My team right now is playing a team wide game. We've all been split into teams, and then we have certain challenges each day that the designated team members participate in to earn points for our teams. No idea what happens at the end, but we probably will all get ribbons for participating. And the last few weeks of 2006 we had the Swim of Fame. Our coach made up stars that had workouts that played to the strengths of everybody on the team. Then everybody had a speical star, and as you completed each workout you put a sticker on that star. When you finished all the stars you got a ribbon and bragging rights. (I totally finished them all ;)....one of them was the Brute Squad set if anybody did that mail in event.)
So I was wondering what, or even if, other teams do things to keep the team intrested. Either in the water or out. I know a lot of teams have team dinners every week or so.
As a side note, maybe for all the people who use these forums as their team we can come up with something along the same lines to keep you interested and motivated too. We can start a forum wide swim game! That might be fun.....
We will occasionally play water polo or water baseball. I stink at both and sometimes just opt to do laps but everyone else seems to love the change of pace.
Donna
In Olympic years, we do all the events, including the relays, that are happening that day as part of our workout. It's like a really quick turnaround version of the check-off challenge! For the relays, each person has to do each leg of the relay. So for the 4 x 100, you do a 100, get out, dive back in, do another hundred, etc. It's fun. And it's fun for people to try events they don't ever do and see what they can accomplish.
As a side note, maybe for all the people who use these forums as their team we can come up with something along the same lines to keep you interested and motivated too. We can start a forum wide swim game! That might be fun..... posted by Seagurl
I'm game....I want the gold stars to rub in Rich's face!....I mean I want the satisfaction of meeting a forum challenge like that....but seriously, it sounds pretty interesting...maybe you should construct an idea similar to what your team has already done that you think would fit the forum environment here.....think if it as a homework assignment / project....I will be grading you on several aspects including creativity....practicality....computability...etc...So it better be good Kyra...I'm a rough grader....LOL!! :groovy:
Newmastersswimmer
As a side note, maybe for all the people who use these forums as their team we can come up with something along the same lines to keep you interested and motivated too. We can start a forum wide swim game! That might be fun.....
I'd be game . . . though I lack the creativity to come up with such things. :p For now Rich and I are doing the 0-1 mile plan as part of our workouts (well, part of his, most of mine).
think if it as a homework assignment / project....I will be grading you on several aspects including creativity....practicality....computability...etc...So it better be good Kyra...I'm a rough grader....LOL!! :groovy:
Newmastersswimmer
I'll treat is just like an assignment then and leave it til last minute. How long do I have to procrastinate on this project?
I'm definately up for creating a game. Give me a few weeks (I'm almost on spring break...if I survive til then...) to think about it, but I'll get back to you guys.
Depending on how challenging this game will be :D , I may be able to join in.
Speaking of which....how challenging do y'all want this? Like a knock down drag out...or more fun? I'm fresh out of ideas right now though...I just burned all my creativity making a couch look like it's on fire.
This is a topic that our club has embraced this season. We have dedicated one workout per month to a "themed" practice. For example, since September, our club has organized the following workouts:
September: Sprinters' Delight~~~50 x 50's on :50
October: The Night of Fright~~Best stroke set/Surprise Worst stroke set;relay
November: Handful of Turkey Workout~~3 choices for each course..warmup/drill set/mainset/kick set/warmdown drawn randomly by a lane for the group to swim as you progress through the practice. Even the coach doesn't know what set will be swum until it is drawn.
December: Twelve Days of Christmas workout~~1 lap of a;2 laps of b, 3 laps of c, 4 laps of d up to 12 laps and then back down to 1 lap
January: How's That Resolution Goin'??~~very tough workout;challenged each lane with tough intervals for the 'big main freestyle set'. Swimmers were pushed to hang tough and not give up the goal of the set. Main Set: 1 x 500; 2 x 400; 3 x 300; 4 x 200; 5 x 100 (All Free)
February: A Check-off Workout~~meet format with 17 events 50, 100, 200 of each stroke, 100 & 200 IM, 500 free, 200 medley and free relays.
For March, we are planning a mini-clinic workout -Swimming Green practice~~6 different stations, each lane will rotate through station sets: starts, turns, breathing, pacing, kicking, balance.
Like many clubs, Berkeley Aquatic Masters serves a variety of members and skill levels. We find that the shared themed workouts seem to pull our members together - mixing up the routine of regular interval training and swimmer lane assignments.
When the workout completes, several of us join for a cold one and reflect on the completion of the mystery practice. The unusual format and content of each one is refreshing, even for some of the more seasoned masters swimmers.
- Chris:groovy:
This is a topic that our club has embraced this season. We have dedicated one workout per month to a "themed" practice.
Chris -
This was a great post! Thanks for the brilliant ideas. Some that even a lone swimmer can take to task and enjoy!
Sometimes we eat hot peppers after practice. Oh, that isn't what you meant.
My team would never want to spice it up too much. Way too many aerobic loving people there. Bear traps are fun. You pick a goal time for a 100 (pick your stroke/poison) and go on 3:00. For every second you are under your time goal you get a point for every second over your time goal you take points away. Make a goal of 10, 20, 30, whatever. Make sure it is a goal that will push you, especially after a few 100s but not that you can barely make or make super easily.
