I am new to swimming just started swimming seriously last year (I'm 33). I have never competed. I decided to join USMS and try a meet this year just to give myself something to work towards. I find the rules a bit overwhelming and I'm not fast at all. I just got my front crawl lap under 1 minute. I practice 1 hour 3 times per week. I have taken a few classes including a TI based class which really helped me.
My question is, at my age and with my experience how should I prepare to go to my first meet? Not just skill wise but to learn the rules and not make a total fool out of myself. :) Also, how friendly are the local or regional meets? Will my team be upset if I come in last? How competitive is it really?
Thank you!
Parents
Former Member
Just do it.
Don't think about it too much, don't make too big of a deal out of it. You're going for the experience, and it doesn't have to be perfect the first time out.
I did my first meet 3 weeks after I started swimming (at 34). That was just his last August. My times were about the same as yours are right now.
Having more experienced teammates there made a huge difference.
One thing that helped was that in the past I had come to a few meets with one of my swimmer friends, to watch her, and I got the overview of the basics.
Good Luck! Let us know how it went!
Just do it.
Don't think about it too much, don't make too big of a deal out of it. You're going for the experience, and it doesn't have to be perfect the first time out.
I did my first meet 3 weeks after I started swimming (at 34). That was just his last August. My times were about the same as yours are right now.
Having more experienced teammates there made a huge difference.
One thing that helped was that in the past I had come to a few meets with one of my swimmer friends, to watch her, and I got the overview of the basics.
Good Luck! Let us know how it went!
