Well, i am a student at Canisius College in Buffalo, NY that had the football team cut from the athletic program and instead had a swim team and a few other sports put in the program in its place. One day as i was working out in the gym this past september, the coach of the swim team saw me working out and asked me if i wanted to swim. He needed numbers more than anything since the collegiate competitive requirements are 11 participants a team. Mind you i am 5'7", 185 lbs, broad chest and shoulders with large legs. A running back figure. I have never swam before and i agreed to be on the swim team. The coach wants me to swim the 50 and 100 free and i like that for it is a fast twitch race more than slow twitch, and since i am a senior i don't really have time to increase my endurance and slow twitch. I was wondering if any of you had advice for me in my endeavour to become an excellent swimmer by february 2004, and hopefully win an event at the MAAC nationals. In my first meet on Oct. 11, i swam a 27.88 in the 50 free at Duquesne. If you couldn't tell by my hunting for a discussion ring and post, i am very intense and competitive, and am taking this very seriously. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you and hope to have some replies soon!
Parents
Former Member
I have been watching this exchange and enjoying it. Joey I think it is great you are getting into this sport and hope you succeed in meeting your goals. Even if you don't you will be helping your schools team out because you have drive and that will help your learning curve.
I would take your questions to your coach and teammates. I say this because it is hard for us to tell you what to do without seeing your stroke.
One comment I will make about weights and sprinting. I think keeping the legs strong could be very beneficial for your sprint. My 15 year old son has played soccer all fall and not been in the water since August. He has been doing a lot of lower body weights with the soccer team. Two weeks ago he had to swim in a YMCA meet to "get a meet in". He swam the 50 free in 27.00 and he said did it all with legs. Last summer he was swimming high 24s on relay splits so he has a ways to go to get back in swimming shape, but it was interesting he could go that fast without upper body effort. He is small 5-9 and 135 and his forte is middle to long distance, but the leg strength seems to make a big difference in the sprint.
I have been watching this exchange and enjoying it. Joey I think it is great you are getting into this sport and hope you succeed in meeting your goals. Even if you don't you will be helping your schools team out because you have drive and that will help your learning curve.
I would take your questions to your coach and teammates. I say this because it is hard for us to tell you what to do without seeing your stroke.
One comment I will make about weights and sprinting. I think keeping the legs strong could be very beneficial for your sprint. My 15 year old son has played soccer all fall and not been in the water since August. He has been doing a lot of lower body weights with the soccer team. Two weeks ago he had to swim in a YMCA meet to "get a meet in". He swam the 50 free in 27.00 and he said did it all with legs. Last summer he was swimming high 24s on relay splits so he has a ways to go to get back in swimming shape, but it was interesting he could go that fast without upper body effort. He is small 5-9 and 135 and his forte is middle to long distance, but the leg strength seems to make a big difference in the sprint.
