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
Joey,
As someone who has swam a lot, coached a little, I'd like to try to sum up what I hear people saying to you:
1) Pay attention to your coach, especially when he is having you work on technique. You have expressed a desire to work HARDER to reach your goals. You will need that. You will also need to work SMARTER to ensure you are effectively applying your athletic ability in a new, foreign medium. This may call for meticulous attention to detail that may not seem quite as important as your coach is telling you it is. LISTEN UP! Remember when your football coaches got on you, or some other player, to get a few inches lower because it would dramatically improve your leverage? That is what streamlining, turns, starts, and all sorts of other drills you may have to do a slow speeds are like. Trust me, this work is as important as a killer fatiguing workout.
2) Mental toughness--Meeting the physical challenge you don't expect. (aka Pay attention to your coach Part II) You will of course need lots of physical conditioning that will push you to your limits; however, it may stress parts of your body in ways you did not expect. Instead of 10 second bursts at full speed, your coach may ask you to do a long aerobic set (lots of yards, short interval, little rest, done at slower speeds), or he make ask you to do low oxygen sets (instead of breathing every other arm stroke, breathing only 2-3 times per length). This is not crap; it is what you need. Go after it just as hard as you can.
3) Flexibility. Forget the weight room; find a yoga class. Others have discussed this, so 'nuff said.
4) Mental preparation. Keep in mind what you have probably already learned playing football: preparing yourself emotionally to perform is critical. Keep using the same techniques you've used to get up for a football game. They should work just fine. (Hey, I played D line on a flag football team when I was also swimming for my college team. The psychology of getting up a pass rush and the 50 free are remarkably similar.) Your new swim team mates might also have a use for any leaderships skills you learned on the football field.
5) Goals and having fun. Several folks have expended their eloquence on how likely or difficult it will be for you to reach 22 seconds. Reaching your goal would be awesome, but pay just a little attention to the wonderful journey you will be traveling while it is happening. You could miss your goal, but still be a magnificent "failure." What you have already done is amazing, and if you get under, say... 24.5 you will have my profound respect. Make sure you feel the joy in the moment, and consider whether you would like to make swimming, and maybe masters swimming, part of your exercise program for life after college.
Lotsa luck. Please keep us up to date with how you are doing.
Matt
Joey,
As someone who has swam a lot, coached a little, I'd like to try to sum up what I hear people saying to you:
1) Pay attention to your coach, especially when he is having you work on technique. You have expressed a desire to work HARDER to reach your goals. You will need that. You will also need to work SMARTER to ensure you are effectively applying your athletic ability in a new, foreign medium. This may call for meticulous attention to detail that may not seem quite as important as your coach is telling you it is. LISTEN UP! Remember when your football coaches got on you, or some other player, to get a few inches lower because it would dramatically improve your leverage? That is what streamlining, turns, starts, and all sorts of other drills you may have to do a slow speeds are like. Trust me, this work is as important as a killer fatiguing workout.
2) Mental toughness--Meeting the physical challenge you don't expect. (aka Pay attention to your coach Part II) You will of course need lots of physical conditioning that will push you to your limits; however, it may stress parts of your body in ways you did not expect. Instead of 10 second bursts at full speed, your coach may ask you to do a long aerobic set (lots of yards, short interval, little rest, done at slower speeds), or he make ask you to do low oxygen sets (instead of breathing every other arm stroke, breathing only 2-3 times per length). This is not crap; it is what you need. Go after it just as hard as you can.
3) Flexibility. Forget the weight room; find a yoga class. Others have discussed this, so 'nuff said.
4) Mental preparation. Keep in mind what you have probably already learned playing football: preparing yourself emotionally to perform is critical. Keep using the same techniques you've used to get up for a football game. They should work just fine. (Hey, I played D line on a flag football team when I was also swimming for my college team. The psychology of getting up a pass rush and the 50 free are remarkably similar.) Your new swim team mates might also have a use for any leaderships skills you learned on the football field.
5) Goals and having fun. Several folks have expended their eloquence on how likely or difficult it will be for you to reach 22 seconds. Reaching your goal would be awesome, but pay just a little attention to the wonderful journey you will be traveling while it is happening. You could miss your goal, but still be a magnificent "failure." What you have already done is amazing, and if you get under, say... 24.5 you will have my profound respect. Make sure you feel the joy in the moment, and consider whether you would like to make swimming, and maybe masters swimming, part of your exercise program for life after college.
Lotsa luck. Please keep us up to date with how you are doing.
Matt
