Hey everyone, this is my first post here. I'm a 20 y/o male and have just recently gotten into swimming. I swam in 8th grade and was pretty average but have no swim team experience otherwise. I've ran cross country, track, wrestled, powerlifted, and played basketball before for what it's worth.
I go to a community college and was recently thinking that it might be fun to join their swim team. I'm decently athletic and learn fast, but obviously having just started swimming, I'm terrible. Haha I mean I can do the strokes somewhat (butterfly is iffy), and have some endurance, but that's about it, very very basic stuff.
I was wondering how feasible it might be to join? There aren't try-outs and the off-season training (summer and fall, then meets start in February), etc. is open for all students, but from what I've heard about the coach, she doesn't like having newbies join (understandably). What do you guys think? If I train my butt off for the forseeable future, is there an spot for me on the team? Should I contact the coach/participate in off-season training or train by myself first? Should I forget about it and continue to swim for fun anyway and/or join a class? (I'll continue to swim regardless ha).
Sorry for all the questions... I guess what I'm asking for is maybe some benchmarks to know when/if I'll ever be ready to join without wasting the coach's time?
Thanks for reading. Apologies for the silly/newbie questions. :)
***I don't mean any offense to those future/current/past college swimmers who've swam for years by thinking I could possibly join... I know I'd be one of if not the slowest on the team and am okay with that, I just want to push myself and have fun playing a sport again***
Thanks for all the responses guys! Yes I realize the practices will be thousands and thousands of yards of grueling work and two a days and it would be near impossible for me to even keep up given the time I have to prepare. Swimming is very different from any other sport I've done for sure. When I swam for my middle school even then the serious swimmers would be doing two a days with total distances I couldn't imagine. (Granted, most of the team were complete beginners who slacked off hahah).
Even knowing that, I admit I'm likely underestimating how hard it'd be to bring myself to a point where I can "keep up" with the practices.
I'll send the coach an email tonight and see what she says about the off-season training (if I could watch a practice and any standards I should be meeting). Then if things go poorly, I'll join a masters team (probably will do this part anyway).
I already know that last year they didn't have much depth in the longer events (2-3 swimmers per event even in the larger meets with more points up for grabs) and was thinking maybe I could help out in some way with those by being willing to fill a space.
Thanks again for giving me some direction everyone. :)
Thanks for all the responses guys! Yes I realize the practices will be thousands and thousands of yards of grueling work and two a days and it would be near impossible for me to even keep up given the time I have to prepare. Swimming is very different from any other sport I've done for sure. When I swam for my middle school even then the serious swimmers would be doing two a days with total distances I couldn't imagine. (Granted, most of the team were complete beginners who slacked off hahah).
Even knowing that, I admit I'm likely underestimating how hard it'd be to bring myself to a point where I can "keep up" with the practices.
I'll send the coach an email tonight and see what she says about the off-season training (if I could watch a practice and any standards I should be meeting). Then if things go poorly, I'll join a masters team (probably will do this part anyway).
I already know that last year they didn't have much depth in the longer events (2-3 swimmers per event even in the larger meets with more points up for grabs) and was thinking maybe I could help out in some way with those by being willing to fill a space.
Thanks again for giving me some direction everyone. :)
