Hi everyone! I am planning to go to my very first (all of my life, I was never a swimmer) meet this month...and am freaking out already!!!!! Maybe I should back out before it's too late? See, I am not all that fast and have never performed a start dive from a block.:shakeshead: Our Master's coach is not all that great, he is a nice man just as a coach I don't think I benefit all that much. To my question of how to make my breaststroke faster his response was "Drink more coffee"!!!:frustrated: I did get a private coach to help me but not sure if that's enough..... What should I do? Are all the odds against me? I was looking forward to this meet when it was 2-3 months away, but now......The meet is in 3 weeks..... Help!!!!!:notworthy:
Parents
Former Member
I swam at my first meet three years ago and had never dived off the blocks until the practice session. I explained my plight while waiting in line (and shaking like a leaf) and several people offered to help and actually coached me through it! I did my races without losing my goggles and felt a tremendous relief at having survived. I must say that before my first race I was so nervous that I felt sick, but the second race was almost enjoyable.
Ultimately, I decided that since I'm a distance swimmer (the 500 is my shortest race), I would just dive in from the side. It reduces my stress level considerably and my coach says that in the longer races and at my level, it won't make much difference in my times. Heck, I won my heat last year diving from the side.
Even at the larger meets I see others diving from the side or doing pool starts, so I wouldn't drive yourself crazy over it.
I am continually amazed by how friendly other people are at the meets. Not many people from my club compete and I really appreciate all the help I've received from people who are strangers.
Good luck and have fun!
I swam at my first meet three years ago and had never dived off the blocks until the practice session. I explained my plight while waiting in line (and shaking like a leaf) and several people offered to help and actually coached me through it! I did my races without losing my goggles and felt a tremendous relief at having survived. I must say that before my first race I was so nervous that I felt sick, but the second race was almost enjoyable.
Ultimately, I decided that since I'm a distance swimmer (the 500 is my shortest race), I would just dive in from the side. It reduces my stress level considerably and my coach says that in the longer races and at my level, it won't make much difference in my times. Heck, I won my heat last year diving from the side.
Even at the larger meets I see others diving from the side or doing pool starts, so I wouldn't drive yourself crazy over it.
I am continually amazed by how friendly other people are at the meets. Not many people from my club compete and I really appreciate all the help I've received from people who are strangers.
Good luck and have fun!
