watching your competitors

I too have yet to go to my first meet, but when I swim I like to practice watching my "competitors" in the lane next to me. If there is people swimming next to me, then I find out different ways to watch them without messing up my stroke. I figure this way, I can use it in a race, and since it's only practice it doesn't matter if I find one that slows me down. My favorite one so far is to scan the "horizon" when my head is underwater for breaststroke. I use my glide to scan my eyes without moving my head. For butterfly, I'm usually to focused on messing up my stroke to worry about anything else, so just do what works for you; and on backstroke, I just try to look out of the corner of my eyes. That's just what I do. Have fun at your first meet! and GOOD LUCK!!! ~Kyra

As a vetern swimmer... A quick turn of the head during the recovery/breath of the fly you can see who is next to you, same in *** stroke, in the backstroke, as you roll from one side to another you can see the kick of someone ahead of you, and if you are in the lead, just watching the field. However... You shouldn't be looking, just swim your own race. If you beat your time you have a personal victory, if you are first --that's gravy!

Do lousy in your first meet! That way, it'll be easier to show improvement in your next! :) :)

I think the best thing to do is always swim against the clock. Always shoot for your fastest time. That way you are always improving and getting better (thus, winning more). I don't like watching other swimmers it makes me go slower. I just race all out and concentrate on what I'm going to do to go faster.

Don't get me wrong--I love a race it doesn't matter if your male or female I love the rush of the race, I just think that looking tends to slow you down so just race the clock and give it your all. When you win great--when you lose---pout!! originally posted by evesore I see your point there....looking may in fact slow you down (there's no arguing that)....but I feel like Knelson when it comes to competition (maybe I'm just shallow or something so I like to compete and beat people to boost my fragile ego?...I'll admit that that's a real possibility perhaps....BUT I like to win and so I think it is important to peek at your competition when you can....It's like Hooked On said about the Hungarian dude....Someone can sneak up on you and out touch you ....And you may not even know they are coming if you don't occassionally sneak a peek around and see where your competition is). newmastersswimmer

I don't look for my competitors but I am aware where they are compared to me. I too like to win my heat regardless who is next to me.

Originally posted by craiglll@yahoo.com At many master meet you are swimmign with peole in different age groups. this means that you really aren't competing against them anyway. Race the clock. Come on now, you're competing against everyone in the pool! I want to beat the guy (or gal) next to me whether they're 18 or 80. I agree with all the stuff about "swimming your own race" but there is something to be said about sneaking a peak at your competitors. The best time to do it in freestyle is when you breather. I'd say that's an advantage of bilateral breathing.

I agree looking at the other swimmers in your race is really distracting. You just have to try to swim your own race and beat the clock.

At many master meet you are swimmign with peole in different age groups. this means that you really aren't competing against them anyway. Race the clock.

Don't get me wrong--I love a race it doesn't matter if your male or female I love the rush of the race, I just think that looking tends to slow you down so just race the clock and give it your all. When you win great--when you lose---pout!!