feedback please?

RE: feedback please?

Former Member — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 15:16:51 GMT

Swimnstar11, your dilemma has clearly hit a nerve with this audience. Many of us were in your shoes at one point. Some retired from their sport, some stuck with it, some were happy with their decision, and some regretted theirs. But I'll bet the one thing that the hundreds of people that have viewed this thread have in common is that we are all wish you the best of luck! Please do let us know how the big meet goes, and the final decision that you make.

RE: feedback please?

waves101 — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 08:26:16 GMT

I, too, wanted to quit swimming after my freshman year so here's my experience (take it for what you will). I was never a full year round swimmer but I swam boys season in high school and summer season for USS. When I got to college (DII), I really didn't commit to the program and, in fact, travelled home for most weekends. The team even went on a training trip to Florida over Christmas break but, again, I stayed home. My times that year were ok but not as fast as high school. As a sophomore, I decided to focus on trying to be more involved with the team and developed close friendships with a few of the a swimmers. At that time, I could see we were part team and part family. Sophomore and Junior years went pretty well. Nothing spectacular but I was getting back down to my high school times. Then, as a senior, the lazy bug got me again. I wasn't sure I wanted to swim and missed most of the practices for the first month of the season. At that point, the coach told me I either had to quit or get re-focused. I chose to re-focus and I don't think I missed another practice all year. I ended up beating my old high school times and breaking the school record in my primary event, 100 free. Looking back on it, I'm grateful for the choice I made to stick with it. If I were you, I'd plan on taking a break after the conference meet or whatever season ending meet you have. Get away from the pool and stay away from it for a few months (if you can stand it). Take this time to prepare yourself mentally for the next chapter. Plan on giving it a go for next year. Remember it never gets easier and you don't get a second chance at college. Good Luck.

RE: feedback please?

Former Member — Sun, 27 Jan 2008 13:17:45 GMT

Thanks for every ones posts..... any more comments of opinions I would love to here them. since most of you were all in my shoes at one point in time.

RE: feedback please?

Former Member — Sat, 26 Jan 2008 16:53:17 GMT

Liz plateauing can take time for the next jump up. I am happy about you mentioning this. When you reach a plateau it can be discouraging for sure. When you plateau it sometimes ends up as a backslide then all of a sudden you are moving ahead again. Plateaus sometimes seem to take for ever.

RE: feedback please?

Former Member — Sat, 26 Jan 2008 16:39:43 GMT

Freshman year is hard. Being a competitive athlete at the same time makes it more complex. Choosing a college as a senior in high school is difficult because you make your choice without really understanding what you want from your college experience. What is not clear from your post is whether you like the school you are at but don't like the swimming program, or whether you just don't like the school period. If it's just the swimming, could you find a coach outside the program to give you some advice? I have been a competitive athlete (in a different sport) for many years and when I've plateaued, sometimes getting a different perspective has helped me improve. If it's the college, have you spoken to your dean? or found a counselor on campus? Most colleges have people you can go to who can help you with your transition into college life. You may not be at the right place, but since you will have to give up a lot to transfer, it's worth exploring your options further. Good luck!

RE: feedback please?

Former Member — Sat, 26 Jan 2008 15:55:10 GMT

Did I read a complaint about your 80 year old coach? I would like to here his complaint about your team. I have known some older coaches who put to shame a lot of the younger coaches. Let's not blame the coach for your hate of swimming. It seems you are burnt out and have to be motivated again. This is where self motivation comes in. No one else can do this for you. Not even the best coach in the world.

RE: feedback please?

Former Member — Sat, 26 Jan 2008 15:54:04 GMT

Like Lance said in his "Dogeball" cameo: "If you don't quit now, I guess you won't have something to regret for the rest of your life." Seriously though, anything worthwhile is difficult. I wish you luck in your decision. I know I regretted my decision to join the Marines and skip a scholarship opportunity to play hockey with a DI college every single day until I was about 30 years old.

RE: feedback please?

