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.
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!
I, too, seem to be one of a fairly rare breed (at least here on these forums) that began swimming seriously as an adult. I heard of masters many years ago, but only started with it a bit over 2 yrs ago. I so agree with the first part of Sojerz' quote -- its the journey that counts, that this is a difficult & technical sport, and that I'm likely doing more in masters than 99% of the general adult population :)
After saying that I'd "Never do one", I started doing meets last June & haven't looked back since! I use them as a gauge of my training, coaching, and techniques -- & really don't worry about what other swimmers do (timewise) at them, just how I'm doing (hopefully better than last time). For the most part, that's been my experience :agree:.
I say that I'm quite glad that I didn't swim competitively in my younger years (only swim lessons as a kid); I have nothing to 'regain', didn't 'burn out'; nor do I seem to have the classic swimmer's ailments or at least 'issues' that others mention (thanks be to God!). It's been a great sport for my health, fitness, & confidence -- all of these have helped me to become a better person, I feel! :). And when my ego is deflated at times, I just remember that there's more to life than swimming -- hence my signature!
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!
I, too, seem to be one of a fairly rare breed (at least here on these forums) that began swimming seriously as an adult. I heard of masters many years ago, but only started with it a bit over 2 yrs ago. I so agree with the first part of Sojerz' quote -- its the journey that counts, that this is a difficult & technical sport, and that I'm likely doing more in masters than 99% of the general adult population :)
After saying that I'd "Never do one", I started doing meets last June & haven't looked back since! I use them as a gauge of my training, coaching, and techniques -- & really don't worry about what other swimmers do (timewise) at them, just how I'm doing (hopefully better than last time). For the most part, that's been my experience :agree:.
I say that I'm quite glad that I didn't swim competitively in my younger years (only swim lessons as a kid); I have nothing to 'regain', didn't 'burn out'; nor do I seem to have the classic swimmer's ailments or at least 'issues' that others mention (thanks be to God!). It's been a great sport for my health, fitness, & confidence -- all of these have helped me to become a better person, I feel! :). And when my ego is deflated at times, I just remember that there's more to life than swimming -- hence my signature!
