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.
Unlike the majority of folks here, I have no background in age group, HS, or college swimming at all. Moreover, I had no experience in any team sports whatsoever when I was younger. For a number of reasons, I was never afforded the opportunity.
One thing I personally love about masters is that it gives me the chance to do something as an adult that I always felt I missed out on when I was younger: compete in athletic events as part of a team. However, I wasn't even aware of the existence of masters swimming until I was in my late 30s. Although I have made great strides since I began, I do have to manage a sense of, I don't quite know what it is - frustration, disappointment, maybe - that at age 41, not only am I unlikely to fully realize whatever potential I might have had with an earlier start, but that the window in which I can accomplish certain goals in terms of performance is not particularly large.
As Steve and Couldbebetterfly mentioned, it's the journey that counts, and that can start at any time and go in any direction. It's an even greater accomplishment to come to this sport without the earlier swimming. Swimming is complex and requires an enormous amount of training to do it well. You are accompllshing what many wouldn't even think to try.
And, if you follow some of the threads, you'll notice that some swimmers have lots of problems with swimmer's shoulder (often shreaded rotators) and sometimes knees and ankles too, possibly the result of too much yardage when they were younger. Hopefully, you've managed to miss any and all of those problems, and can now "backend" your journey.
It was comparatively easy for me to get back in the water, I've been at it for a long time. However, I too wonder "what might have been." Yes, I have expereiences that go further back in time, but you and swimdaily have the advantage of looking at swimminig through fresh adult eyes as a new sport for you, and deserve the kuddos for great accomplishment. Good luck, don't look back, you never know what jaws might be gaining on yah, and keep it up!
Unlike the majority of folks here, I have no background in age group, HS, or college swimming at all. Moreover, I had no experience in any team sports whatsoever when I was younger. For a number of reasons, I was never afforded the opportunity.
One thing I personally love about masters is that it gives me the chance to do something as an adult that I always felt I missed out on when I was younger: compete in athletic events as part of a team. However, I wasn't even aware of the existence of masters swimming until I was in my late 30s. Although I have made great strides since I began, I do have to manage a sense of, I don't quite know what it is - frustration, disappointment, maybe - that at age 41, not only am I unlikely to fully realize whatever potential I might have had with an earlier start, but that the window in which I can accomplish certain goals in terms of performance is not particularly large.
As Steve and Couldbebetterfly mentioned, it's the journey that counts, and that can start at any time and go in any direction. It's an even greater accomplishment to come to this sport without the earlier swimming. Swimming is complex and requires an enormous amount of training to do it well. You are accompllshing what many wouldn't even think to try.
And, if you follow some of the threads, you'll notice that some swimmers have lots of problems with swimmer's shoulder (often shreaded rotators) and sometimes knees and ankles too, possibly the result of too much yardage when they were younger. Hopefully, you've managed to miss any and all of those problems, and can now "backend" your journey.
It was comparatively easy for me to get back in the water, I've been at it for a long time. However, I too wonder "what might have been." Yes, I have expereiences that go further back in time, but you and swimdaily have the advantage of looking at swimminig through fresh adult eyes as a new sport for you, and deserve the kuddos for great accomplishment. Good luck, don't look back, you never know what jaws might be gaining on yah, and keep it up!