Chris Stevenson — Sat, 26 Jan 2008 10:54:14 GMT

A few thoughts from me as a former collegiate swimmer and current university professor. -- College swimming has an incredible attrition rate. I think only 3 people (out of about 8) in my class actually made it through the whole 4 years, and I have heard similar things from many others. It is very demanding physically, mentally, emotionally, and it takes a lot of time besides. So if you do quit, you are not alone. -- Masters swimming will still be there for you regardless of your decision. The majority of masters swimmers did not ever swim in college so you are already ahead of the game. Masters swimming is a blast, it is much less stressful, and you alone dictate the level of your committment. Still, you will likely not ever be as fast as you once were (though it is certainly possible). -- You mention how frustrated you are that you haven't improved lately. That is hard to deal with, granted, but everyone will plateau eventually. Get used to it. Because after you plateau, would you like to guess what comes next for most people? At some point swimming will have to become more for you then just the end result: the training, the striving, the racing, the cameraderie, etc. It sounds very zen or something, I know, but you have to enjoy the journey as much or more than the destination. -- This is the parent and educator in me speaking, but the single most important thing to consider is academics. Will the extra time improve your grades? How does the school you are considering compare with the one you are in now? And if quitting swimming means it is significantly less likely (for financial reasons) that you will get your college degree then that is a VERY powerful argument for sticking with it -- indeed, it should be the overriding factor. I loved college swimming and wouldn't trade it for anything. I never entertained a single thought of quitting. You have had a much tougher road and, barring a significant change in either your approach toward the sport or in the coach/team, that is likely to continue. If it makes your life miserable and seems like it will stay that way, then there is nothing at all shameful about stopping as long as it doesn't negatively impact your academics. You will still be able to train and compete, though likely not ever again at the same level. I hope that helps. Good luck with a tough decision. (And I also agree with those who say you should wait to make this decision until the off-season. Until then, try to enjoy what may be your last college season.) Chris

RE: feedback please?

Midas — Sat, 26 Jan 2008 10:10:11 GMT

I know A part of me always will love swimming, I just dont enjoy it and i am not getting better and when you are the same speed you were 4 years ago but now slower its hard. I don't know if I am making the right decision. I am leaving here and attending a d3 school next year where I can swim if I choose , I just cant believe I am going to leave and give up my little scholarship i have here. I just love that people are giving me feedback and advice it helps me think about things more.Thanks everyone The scholarship complicates matters. I wish I could say I was ever good enough to merit one, but I wasn't. So even if you aren't improving, you must still be pretty darn good. Good for you. (Since you don't get along with your coach, I wonder if that is the reason you're not improving. If you don't embrace her/his system of training, that may be affecting your progress. Just a thought (my experience was similar)...) The question of whether you'll regret quitting swimming is a deceptively easy one to answer, and several people have hit on it already: it entirely depends on what you do with your life after swimming. I too quit swimming in college. (Like you, I was burned out and really didn't mesh with my coach.) I used that free time to party with my fraternity, join and become very active in student government, sleep in (!) and most importantly, meet and begin dating my (then future) wife. It's been 15 years since I last swam and I only recently got back into the pool. While I might feel some mild tinges of regret that I never lived up to my potential in college, I wouldn't change a thing in my life. If you quit, take advantage of the incredible amount of free time that quitting collegiate swimming will open up. The complication, again, is losing that scholarship. You could think of swimming like any part-time job you might have in college. Given the cost of school these days, on an hourly basis swimming might be a very well-paying job. Unless mom and dad will pay for you to go to this D3 school, it *might* be worth sucking up. Very tough decision. Good luck and remember that Masters Swimming will always be there for you should you quit swimming now and want to come back to it in the future. It's a million times more fun because *you* really dictate your involvement level. Getting up for 6:30am practices works a lot better as an adult when it's entirely voluntary.

RE: feedback please?

