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.
Rob - you know what I would really appreciate? A thread of sorts with sports psychology HELPS. I have only recently begun to appreciate my "improvements" at the masters level - in other words, I've stopped comparing myself to my times as a youth. Some masters swimmers seem to be able to retain, or regain the speed of their youth, but I, alas, am not one of them! This really held me back for a long time & I see some comments on here & hear them at practice or at meets as well, that let me know I'm not the only one! My last two meets have been some of my funnest, because I have finally begun (again) to swim the entire meet without negative self talk! This has been a huge breakthrough for me, and not just in terms of time improvement, but also my happiness factor! It would be great if you could help us all in this way,
Hi everyone -
Thanks again for the rich and thoughtful responses. Broadly they seemed to fall into 3 categories - motivation, challenges and fears/barriers.
Here's the first article, on masters swimmers motivations for swimming.
I'll summarise the challenges / fears / barriers soon and hopefully be able to do a few practical articles on the specifics.
Rob
Nice article and blog Rob, thanks for sharing!
If the appetite is there I will start a Q&A type thread for psychology. It will also help me to generate ideas for articles.
:turkey: Yep, it's there; at least with me! That would be great, Rob- thanks! :D
Hi - this is a big one for a lot of masters swimmers. One of my team mates was the British record holder at 100 ***, and joined masters 7 years later. She just couldn't reset her expectations, and hasn't been back - hopefully she will try again.
If the appetite is there I will start a Q&A type thread for psychology. It will also help me to generate ideas for articles.
I absolutely understand her. For 25 years break I had no desire to come to the pool. If not doc's prescription to swim I would never return. That actually helped a lot because my mind set was: I need it for my health. So I didn't worry much about results. If I worried about the result 1st day I returned to the pool I would give up swimming again - that's for sure. Only after 1 year swimming for health I felt that I became stronger and understood that I miss competitions again.
To Mr. Stark, it was a pleasure meeting you at Pac Masters Champs. Unfortunately the only time I spotted you was immediately following your 50yd. breaststroke. Not an optimal time for an introduction but I needed to formally thank you for your postings regarding breaststroke drills, competition, and the psychology of a highly technical stroke. BTW, nice swim.:applaud:
Rob - you know what I would really appreciate? A thread of sorts with sports psychology HELPS. I have only recently begun to appreciate my "improvements" at the masters level - in other words, I've stopped comparing myself to my times as a youth. Some masters swimmers seem to be able to retain, or regain the speed of their youth, but I, alas, am not one of them! This really held me back for a long time & I see some comments on here & hear them at practice or at meets as well, that let me know I'm not the only one! My last two meets have been some of my funnest, because I have finally begun (again) to swim the entire meet without negative self talk! This has been a huge breakthrough for me, and not just in terms of time improvement, but also my happiness factor! It would be great if you could help us all in this way,
Hi - this is a big one for a lot of masters swimmers. One of my team mates was the British record holder at 100 ***, and joined masters 7 years later. She just couldn't reset her expectations, and hasn't been back - hopefully she will try again.
If the appetite is there I will start a Q&A type thread for psychology. It will also help me to generate ideas for articles.
I am a 32 y/o male with Cystic Fibrosis. I swim to stay alive.
I manage treatments, family, and work, but swimming is right at the top, because if I do not have my health, none of the others will be around.
The only major downside is that I have to travel a decent amount for work, and I lose my fitness level much faster than normal athletes.
Fortunately, I have a great team! (TXLA)
