4 Swimming ‘Icks’ and How To Be the Best Practice Swimmer
The pool glows a vibrant blue as you step on the pool deck for practice, excited for a great day. You have the opportunity to spend time with friends, maybe have an easy set, and get better at the sport you love. Life couldn’t be better, until you check your lane for the day. Your face drops in horror. You’re swimming with THAT teammate. We’ve all been there – driven crazy by those who refuse to follow practice etiquette, ruining a great practice. But one swimmer’s thoughtlessness shouldn’t spoil your day. To help out, we’ve made a list of the biggest swimmer “Icks,” to help swimmers be the best they can be every day.
The “Constantly Complaining” Swimmer
To begin practice, you view what your coach has written out. You have mixed feelings about the practice to come, given you’re not feeling 100%. It might be a day. However, your concerns are not aided by your teammate, who feels the need to loudly complain about the practice. They make sure everyone knows how awful they’re feeling and how bad the practice is, spewing negative energy. This type of swimmer can be the most dangerous, affecting the morale of the entire team.
Even on your worst days, it’s never a good idea to spew negative energy upon your teammates. The best teammates are often those able to keep these thoughts to themselves and work hard, letting their fellow swimmers lift them up on the hardest days. A close team bond makes this easy, as teammates can recognize when to help other teammates. Consider team bonding activities, like going out for food after practice, or team movies. A close and uplifting team goes a long way towards the success of all, creating a positive environment for everyone.
The “Leaving 3 seconds Early” Swimmer
As practice continues, you look to set yourself up for success during warmup. This time is for finding your stroke, and developing good habits to use later in practice. But every time you push off the wall, the swimmer behind you pushes off directly behind, obviously not waiting five seconds. You’re unable to complete a lap without them constantly on your feet, riding your waves. This type of swimmer is found at all levels, maddening coaches and swimmers across the world. Generally, it occurs when a swimmer gets caught up in the “racing” of practice, losing focus of proper etiquette. The best solution here is usually to let the other swimmer lead: allow them to continue “racing” through practice if they feel the need. Your focus should be on swimming the practice as intended by the coach, leaving five seconds back while doing so.
In some instances however, this can create greater issues. Especially if the “leaving three seconds early” swimmer is slower, letting them lead can create a problem. Here is where it’s important to have a talk with the swimmer, and if needed your coach. Explain the situation, and express your desire to swim the practice as intended. You should always be able to swim practice as intended, regardless of those around you.
The “My Shoulder Hurts” Type
The pressure is on, as you work through the main set. You and your friends are dead-set on the last few 100s, hurting badly but eager to finish. The moment is yours. And yet, your teammates stands in the corner of the lane grabbing his/her shoulder. They’ve been there the whole set, waiting out the difficult parts while your teammates suffer. It’s happened almost every day this week. I’m telling you, it’s fake. Frustration ensues. The “my shoulder hurts” teammate is one of the most common as you continue swimming. Often, the swimmer simply doesn’t enjoy swimming, or lacks a desire to push themselves. It’s a very difficult situation, as the swimmer can affect the team culture through their lack of commitment.
From my experience, the easiest way to deal is to ignore the swimmer. I know it’s harder than it sounds, especially with resentment building. But keep in mind: your hard work will make you better, while their lack of such will only set them back. Ignoring the swimmer and focusing on yourself and your goals is the best option for success.
The “Sprinting Warm-Down” Swimmer
You’ve just gotten done with the exhausting main set. It’s been a seriously challenging practice, but you’re looking to cool down and get ready for tomorrow. Yet as you warm down, the swimmer behind you begins swimming faster than ever, running you over in the process. You’re unable to recover as intended, hurting you and your teammates.
During my childhood, I was often the “Sprinting Warm Down” swimmer. I felt the need to rush through practice, without taking the time to let my body recover for the next set. But it would often lead me to become more sore as the week went on than my teammates, limiting my performance. Warm down can be the most important part of practice, as the release of built-up “lactic acid” occurs while swimming easily. This release makes it easier to go as fast as possible during the next training session, so rushing it can affect your performance over time. It’s important to put a focus on going slow during this period, to ensure your best performance over the week. If the “sprinting warm-down” swimmer finds themselves on your feet, simply let them go in front. Your recovery should be the priority.
So What Makes The Best Practice Swimmers?
The answer can be simplified to just three actions, helping you avoid becoming one of the aforementioned swimmers.
- Work Hard: It sounds simple, but often isn’t. Consistent effort, detached from what’s going on in life outside of swimming, can be incredibly difficult. But the ability to try your best, no matter the circumstance, immediately can set you apart.
- Work Smart: This should always go hand in hand with working hard. Focus on the details of your stroke, turns, and underwaters throughout your swimming, even during the hardest sets. Hard work makes for great conditioning, but smart work wins races.
- Be The Best Teammate: Creating the best possible environment always creates the best swimmers. Whether it’s a high-five after a good practice, or support through a tough day, a great team culture boosts team morale and motivates everyone.
Through these three measures, you won’t just avoid being “THAT swimmer.” You’ll make a difference, creating an atmosphere for you and your entire team to succeed. “Practice makes perfect,” and with perfect practice, anything is possible.