Former Member — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 17:15:45 GMT

I understand your feeling about swimming. I was swimming from maybe 3rd or 4th grade I also lived and breathed swimming. Swimming everyday all year until High School. In HS I had alot of personal problems and just couldn't do it any more.. and just stopped. Looking back.30yrs later- I wished I would not have just stopped...I don't know if I would have kept going... but I didn't like knowing I just walked out- and quit. I'm now back with my HS swim coach and we laugh that I own him 2 years. Sometimes I think I was just burned out - along with the personal problems, Could you just be burned out or have you hit a wall? Or do you have freshman- itist - meaning alot of freshmen start out in College then go -Yikes - this is not what I thought it was going to be and drop out of school. Do you feel like this in swimming? We don't know how you feel I can only say don't make this decision because your mad or angry about something. But, It sounds at though you have thought it threw and if you feel you have to stop for a while then maybe that is what you have to do..if that is the case just go out and have fun and go and rip threw the water in your last meet. Seams like I remember a diver in the Olympics one year, was up on the board he was on his hands doing a hand stand getting ready to dive. Stopped, brought his feet down and walk off the board. He said he couldn't do this anymore and wouldn't dive if he could give it 100%. Of course we encourage you to stay and keep swimming. Maybe keep with it until schools get out for the summer and take the summer off, then get back in the water and see how you feel. Maybe you will feel better and won't have to give up the scholarship.

RE: feedback please?

Former Member — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 16:50:01 GMT

Thanks for the insight. It has me thinking more already even though I have been thinking a lot about this for a few months now. It is a hard decision and like many of you said, i will regret it many years down the road. Its hard but swimming has never come easy for me I was one of those people who always busted there butt, and never saw results in meets. I haven't really improved in about 4 years now and it gets harder all the time. I can't keep forcing myself to do something I don't enjoy or can I. Thanks for the input and if you have any more advice I would love it. Thanks You're not improving? Try the cross-training techniques I've posted at the bottom of this page, do this until the end of next semester. You should see some progress, and that will make you happy.

RE: feedback please?

Former Member — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 15:53:38 GMT

RE: feedback please?

Former Member — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 15:26:03 GMT

There is a time to rest and take time off. I did this many times and competed until age 39. I would not give up the scholarship but you can always change your attitude about swimming make the training fun. Make plans for the summer that only includes fun swimming.

RE: feedback please?

Former Member — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 14:53:12 GMT

Question: what changed between when you loved swimming and now?

RE: feedback please?

Former Member — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 14:53:00 GMT

RE: feedback please?

Former Member — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 14:30:34 GMT

RE: feedback please?

Former Member — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 13:47:54 GMT

I don't know you, of course, but it sounds like no matter what you do, you will always love swimming.

RE: feedback please?

Former Member — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 12:32:44 GMT

I think I first read this from someone on this forum. It's a great Motivational Letter from Gary Hall, jr. Maybe it'll help, maybe it won't. Good luck in either case!

RE: feedback please?

Former Member — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 10:50:52 GMT

sounds just like my college team. it has been a horrible experience don't get along with the girls and have a coach who is 80 and was hired a few days before the season

RE: feedback please?

Former Member — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 10:47:14 GMT

Stick with it and make your decision in the off-season. It's too hard to get perspective right now when you're in the middle of it. Also, talk to your coach and say that swimming is no longer fun for you. Maybe it's just the pressure of competition that's getting to you. Maybe a session with a sports psychologist would help. Personally, I regret not swimming in college even though I would have made the team.

RE: feedback please?

Redbird Alum — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 09:36:22 GMT

... I lived and breathed swimming all through high school and it was my life. ... I know longer love swimming and I can't continue to keep doing it. ... I don't want to continue to do this but what if I miss it or I am miserable. ... want to go out on a bang, just like everyone does when they are giving up something they love to do. I see alot of back and forth in your comments. I agree with the arlier advice that you finish the conference meet and then take a month off before you do anything drastic. In the end, it's your decision. However, it is not an all or nothing, life-ending one, as many Masters returned to swimming later in life. The question is, what will you do instead of swimming? Will you join a greek house, a club, do theatre? Swimming provides alot of private and social structure, and I think that is what you may miss most of all. Just some food for thought.

RE: feedback please?

