My team, Rockwall Aquatic Masters is having a long course meet on 6th July and I am actively trying to convince team mates to sign up. On my blog I was describing my disappointment that more of my team mates had not signed up. One commenter posted the following, "Why do they have to participate? I have more fun going to practice than I do meets. I don't find meets fun anymore." I guess I had assumed that most people enjoy meets and I found it strange that my team mates did not want to sign up. This got me thinking and I wondered why people compete or don't compete? Any thoughts?
My team, Rockwall Aquatic Masters is having a long course meet on 6th July and I am actively trying to convince team mates to sign up. On my blog I was describing my disappointment that more of my team mates had not signed up. One commenter posted the following, "Why do they have to participate? I have more fun going to practice than I do meets. I don't find meets fun anymore." I guess I had assumed that most people enjoy meets and I found it strange that my team mates did not want to sign up. This got me thinking and I wondered why people compete or don't compete? Any thoughts?
Most Masters groups average only 25-35% of their swimmers who compete. I coach, and swim also, over 100 swimmers. I have been pretty successful in beating the average by alot. Different approaches need to be taken with different swimmers:
New swimmers: The key here is they don't want to be embarrassed thinking they will be in the same heat with the studs. When they find that they are seeded by their entry time regardless of sex or age it helps. I have never had a new swimmer who I have "coaxed" not thank me afterward as they have swum much faster than they ever did in practice.
Older swimmers: Most often the reply here is "I'm too old to have any more PR's so why bother". What we have done on our team, the "BUMS", is to start thinking of "RPR's" or recent PR"s in a rolling four year time span. The thought here is to avoid the "I'll wait till I change age group" mentality or swim once every five years. Sure you are older. That's why we have age groups. These guys really need to have their teammates and especially lane mates behind them. Maybe getting them to try a new event can help also.
Ex HS or collage swimmers: This is the toughest group to work with. You have to get them to let go of their last great swim which was most likely shaved, tapered and many years ago in a championship meet. It has to be a combined effort from the coach but more importantly from the other swimmers that they want him or her at the meet. Sometimes inclusion in a relay that's shooting for a top ten time can help. It really does come down to having goals and the whole team behind each swimmer. Usually they are glad they did it afterwards and the next meet is easier to get them to swim in.
My team, Rockwall Aquatic Masters is having a long course meet on 6th July and I am actively trying to convince team mates to sign up. On my blog I was describing my disappointment that more of my team mates had not signed up. One commenter posted the following, "Why do they have to participate? I have more fun going to practice than I do meets. I don't find meets fun anymore." I guess I had assumed that most people enjoy meets and I found it strange that my team mates did not want to sign up. This got me thinking and I wondered why people compete or don't compete? Any thoughts?
Most Masters groups average only 25-35% of their swimmers who compete. I coach, and swim also, over 100 swimmers. I have been pretty successful in beating the average by alot. Different approaches need to be taken with different swimmers:
New swimmers: The key here is they don't want to be embarrassed thinking they will be in the same heat with the studs. When they find that they are seeded by their entry time regardless of sex or age it helps. I have never had a new swimmer who I have "coaxed" not thank me afterward as they have swum much faster than they ever did in practice.
Older swimmers: Most often the reply here is "I'm too old to have any more PR's so why bother". What we have done on our team, the "BUMS", is to start thinking of "RPR's" or recent PR"s in a rolling four year time span. The thought here is to avoid the "I'll wait till I change age group" mentality or swim once every five years. Sure you are older. That's why we have age groups. These guys really need to have their teammates and especially lane mates behind them. Maybe getting them to try a new event can help also.
Ex HS or collage swimmers: This is the toughest group to work with. You have to get them to let go of their last great swim which was most likely shaved, tapered and many years ago in a championship meet. It has to be a combined effort from the coach but more importantly from the other swimmers that they want him or her at the meet. Sometimes inclusion in a relay that's shooting for a top ten time can help. It really does come down to having goals and the whole team behind each swimmer. Usually they are glad they did it afterwards and the next meet is easier to get them to swim in.
