Unfortunately, because of financial issues, I can't be part of a dedicated swim team/group. So, I do my laps at the local YMCA (ugh). But I haven't swam in about 3 years and really want to start to do train for competition in school (just started high school, 14 years old). Also, although not grossly overweight, I am, at 5'10 and 150 lbs. Do YMCAs have reputable coaches or am I out of luck and have to just do laps on my own?
Do YMCAs have reputable coaches? Sure they do.
In the YMCA’s, USA-Swimming and High Schools you can find great coaches, good coaches, marginal coaches and bad coaches. A motivated swimmer can succeed with almost any of these types of coaches. Obviously, you will have greater success being a motivated swimmer with a great coach.
If you can’t get into any program, then of course, swimming laps on your own is going to be better than not swimming. And even if you swim on a team, you can still do extra laps on your own. In our school district we have 5 High Schools training in 1 pool, each team gets 1 ½ hours 3 days a week for in water training. The successful swimmers find additional water and dryland training time.
Good luck and keep us posted as the season progresses!
Do YMCAs have reputable coaches? Sure they do.
In the YMCA’s, USA-Swimming and High Schools you can find great coaches, good coaches, marginal coaches and bad coaches. A motivated swimmer can succeed with almost any of these types of coaches. Obviously, you will have greater success being a motivated swimmer with a great coach.
If you can’t get into any program, then of course, swimming laps on your own is going to be better than not swimming. And even if you swim on a team, you can still do extra laps on your own. In our school district we have 5 High Schools training in 1 pool, each team gets 1 ½ hours 3 days a week for in water training. The successful swimmers find additional water and dryland training time.
Good luck and keep us posted as the season progresses!
