Sorry about the length of this, I got it as short as I could...
I started swimming summer-league only as an 11-year-old, I was very slow at the time but have improved a lot since then. My goal was always to make it to the county meet, which I never actually did except in relays. We only swam 50's of each stroke, 100 free, and 100 IM. I alwyas assumed I was a sprinter because I did okay in the 50's and didnt' have the endurance to do a good 100. This past year was my freshman year, and I joined my college club team, swimming about 3 days a week for an hour, uncoached. This summer is my last summer of eligibility for summer league, and my 50's are about the same as last year. My 100's have improved a lot - 6 seconds off my 100 IM since last summer. Now I think I may be more of a middle-distance swimmer than a sprinter, especially since my summer league coach keeps telling me my strokes are not powerful enough for a good sprint. Now that my goal in swimmming can't be to do well in the county meet, I'm having trouble figuring out what my goals should be. My best stroke is backstroke, but I've really started enjoying the IM lately.
So basically, I think I may be a middle-distance swimmer, trying to figure out my goals for the next few years, and don't have a coach to help me. Any advice?
Parents
Former Member
I had a similar situation a few years ago. It's a little confusing at first, but great after that. Technique work is always good, but make sure the changes you're making are the correct ones. You said there's no coach you can ask, but can any of the other club swimmers look at your stroke and give you feedback? Or videotaping yourself can always be helpful. Most digital cameras can take videos if a video camera is not an option. If you're switching from focusing on 50's to 100's and 200's, you will need more endurance, so endurance work would be a good thing, but be sure not to completely forget about sprint work. Try doing some endurance sets like 50's or 100's on a tight interval, but also do 25's and 50's on an easier interval, trying to sprint all-out each one.
I had a similar situation a few years ago. It's a little confusing at first, but great after that. Technique work is always good, but make sure the changes you're making are the correct ones. You said there's no coach you can ask, but can any of the other club swimmers look at your stroke and give you feedback? Or videotaping yourself can always be helpful. Most digital cameras can take videos if a video camera is not an option. If you're switching from focusing on 50's to 100's and 200's, you will need more endurance, so endurance work would be a good thing, but be sure not to completely forget about sprint work. Try doing some endurance sets like 50's or 100's on a tight interval, but also do 25's and 50's on an easier interval, trying to sprint all-out each one.
