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!
Former Member
Hah, I was just checking in to see if Joey had posted yet. I have been at my son's swim meet all weekend and had been away.
Joey, let us know the progress, good or bad. If bad, remember, when trying to improve technique, sometimes you slow down, but the real prize is at the end of the season, not now. If good, let us know the progress!!
Good Job Joey! I hope you make your goal. If not, it won't be from lack of enthusiasm. We are all rooting for you here on the forum. Not just for you but for your entire team! You and your coach and team are an inspiration. Sort of "Bad News Bears". I am sure your team will grow in size and strength over the next few years and the Bad News Griff's will be a contender in the future. Keep up the good work, and remember that when your college days are over we would love to have you join the Niagara Region Masters Swimmers!
Hey everyone! sorry i went away right after our meet his weekend to boston, and i just got in about 3 hours ago. Thanks for the anticipation! Welllll.......I did improve my time a bit....my fastest yet at a 27.1 with a relay start and inthe standing start of the 50 free i posted a 27.6, which my coach says is pretty much in the target area right now. I also swam in the 400 free relay and posted a 1:05.something which could have been better but i screwed up a turn and def "hit the wall" on the third length. But i did improve which i am happy about and leaves 5 seconds to cut off in about 90 days to get to a 22. Let me know what you all i think and thanks for pushing me with encouragement!
I am with Cynthia, you have the perfect breaststroke build. I have coached several high school and college football players. Most were too muscle bound for freestyle, but powerfull enough for breaststroke.
If you lay on you back and try to touch your toes to the floor, how far do you bend your feet? Anything less that parallel to the floor means you got a LONG way to go. Now if you are one of those who can touch the floor with your toes, you may have a 21.0 in you:p I call that ballerina toes:D But all the fast men and women have that.
Now if you can stand up and rotate the feet 90 degrees to each side like a frog, you are a natural breaststroker.
Actually if I were you, I would sneak a few workouts with a masters group. Most have great coaches who concentrate on technique.
Also work on you start, a good start can make over a second difference compared to a poor start. Being a powerfull football player means you should use that strength as an advantage. A strong start and pushoff at the wall is the easiest way to get faster.
hey everyone...well it has been an interesting winter break...i was only able to get a few workouts here or there in and am disappointed in that.... BUT i have been surprised with my endurance in this first official week back to practice....I have been completing nearly every set that coach has put before me, maybe not as fast as everyone but am finally able to do a 500 without pausing....i don't know how fast i am currently in my 50 but my team has a sort of "pickup" meet this saturday against SUNY Buffalo...I will post my time this saturday evening or sunday....
I did try lying on my backand touching my toes to the floor....my right foot was at parallel and my left foot was above...:( (i think this is cause of injuries i had during football...) For breaststroke i would need a complete weeks worth of lessons in form and technique and pull, cause i have no idea on how to properly swim breaststroke, (pickleswim can vouch for me;) ) but maybe i should give it a shot....i feel real good in my stroke though, staying long and clean....i am noticing that my turn is a bit sloppy right now and will work on that...and my start is in a good place but can definitely use improvement...One thing that i have a problem with on my start is looking down and not out... I don't bring my head up all the way....But a complete analysis will be had come this weekend....thanks for the continued support and encouragement.........
Sounds like you found the joy of swimming relays! :D I remember a Div III All-American sprinter (at the U of R) who would go a second faster (in the 4x100), he could psych himself up that much.
Your comment about the hurting shoulder sounds scary. You'll notice the volume of threads in this forum that deal with swimmer's shoulder, surgery, injury prevention, etc. I trust that you have checked with the sports trainer / doctor?
Well everybody, i didn't do all that bad for the time off i had...my first 50free was the only thing that was a bit off when i swam a 28.4. but then in my 100free iswam a 106.6, and my best time before break was a 1.05.1 or something in the 1.05's....so i was pretty happy with that...then in my relay i was the lead man and my 50 time was a 27.4. I was psyched with that cause that was my last race and close to my top time in the 50....Everybody said that i looked very clean and fast through the water, that my turns looked tight, (which i think still need to be tightened) and that i had great starts. now it is just punding out yardage and getting experience in the water. i felt real good in the water too...but my shoulder is starting to bother me but i am fighting through it...i took today off from practice cause i could barely move my arm this morning.....but i'll be back at it on tuesday...oh...i think i am not getting into a streamlined position early and efficient enough off my turns....i think that is really slowing me down....but...practice practice practice.....
