Some people are afraid of the dark...some are afraid to go outside....
I'm afraid of the starting blocks!
Yes, sad and pathetic but true - the blocks scare the beejeezus outa me. Why, I don't know. When I swam in high school I had no fear (and no cap and goggles either - we're talkin' WAY back in the day...)
Well...flash forward several years to my now Masters career and my coach talks me in to competing. So we have a start clinic. From then on (and it's gotten worse) I developed a really strange phobia of actually getting on the blocks and jumping off.
Part of it has to do with the fact that my starts are terrible. I have practiced and I cannot seem to get my brain to wrap around the information of what I'm suppose to do, and to get my body to follow.
Lately it just so happens that I've been competing in really long races (i.e., 1650, 1000, etc.) and I start from the wall. But when I compete in the shorter distances I know I cannot get away with that. And, I'd really like to get over the irrational fear of diving into the water...AND I'd really like to have a decent, competitive start.
Suggestions? Thoughts? Therapy of any kind...?
PS: we do have a diving pool where we work out, so I have no excuse!
:(
Parents
Former Member
I can't relate to the starting block phobia as this is my favorite part of competing. I do have a few things to add however... First, I find I feel much more stable doing a track start. I also have much better starts with the track start. I also close my eyes until I'm all the way in the water. This is a weird habit that I started in gymnastics (not a good habit either). However for dives it is ok.
And I had a massive back tumbling fear when I was a gymnast. I would crappily front tumble for days. Some days I would be able to back tumble well other days I wouldn't back tumble AT ALL! A very strange mental block I found a few others along the way shared. The coaches that were the most successful in working me through this problem were the ones that were patient and let me take things slow and easy. We started back to the lovely level 5 drills and worked our way up. This must have proved to be extremely frustrating to my coaches as this was a very common occurrence.
The last bit of advice is picture the worst thing that could happen. Block now HAVE to be in deep water so you aren't going to hit the bottom (barring some miracle of physics). The worst thing really is that your goggles could come off. (Big deal happens to someone every meet - even happend to Amanda Beard in a big meet). Even if you have a terrible start and smack the water the blocks are low enough that a mild sting would be the absolute worst case senario.
I always visualize myself going through my whole race (block start and all) as I'm getting ready for my heat. I think visualization is key. Positive thoughts!
Julie Fody (I think it might be another woman's soccer player) has this quote along the lines of ..."Your mind can only hold one thought at a time, it's up to whether it's a positive one or a negative one."
I can't relate to the starting block phobia as this is my favorite part of competing. I do have a few things to add however... First, I find I feel much more stable doing a track start. I also have much better starts with the track start. I also close my eyes until I'm all the way in the water. This is a weird habit that I started in gymnastics (not a good habit either). However for dives it is ok.
And I had a massive back tumbling fear when I was a gymnast. I would crappily front tumble for days. Some days I would be able to back tumble well other days I wouldn't back tumble AT ALL! A very strange mental block I found a few others along the way shared. The coaches that were the most successful in working me through this problem were the ones that were patient and let me take things slow and easy. We started back to the lovely level 5 drills and worked our way up. This must have proved to be extremely frustrating to my coaches as this was a very common occurrence.
The last bit of advice is picture the worst thing that could happen. Block now HAVE to be in deep water so you aren't going to hit the bottom (barring some miracle of physics). The worst thing really is that your goggles could come off. (Big deal happens to someone every meet - even happend to Amanda Beard in a big meet). Even if you have a terrible start and smack the water the blocks are low enough that a mild sting would be the absolute worst case senario.
I always visualize myself going through my whole race (block start and all) as I'm getting ready for my heat. I think visualization is key. Positive thoughts!
Julie Fody (I think it might be another woman's soccer player) has this quote along the lines of ..."Your mind can only hold one thought at a time, it's up to whether it's a positive one or a negative one."
