I am always amused at how often master's swimmers will take individual liberties in workout to suit their own needs. For example:
* Swimming free instead of breaststroke or the stroke prescribed by the coach.
* One handed turns on *** and fly.
* Cutting corners to stay up with the lane
* Using pull gear when it isn't a pull set
* Kicking your favorite kick and not the one given by the coach
* Leaving 2 seconds behind (more like 2 tenths behind)
* Pulling on the lane line
* Swimming when it's a kick set
* etc...
Maybe its all those years of swimming under "do it my way or the highway" type coaches, that I still have a hard time changing anything in the workout. I must admit however that it does feel good once and while to cheat a little.
As a coach, I've asked many swimmers as to why they change the set or cheat and I hear a million different excuses. I'm very interested in hearing from all of you, all the excuses you have or have heard from other swimmers.
Some of my favorite ones are:
* I don't want to get passed!!!
* I hate the other strokes? (from a former IM'r)
* My tri coach say's I shouldn't swim other strokes
Originally posted by IndyGal
Ouch. I guess that helps me decide whether or not to renew for next year. :(
Let me rephrase since I didn't make my point too well.
You should be swimming in a team workout in a lane that suits your abilities. Your coach has the responsibility to put you in the correct lane or you to self govern if you find yourself in a lane that is either too fast or too slow for your abilities.
It is extremely disruptive to have a lane full of circle swimmers and have one person modify the workout or alter the intervals, either slower or faster.
I don't think USMS needs some sort of policy about workouts. Most coaches will put together workouts for various lanes. The point is you should not disrupt those you are swimming with so as to negatively impact everyone's workout.
Why don't you ask your coach/team why they don't have a lane or practice time for those needing less yardage/more instruction?
Originally posted by IndyGal
Ouch. I guess that helps me decide whether or not to renew for next year. :(
Let me rephrase since I didn't make my point too well.
You should be swimming in a team workout in a lane that suits your abilities. Your coach has the responsibility to put you in the correct lane or you to self govern if you find yourself in a lane that is either too fast or too slow for your abilities.
It is extremely disruptive to have a lane full of circle swimmers and have one person modify the workout or alter the intervals, either slower or faster.
I don't think USMS needs some sort of policy about workouts. Most coaches will put together workouts for various lanes. The point is you should not disrupt those you are swimming with so as to negatively impact everyone's workout.
Why don't you ask your coach/team why they don't have a lane or practice time for those needing less yardage/more instruction?
