How to get ready for summer swim?

[Anonymous]

My kid has been last or bottom three in all their races the last two years since they started swimming on the summer team. It's a very low key league and the coach and team are fine and supportive, which we appreciate. Last night DC was talking about how they're looking forward to swim but hoped to not be last again. They said it didn't bother them before but now they care a little.

Obviously swimming is probably the best way to get ready for swimming, but absent much time to get to the pool, what are other ways to prepare?

[Anonymous]

How are their strokes? Our pool has teens who teach swim lessons concurrently with the swim season. Some small improvements could make a big difference.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kid has been last or bottom three in all their races the last two years since they started swimming on the summer team. It's a very low key league and the coach and team are fine and supportive, which we appreciate. Last night DC was talking about how they're looking forward to swim but hoped to not be last again. They said it didn't bother them before but now they care a little.

Obviously swimming is probably the best way to get ready for swimming, but absent much time to get to the pool, what are other ways to prepare?

Unfortunately, other than general kid caretaking - plenty of sleep, eating well, demonstrating positive attitude and not creating expectations for how they place, what times they get etc, there’s not much you can do outside of the pool.

For kids who are still developing swimmers, the upside is that they can have huge relative improvements. A few private lessons can help a lot. Your child could be working hard, but not catching the water effectively. They could have a poor start which gives them no momentum from the outset. They could be using all their energy kicking ineffectively, when actually their upper body is what propels them through the water. They could be keeping their head too high causing their legs to sink, increasing resistance. You didn’t say how old, but for most kids, decreasing resistance in the pool can be more effective than increasing power. Even small things like correcting arms from crossing the midline can make a difference.

[Anonymous]

Take them to the pool for free swim if you can’t get them in lessons for the next month.

[Anonymous]

Join a club swim team and swim in the fall/winter/spring.

[Anonymous]

Ask around during this summer where kids swim throughout the year. One of my kids do a once a week stroke clinic just to keep up endurance, and the other does a club and swims 4 days a week and does meets. It doesn't guarantee that they'll be in the top of their age group, but it helps their chances. It's a lot to go from not swimming from the end of July to the following start of swim season.

[Anonymous]

I am a team rep. How old is your kid? That makes a difference as to advice. Also where do you live? NoVa, DC, or MD?

[Anonymous]

If you are in moco there are pre summer clinics through rmsc I believe. Our team sent out an email not too long ago

[Anonymous]

Also in MoCo, check out FINS Swimming. They have summer prep lessons now.

[Anonymous]

Practice. Remember they are competing against year round kids.

[Anonymous]

Outside the pool, there is nothing you can do to help him at his level. The second the pool opens, get as many private lessons as you can. My kids are junior coaches and give lessons and they are already booking up now with last year’s swimmers, whose parents have already contacted them to schedule lessons.

[Anonymous]

If you can't get in the pool to start laps, your kid can run to improve overall cardio. Swimming and running are the ultimate compliments to one another. So running and sprints will help for swimming - it translates. If he can start doing situps, pushups, and pullups that will help as well because it will increase his strength and his pulls for swim.

Finally, there is very little substitute for kick drills in the water. So important for swim but he could practice "kicking" sitting on a chair.

[Anonymous]

If you are near the St. James, they have stroke clinics that run a month or so. Get him in that and that should give a kick start to his swimming.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you can't get in the pool to start laps, your kid can run to improve overall cardio. Swimming and running are the ultimate compliments to one another. So running and sprints will help for swimming - it translates. If he can start doing situps, pushups, and pullups that will help as well because it will increase his strength and his pulls for swim.

Finally, there is very little substitute for kick drills in the water. So important for swim but he could practice "kicking" sitting on a chair.

Swimming isn’t like running where everyone kinda sorta knows how to do it. Endurance from running doesn’t translate to endurance in swimming. Ask former runners who are turning into triathletes and have incredible cardio, but are gassed after 100 yards when they first start swimming.

Even if it did translate, if OP’s child is on the slower end of the spectrum in 50 yard races, it’s not primarily due to a lack of endurance or muscular strength. It’s technique. There’s no short cut to technique instruction. You could have the endurance of a Sherpa and the strength of a weightlifter, but if the technique is bad, you won’t go anywhere.

It’s like saying a beginner tennis player can improve by working on cardio, pull-ups, and bicep curls without hitting the ball. Technique is essential for both sports.

[Anonymous]

Pools generally open around Memorial Day weekend, it’s a few weeks before most leagues have a meet. See if a lifeguard or coach can give lessons on stroke work.

Tell your swimmer to give themselves a break. Some of the faster swimmers may be year round swimmers or at least took a stroke and turn class during the school year. It’s worth exploring next year, if she’s interested.