...to swim or not to swim?
As some of ya'll might remember, I wrote a small blog on my daily swimming activities as a college swimmer this past season. If not for my back injury, I'm sure it would have been much more exciting...but oh well.
Well the season ended a few months ago, and I've been largely a land lubber since. Now that I'm settled for the summer though, I'm getting back into the pool on a regular basis.
The question is... do I swim as a member of the varsity team next year?
I just can't really decide.
My coach quit at the end of the season to move with her husband to Rhode Island (where he became the new head soccer coach at the university of rhode island). The new coach of both the men's and women's program is the former assistant coach of the men's team, Jason.
He's a pretty nice guy, but since the men's and women's teams were seperate last year, I don't really know much about his coaching methods.
I've got it down to the pros and cons of swimming next year, but I still can't decide what would be best...
Pros: Great exercise - forces me to go swim even when I'm tired
Seeing my teammates again
A chance to actually compete
The ability to say I'm still a college swimmer...
Cons: Last year's practice schedule was brutal. If this year is the same...if it's the same this year it means:
Crunch on academics
No social life for 5-6 months
Constantly exhausted
..possible reinjury of my back (although unlikely)
I just don't know. I'm concerned about my academics. I really screwed up my spring quarter, for unrelated personal reasons, and as a result my GPA is in the toilet. Since I'm entering my junior year, pulling up my academics is of huge concern to me. Also, I'm going abroad in the spring...so if I had no time to spend with my real friends during the season I wouldn't see them at all during the year....
....But I don't want to be a quitter. I know I wouldn't abandon the sport...but....agh...
What do I do?
Parents
Former Member
I know what I'm about to say will sound tough but rather than patting you on the head I think you need a kick in the butt. Soneone needs to be honest with you and tell it like it is.
I think you need to do some serious soul searching and be completely honest with yourself about what you want to do in the pool and in school as well but that's another topic. I realize you have nothing to compare with but what you describe as brutal was in fact less demanding than almost any other college program I've ever been around or even most high level agegroup teams. If you think that was too difficult than maybe it is time to join the Masters program.
Some day when your our age, have kids, a full time job and all the other things that go along with adult life, plus trying to find time to swim, you're going to look back on this and realize that it may be the most fun and easiest time of your life.
Get off your rear end, call the coach, find out if you can live with him and if so get back on the team. If you do then make a committment, set some goals and give it your honest best effort.
YOU ARE NOT GOING TO GET ANOTHER CHANCE!
I hope you do swim again and do well.
I know what I'm about to say will sound tough but rather than patting you on the head I think you need a kick in the butt. Soneone needs to be honest with you and tell it like it is.
I think you need to do some serious soul searching and be completely honest with yourself about what you want to do in the pool and in school as well but that's another topic. I realize you have nothing to compare with but what you describe as brutal was in fact less demanding than almost any other college program I've ever been around or even most high level agegroup teams. If you think that was too difficult than maybe it is time to join the Masters program.
Some day when your our age, have kids, a full time job and all the other things that go along with adult life, plus trying to find time to swim, you're going to look back on this and realize that it may be the most fun and easiest time of your life.
Get off your rear end, call the coach, find out if you can live with him and if so get back on the team. If you do then make a committment, set some goals and give it your honest best effort.
YOU ARE NOT GOING TO GET ANOTHER CHANCE!
I hope you do swim again and do well.
