I need some confidence boosting... *edit - Updated!*
Former Member
Okay, time for some people to help me out here. In the next day or so I'm going to go find the swimming coach for my University so I can finally meet her face to face and completely settle my status as a swimmer this year. And I'm freaking out.
I don't really know why, but I seem to have this fear that she's going to take one look at me and burst out laughing.
I mean I have been out of the water for five years (excluding this summer).
And I'm not as fast as I used to be.
Or as strong.
My strokes (at least two of them) need major overhauling. And I can probably only swim a 5,000yd workout at once without dying.
I've not done a start in five years, and I'm just starting to get nice tight flip turns down.
And of course somehow without even me opening my mouth she'll know all this and will crush my hopes of joining the team this year. Or so I think....sigh.
*Update*:
So I met with the swim coach today....aaaand I think I just joined the team. She gave me a schedule for the first few weeks of practice/meetings and asked some questions about my swimming history. She was pretty nice and said that mostly everyone swims during the meets, and that the beginning ones are low key. I'm really excited, but a little freaked out about the first practice (which I think is entirely normal) at least I've got two weeks to get in the water on my own before then....
Oh by the way, here's my swim schedule (yikes!):
M-F 6:20a-8:20a
M-W-F 3:30p-5:30p
S: 8a-10a
Ouch.........................
To coin a phrase..."Just do it!". Talk to the coach. Go in with a positive attitude and ask her to help you get in shape to surpass your old personal bests. Express to her your committment toward this goal and that you want to make it a lifestyle vs. just a sport. Even if she indicates the team is too large and doesn't have a place for you currently, ask if you can still utilize the team workouts on your own or in intramural. Ask if she can be a part of your training and if she'll reconsider in a month or so after she see's your commitment and has some attrition in her program. Good Luck.
I think I stand a pretty good chance of joining the team at this point...but of course that doesn't stop me from fearing the meeting. I think I'm mostly afraid that all that I've done during the summer won't have been enough, and that if I don't join the team I'll look stupid to the people (mostly my friends and family) who knew that I was trying to join...
Originally posted by etrain
Unless it is a Div I school, you won't be doing anywhere near 5,000yrds a day for a good few weeks, so I think you will be fine. I swam for a Div III school and we rarely went above 6,000 yrds a day.
Seriously? I'm a little surprised by that. Other than the sprint group I can't imagine any college program doing less than 5,000 yards per workout right from the get go.
Back on topic, though, gotta echo what others have said. Your biggest challenge is just walking through the coach's door. Maybe you won't make the team, but you've at least got to give it your best shot. Just be confident that have prepared over the last few months and you are where you are.
The coach isn't going to laugh at you! If you aren't quite where you need to be right now I'm sure she'll tell you that and let you know what you need to do to get to that level.
Good luck!
My guess is that most Division III schools will have room for another swimmer. If the coach didn't have room for you she most likely would have told you by now.
Best not to worry about something you can't control. Talk to the coach and see what happens.
Good Luck! Hope you have a good season.
The school is Div 3 and I had previously talked to the coach by e-mail and she had said they would be happy to have me...of course she hasn't met me or seen me swim yet...
To copy a post you used in another thread (or something similar?):.......Just do it man!....all the other kids are doing it!
An old quote also comes to mind....something like:......"You have nothing to fear but ?? itself".....Can't recall the ?? part though??...but oh well...you get the point.
Newmastersswimmer
Hey, nothing ventured, nothing gained! Your worst fear is that she'll laugh at you. If she were to do that, she wouldn't even be the kind of person you'd want to work with--who'd want to work with someone who'd be so rude as to laugh at you right out? But if she said in her e-mail that she wanted you on the team, I don't think she'll change her mind. She might even be looking for people and need to have you! Also, if you go to see her and come across as someone friendly and cooperative, willing to work, she's likely to appreciate you all the more.
And remember, she's just another human being who might also be nervous about meeting new students and is hoping to get people who have a good attitude and want to learn.
Go for it--and let us know how it turned out!
Edited to add--Hey, I just noticed that now I'm a "very active member"! Who knew I'd advance to that status! :)