Former Member — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 07:12:40 GMT

Hey Everyone, I wanted to get some other swimmers inputs. I am currently a freshman in college and have been swimming year round since I was nine. I lived and breathed swimming all through high school and it was my life. Never did I think that I would quit swimming after my freshman year of college. I know longer love swimming and I can't continue to keep doing it. I will be giving up my scholarship next year AND will be transferring to school closer to home. I guess what I want to know is and I making one of the worst decisions of my life. I don't want to continue to do this but what if I miss it or I am miserable. I have my conference meet in three weeks and want to go out on a bang, just like everyone does when they are giving up something they love to do. My question is how do I get through this last three weeks and enjoy it and go out on a bang and what is your guys opinion on my decision to hang up swimming. I would love any opinions or feedback. Giving up on a scholarship? Don't do it man! I finished one year University and did well at CIAU's (Canadian University) only to quit the next season, and I have regretted that decision ever since. That's probably the main reason I'm a master now. The point is, you're young and you may not understand this now, but you will age and you will regret throwing away an incredible opportunity. Sure, the training may be a chore right now, but it is your duty to respect the position of privilege you have, by finishing your degree. I'd give so much to have that opportunity again. No, you simply can't make that choice, it's not an option. Without a degree doors will start to close, and you'll be on the outside of a fast moving world, wondering what you missed. Those jobs will not be available, and you will have lost that game. You think you're tired now, wait until your body aches from not training. Your muscles begin to atrophy and you start to feel fatigue from doing nothing; you can say goodbye to everything you've ever worked for. The day you quit, is the day you begin to age. No, hold onto your youth and vitality, continue to swim. You must understand that these feelings will pass, and what you'll earn from this dedication will be the foundation for the rest of your life!

RE: feedback please?

Iwannafly — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 06:43:38 GMT

Turn your frustration with swimming into hard work through the conference meet. Than take a couple of weeks off and contemplate whether or not to give it up. I gave up a cross country and track scholarship after my freshman season and I have regretted it ever since. That was 20 years ago.

RE: feedback please?

Iwannafly — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 06:33:08 GMT

sounds just like my college team. it has been a horrible experience don't get along with the girls and have a coach who is 80 and was hired a few days before the season Have you considered transferring to another school. I assume that NCAA rules are the same for x-fers in swimming as they are in football or basketball or any other sports. Perhaps you could transfer, swim for a club team for a year and then swim another season or two of college! Just a thought.

RE: feedback please?

Former Member — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 06:13:20 GMT

This post probably is the one that I can most relate too--as last year when I joined masters and first joined the forum my first thread was along the same lines as yours. I hate college swimming. I loved swimming in high school, middle school, club teams, uss teams, I even love swimming during college breaks when I had to go home and swim on my own. I love swimming on my own even during college season when I just go to another pool to swim a little bit. I am on a scholarship for swimming as well and I am currently at a division 2 school. I too have not improved in several years and I agree--its frustrating and hard. It's hard to get up every morning and put forth the same effort and positive attitude that your expected when your heart isnt in it--how well I know that! I was convinced to keep with it--not quit the team. However, I didn't really have the option of transferring schools--so if I had quit I would have lost my scholarship and then been responsible for the high tuition costs, so I thought of quiting as throwing away $10,000. While the money is nice--I can not wait to go to graduate school next year and not have any responsibility to a team, because I feel like I have been quite disappointed with my college experience and most of that stems from my involvement on my college team. I don't think its necessarily the college swimming as much as it is my team and my coaching situation. I don't mesh with my teammates very well and my team is very cliche and we have completely different interests and attitudes. My coach and I have been constantly creating friction which has made my time on the team even harder. I think that if you no longer love swimming, if its no longer the same for you as it was before--you know what you should do. People really can't compare experiences or advice on this kind of topic because there are so many factors that come into play. I wish I had quit my team when I knew I no longer loved swimming because this season has been similarly disappointing and I am often miserable--so I have given up caring--which makes the whole things worse. If you end up missing it and being miserable look for a masters team or uss team to join--something that isn't so rigid and suffocating as the college swimming setting and you probably will learn to love swimming again. As much as I can't wait for my college season to be over--I am even more excited for the chance to start practicing on my own again and swimming masters meets. Sometimes its just the environment that burns you out...