The best pool deck routine I've ever seen was last summer, by a collegiate water polo player who would show up around 3 times a week. From the time that she walked out of the locker room to when she entered the water was always at least 10 minutes, spent assembling her toy pile, putting on her cap, maybe some stretching. Putting on the cap always took her at least 5 minutes; I guess I've been doing it wrong all these years since mine goes on in seconds. Next came sitting on the edge of the pool with feet in the water. This was the big decision point - would she swim in the main pool, float in the kiddie pool, or sit in the hot tub? After several minutes of deliberation, if she actually got in the pool, she'd get in very very very slowly. Then she'd walk two or three 25's with her still-dry arms held up out of the water. (Note: the pool is 4 feet deep and never cold) Then she'd swim some laps without the water polo ball, then some laps with the ball, and get out. Her total yardage on the days when she actually swam was probably around 1000, done at minimal effort level. I suppose when she went back to school in September she was able to tell her coach that she'd been to the pool 3 times a week throughout the summer.
The best pool deck routine I've ever seen was last summer, by a collegiate water polo player who would show up around 3 times a week. From the time that she walked out of the locker room to when she entered the water was always at least 10 minutes, spent assembling her toy pile, putting on her cap, maybe some stretching. Putting on the cap always took her at least 5 minutes; I guess I've been doing it wrong all these years since mine goes on in seconds. Next came sitting on the edge of the pool with feet in the water. This was the big decision point - would she swim in the main pool, float in the kiddie pool, or sit in the hot tub? After several minutes of deliberation, if she actually got in the pool, she'd get in very very very slowly. Then she'd walk two or three 25's with her still-dry arms held up out of the water. (Note: the pool is 4 feet deep and never cold) Then she'd swim some laps without the water polo ball, then some laps with the ball, and get out. Her total yardage on the days when she actually swam was probably around 1000, done at minimal effort level. I suppose when she went back to school in September she was able to tell her coach that she'd been to the pool 3 times a week throughout the summer.
