I feel as if the older I get the crazier the competitive swimming world becomes. I look at 10 year olds and think, "Wow...it was a lot less intense when I was that age". Now and days it seems as if parents put more and more pressure on young children to perform well in athetics. A perfect example comes from overhearing parents at swim meets having young 7-9 year olds swimming 500 freestyle or 400 IM (individual medley).
I started swimming at the age of 4; then competitively at the age of 7. Back then, swimming was just for the pleasure of it. Now, it seems as if swimming is taken way out of proportion.....treating every little meet as if it's the Olympics. But let us remember: It's all relative.
Dealing With Defeat
It's simple, in any aspect of anyone's life, defeat occurs. But how do you move on? How do you dust off your pants and stand up for another round? Below are some tips to stay on top of your game even when the game seems to be crushing you.
1. Evaluate: what was done wrong that you failed
2. Ask for advice: coaches are there for a reason, if something went wrong ask them what you can do to fix it.
3. Don't beat yourself up: we all mess up and fail. So what's the point in killing yourself over being human?
4. Re-Evaluate: Did you fix what made you fail?
5. Remember: keep in mind always what your mistakes were so they don't repeat themselves
The courage to stand back up is what makes a champion.
"I haven't failed I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work" -Thomas Edison
Remember: It's all relative
1. Evaluate: what was done wrong that you failed
2. Ask for advice: coaches are there for a reason, if something went wrong ask them what you can do to fix it.
3. Don't beat yourself up: we all mess up and fail. So what's the point in killing yourself over being human?
4. Re-Evaluate: Did you fix what made you fail?
5. Remember: keep in mind always what your mistakes were so they don't repeat themselves
The courage to stand back up is what makes a champion.
"I haven't failed I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work" -Thomas Edison
Remember: It's all relative
Technical suits: What you should know before you spend your life savings.
Often, I watch technical suits become more and more usual in amateur swimmers. The question is: Why?? Why spend $400+ on a suit to give you a .2 second advantage. Today it's time to learn the ins and outs of 'tech suits'.
WHEN TO BY ONE:
Often, I notice swimmers wearing nice (and very expensive) technical suits to small meets. However, what I've learned is you can't rely on a suit to give you the time you want the scoreboard to say. Technical suits in my opinion are used primarily as a reward for qualifying for a championship or otherwise elite swim competitions. Not to qualify for them.
HOW TO CHOOSE 'THE SUIT':
We must remind ourselves everyone's different. A suit brand may fit one person better than it fits another. What's important is finding the suit to fit your body type. However, here are some tips for finding the perfect suit
1. Don't go off a sizing chart. Though you thought you could trust a sizing chart, they are horribly inaccurate especially for a swimmer. Me for instance; I am 5'4 and a very muscular female, a size 22 suit will not fit my shoulders.
2. Go and try on different brands. Nearly everywhere there are aquatic sport venders who supply technical suits and 9 times out of 10, the company DOES allow individuals to try on the suits before they buy them. If at all possible. Try on the suit before putting a ring on it.
3. Realize that the best suit money can by may not fit you. While buying my first tech suit, I had a vision inside my head of me wearing what I thought was the perfect suit for elite swimming (I was naive and saw Olympian Rebecca Soni wear it...don't judge me). What everyone doesn't know is the perfect tech suit that everyone loves MAY NOT BE RIGHT FOR YOU.
DON'T BUY THE SUIT IN YOUR TRAINING SUIT SIZE
Technical suits are made to be tight, they're supposed to suck your body in to make it easier for you to get through the water. Buying a practice suit size is COUNTERPRODUCTIVE, as the material is baggy on the body when really it should feel like a second skin once on.
WHEN TO BY ONE:
Often, I notice swimmers wearing nice (and very expensive) technical suits to small meets. However, what I've learned is you can't rely on a suit to give you the time you want the scoreboard to say. Technical suits in my opinion are used primarily as a reward for qualifying for a championship or otherwise elite swim competitions. Not to qualify for them.
HOW TO CHOOSE 'THE SUIT':
We must remind ourselves everyone's different. A suit brand may fit one person better than it fits another. What's important is finding the suit to fit your body type. However, here are some tips for finding the perfect suit
1. Don't go off a sizing chart. Though you thought you could trust a sizing chart, they are horribly inaccurate especially for a swimmer. Me for instance; I am 5'4 and a very muscular female, a size 22 suit will not fit my shoulders.
2. Go and try on different brands. Nearly everywhere there are aquatic sport venders who supply technical suits and 9 times out of 10, the company DOES allow individuals to try on the suits before they buy them. If at all possible. Try on the suit before putting a ring on it.
3. Realize that the best suit money can by may not fit you. While buying my first tech suit, I had a vision inside my head of me wearing what I thought was the perfect suit for elite swimming (I was naive and saw Olympian Rebecca Soni wear it...don't judge me). What everyone doesn't know is the perfect tech suit that everyone loves MAY NOT BE RIGHT FOR YOU.
DON'T BUY THE SUIT IN YOUR TRAINING SUIT SIZE
Technical suits are made to be tight, they're supposed to suck your body in to make it easier for you to get through the water. Buying a practice suit size is COUNTERPRODUCTIVE, as the material is baggy on the body when really it should feel like a second skin once on.