On February 20, I'm hoping to go to my first swim meet......ever! :eek: I swam on the team when I was younger, but I never competed. I'm incredibly nervous already and I have no idea what to expect because I have never been to a meet before. I swam with my friend who is a coach, and I have what seems like a lot of work to do on my strokes. How realistic is it that I be ready by February? Obviously I won't be at the top of the field, but I'm hoping to at least not make a fool out of myself. But what I really want to know is what to expect. How do I train, and how do I taper? When do I start tapering? Do I even need to taper? Any good pre-meet workout ideas? Any thing that anyone can suggest would be helpful!!! Thanx a bunch!!
~Kyra
Parents
Former Member
I'll second the notion about trying out some starts -- even if it's only at warm-ups the day of the meet.
If you've never started from a block before, be prepared for how high above the water you feel as you are standing on the block. The taller you are, the higher it will seem -- even though the block is only 24 inches high or so. You could stand on the steps at your house about the same height up and look down, and it won't seem like anything out of the ordinary, but for some reason when you get on that block at the pool and see it, especially for the first time, it might feel like you are standing on the high dive! Don't worry about doing any technique for the block-start the first meet. Just be sure you can do it so that when you get up there when it's your event, you'll have the confidence knowing that you've done it before. (And be sure your goggles will stay on!) If you can't get it to work for you in warm-ups, try a start standing on the edge of the pool next to the block during warm-ups. If that works, then let the meet officials know that's what you'll be doing. And if even that doesn't work for you, then follow the previous advice and do your start from in the water pushing off from the wall. It's OK to do that.
First meet? Don't worry about your times (and don't even waste any cycles on worrying about tapering.) Just get in there and do what you would do in your workouts. That will give you a base line from which you will look to improve at subsequent meets.
And don't forget to have fun!
I'll second the notion about trying out some starts -- even if it's only at warm-ups the day of the meet.
If you've never started from a block before, be prepared for how high above the water you feel as you are standing on the block. The taller you are, the higher it will seem -- even though the block is only 24 inches high or so. You could stand on the steps at your house about the same height up and look down, and it won't seem like anything out of the ordinary, but for some reason when you get on that block at the pool and see it, especially for the first time, it might feel like you are standing on the high dive! Don't worry about doing any technique for the block-start the first meet. Just be sure you can do it so that when you get up there when it's your event, you'll have the confidence knowing that you've done it before. (And be sure your goggles will stay on!) If you can't get it to work for you in warm-ups, try a start standing on the edge of the pool next to the block during warm-ups. If that works, then let the meet officials know that's what you'll be doing. And if even that doesn't work for you, then follow the previous advice and do your start from in the water pushing off from the wall. It's OK to do that.
First meet? Don't worry about your times (and don't even waste any cycles on worrying about tapering.) Just get in there and do what you would do in your workouts. That will give you a base line from which you will look to improve at subsequent meets.
And don't forget to have fun!
