Naps for swimmers

[Anonymous]

We let our 13 yo sleep as long as his schedule permits, as long as he’s up by 3 or 4 pm, so that he’s okay to get back in bed around 8-8:30. First practice (year-round team) is at 5:30, so he’s usually up at 4:30 am.

One afternoon was a 3-hour nap, and there’s been the occasional day where he goes to bed at 7 instead of napping. But, generally, another hour or so after lunch is enough to make him feel better.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thanks all. She is up just before 5 am to make 6 am practice and that is the rub: it is early!

But all this makes sense and helps me feel not so alone. Thanks!

She's up at 5am to swim 2 hours and you're surprised she needs a nap?

This isn't a personal attack, but I feel like youth sports have gotten out of hand with these types or workouts as the norm if you want to do anything else besides rec level sports. When are we going to say it's enough?

I swam at 5:30am in the 90s - before and after school plus weekend meets. I went to bed at 8 or 8:30pm until I left for college. Kept me out of trouble!

[Anonymous]

Honestly I think different kids need different amounts of sleep. My oldest is up every day at 4:30 for practice, but needs the most sleep so typically in bed by 8:30. My youngest is also a swimmer but tends to needs less sleep - even as a baby.

Generally if we have a meet with prelims and finals, my oldest will take a short 20 minute nap. Any longer and it’s tough getting your energy back up to compete. That said, I know several teen swimmers (and division 1 swimmers) that will nap 2+ hours if there is time.

I get that some are resistant to programs with early practices or doubles, but it really prepares swimmers to perform when exhausted.

[Anonymous]

[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Thanks all. She is up just before 5 am to make 6 am practice and that is the rub: it is early!

But all this makes sense and helps me feel not so alone. Thanks![/quote]

She's up at 5am to swim 2 hours and you're surprised she needs a nap?

This isn't a personal attack, but I feel like youth sports have gotten out of hand with these types or workouts as the norm if you want to do anything else besides rec level sports. When are we going to say it's enough?[/quote]

I swam at 5:30am in the 90s - before and after school plus weekend meets. I went to bed at 8 or 8:30pm until I left for college. Kept me out of trouble! [/quote]

Same! Long course practice was 5:30 every weekday morning in the summer. It was the only LC pool in the immediate area and we had to get practice in before other club teams and the summer league team needed it. During the school year it was 2-3 mornings per week plus every day after school and 3 hours each on Sat and Sun.

Post swim practice naps were the BEST. I would twitch so hard as I feel asleep and wake up hours later not even knowing what day it was. I loved my big naps on weekends in HS. In college I set my schedule so I could take a big nap between practice and my first class. It was the best feeling to dive back in bed after a big breakfast. I would dream that I had already woken up and was getting ready for class… those really messed with me. Other times I would experience sleep paralysis. The sleep schedule wasn’t ideal from an expert standpoint, but it was what my body needed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:And I should say she naps as soon as she eats a second breakfast, does summer work and showers so generally asleep by 10 am and up by noon.

Sounds like shes catching up from lack of night sleep and totally fine.

[Anonymous]

My DD swims from 5am to 7am and she comes home, takes a shower and crashes for a couple of hours.

[Anonymous]

With the 5-6 AM swims, sometimes mine will nap, very rarely but after a two hour practice and an evening practice with summer swim they are tired.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thanks all. She is up just before 5 am to make 6 am practice and that is the rub: it is early!

But all this makes sense and helps me feel not so alone. Thanks!

She's up at 5am to swim 2 hours and you're surprised she needs a nap?

This isn't a personal attack, but I feel like youth sports have gotten out of hand with these types or workouts as the norm if you want to do anything else besides rec level sports. When are we going to say it's enough?

I am not surprised but rather was asking what other people do in this situation. I don’t disagree that youth sports are crazy but swim has been this way for 30+ years and there isn’t a way around it once the kid hits a certain level. Trust me, I have looked. If anyone knows of a year round team without morning practices for teenagers, please let me know. And I could say “it’s enough” but my kid quitting isn’t going to upend the system, it is only going to make her hate me.

My RMSC kids didn't do any school day mornings until HS and it's still "only" 1 or 2.

Summer is a different animal, and I have to tell you, I love my kids home and in bed every night for a huge part of the summer.

Mine take very long naps during the day, I'd say 3h on average.

[Anonymous]

My College swimmer naps all of the time. He has early practice every morning. Between swim practice and his 25 hour per week job, he keeps pretty busy.

[Anonymous]

She needs more night time sleep and to go to bed earlier. My son also swim in the morning (4:30am during the school year and 5:15am in summer) and he goes to bed by 7:15 during the school year. Summer is a bit more lax on the nights we have B meet but he still goes to bed relatively early.