Hey guys and girls, im 14 and want to start swimming with my school swim team. I dont know how my families going to react to this they kind of think its a girly sport. How should i hanndle this and i need some tips on what type of swim suit and cap? What dry land training should i do? Should i shave?
Scott
Parents
Former Member
sv20lacrosse,
Being only 14 you might not have heard of a swimmer by the name of Matt Biondi. I believe, as I have been told, that Matt did not start swimming until he was a freshman in HS. (If this is incorrect, please, someone let me know) Matt went on to NCAA, Olympic and World Record glory. And also wasn't a shabby water polo player either. Swimming might not be consistently a big spectator sport, or have as much public glory in it as you might have in other sports, but, the personal gratification that you will get from improving your technique, knowledge and eventually times will be enough, IMO, to test even the most driven athlete. IT WILL NOT BE EASY. It takes hard work and dedication. YOU WILL GET BETTER. Case in point, I had a freshmen 4 years ago who could not make it acrossed the pool on the first day of workout. As a coach you always wonder how long it will take for an individual such as this to choose another career path. We encouraged him to stick it out and this kid worked hard, was voted by his teammates the hardest worker on the team 4 years in a row and went a 22.85 in the 50 and 49.9 in the 100 his senior year. He now swims for a Div III school here in Ohio.
Swimmers do not have it easy. It takes a special kid to come out for swimming. Swimmers are the best people you will meet. In the future, you will have a common bond with a lot of people, worldwide. For the people who call us different things, well, they just do not know. Leave them alone and go about your business of getting better and having fun doing it.
If two roads diverged in the woods, take the one less travelled by and it will make all of the difference. There is a whole other world under the surface. Come on in, the water's fine.
sv20lacrosse,
Being only 14 you might not have heard of a swimmer by the name of Matt Biondi. I believe, as I have been told, that Matt did not start swimming until he was a freshman in HS. (If this is incorrect, please, someone let me know) Matt went on to NCAA, Olympic and World Record glory. And also wasn't a shabby water polo player either. Swimming might not be consistently a big spectator sport, or have as much public glory in it as you might have in other sports, but, the personal gratification that you will get from improving your technique, knowledge and eventually times will be enough, IMO, to test even the most driven athlete. IT WILL NOT BE EASY. It takes hard work and dedication. YOU WILL GET BETTER. Case in point, I had a freshmen 4 years ago who could not make it acrossed the pool on the first day of workout. As a coach you always wonder how long it will take for an individual such as this to choose another career path. We encouraged him to stick it out and this kid worked hard, was voted by his teammates the hardest worker on the team 4 years in a row and went a 22.85 in the 50 and 49.9 in the 100 his senior year. He now swims for a Div III school here in Ohio.
Swimmers do not have it easy. It takes a special kid to come out for swimming. Swimmers are the best people you will meet. In the future, you will have a common bond with a lot of people, worldwide. For the people who call us different things, well, they just do not know. Leave them alone and go about your business of getting better and having fun doing it.
If two roads diverged in the woods, take the one less travelled by and it will make all of the difference. There is a whole other world under the surface. Come on in, the water's fine.
