from family. I am able to swim and be home before everyone wakes up but I also have to go to bed fairly early at night. When I don't swim, it aggrivates the arthritis in my back and I end up in bed for a day or two every month or so in severe pain. I think my family prefers me not complaining about my back all the time.
Overall, swimming is a huge net positive for me. There are aches and pains to manage, anxieties over injury and time issues. But the benefits far outweigh the negatives.
