Heres the scoop. I've been swimming for about 3 years now. My best times (scy) are as follows:
500 free 5:13.something
200 free 157.something else
100 free 52.8
50 free 24.38
100 fly 59.7
I swim between 20,000 and 30,000 yards/week now. I'm 20 years old, (male). My question is, do you think that with the right training and work ethic I could make a cut for the Olympic Trials in 2012? I would expect to train between 2 and 3 hours/day. I know it may sound a little crazy given my times now but I believe that with 6 years to do it, I can. My goal would be to qualify for the 100,200, or 500 free.
Parents
Former Member
while I understand that you think that you train just fine on your own...and sometimes, when my team and coach is really getting on my nerves I feel the same way, its not ideal
But...the bottomline is...when I was in 11th grade I was hating my USS coach and teammates, and as a result I was the #1 slacker you have ever met. I made some sacrafices, and shelled out $680 for the season and transferred teams. I had to drive 45minutes each way 6 days a week...but I got to swim with some fantastic swimmers, and I was no longer the fastest on the team...I think training with these swimmers who have outshown my in the pool time and time again, is what has led to my successes and my time drops over the past few years. That in practice competition with your teammates is great for your training.
I understand working with a coach might not be at the top of your list, but what if you found a coach you could meet with on maybe a bi-weekly basis-Maybe like Friday and Tuesday, and they can really be more of a stroke analyzer...they can also give you workouts for the entire week...so that you are getting there input, but also not having to work with one on a day to day basis for now.
I agree with the comment that was made, that you should take the next year or so to really learn about swimming and proper technique and see what you are doing right, wrong, or somewhere inbetween. It's only going to help you in the long run and prevent injury with any luck. If you chose to do this, it would work great if you saw a coach 1 or 2x a week!
while I understand that you think that you train just fine on your own...and sometimes, when my team and coach is really getting on my nerves I feel the same way, its not ideal
But...the bottomline is...when I was in 11th grade I was hating my USS coach and teammates, and as a result I was the #1 slacker you have ever met. I made some sacrafices, and shelled out $680 for the season and transferred teams. I had to drive 45minutes each way 6 days a week...but I got to swim with some fantastic swimmers, and I was no longer the fastest on the team...I think training with these swimmers who have outshown my in the pool time and time again, is what has led to my successes and my time drops over the past few years. That in practice competition with your teammates is great for your training.
I understand working with a coach might not be at the top of your list, but what if you found a coach you could meet with on maybe a bi-weekly basis-Maybe like Friday and Tuesday, and they can really be more of a stroke analyzer...they can also give you workouts for the entire week...so that you are getting there input, but also not having to work with one on a day to day basis for now.
I agree with the comment that was made, that you should take the next year or so to really learn about swimming and proper technique and see what you are doing right, wrong, or somewhere inbetween. It's only going to help you in the long run and prevent injury with any luck. If you chose to do this, it would work great if you saw a coach 1 or 2x a week!
