Dealing with nerves
If you are new to competing, it’s very likely that you’ll be nervous! All swimmers get nervous – from the youngest beginners to highly experienced international swimmers. Nerves are a natural part of racing, and learning to channel them into positivity rather than letting them turn into fear is a key aspect in the ‘learning-to-race’ journey. Keep busy, socialise with your team mates and don’t spend time thinking about your race until the last few minutes.
Preparation
Swimmers should be encouraged to pack their own equipment for meets. Key items include:
Warm-up Costume/Trunks (and a spare)
Racing Costume (if required)LCSC hat (to come!!)Two pairs of gogglesPool shoesTwo towelsPoolside clothing (T-shirt, Shorts/Tracksuit bottoms)Plenty of drinks and healthy snacks (cereal/energy bars, rice cakes, fruit and raw vegetables etc).
Arrival
Swimmers should be well rested – so going to bed early the night before is a very good idea.
As swimmers will be on a hot poolside for lengthy periods of time it is IMPERATIVE that they arrive well-hydrated, having eaten well the night before.
Swimmers should know what races they are competing in, and make themselves familiar with the programme BEFORE the event, so that they are aware of how the day will unfold.
If the meet is at an unfamiliar pool, please make sure that you know the route and leave plenty of time for the journey.
Please arrive at least 30 minutes before the start of the pool warm-up session. This may seem early, but it allows the poolside team to mark you as present, and report any withdrawals to the meet officials before the deadline. This time is also used for pre-pool before the warm-up. If you’re feeling particularly anxious about racing, arriving early will allow you to get used to your surroundings before masses of other swimmers arrive – it also means first choice of seating for spectators!
Any withdrawals on the day must be discussed with the coach immediately upon arrival at the meet.
Warm-up
Warm ups are not only essential to reduce the likelihood of injury, they are also essential to race performance.
During the warm up, swimmers should familiarise themselves with the pool’s diving blocks, the position of the backstroke flags and the distance of the floor ‘T’ to the end of the pool – it is surprising how much these things can differ from pool to pool and ‘knowing’ your environment may be the difference between swimming well or getting disqualified.
Warm-ups are strictly organised and swimmers must follow the instructions of the LCSC coaches and the meet officials. When instructed to leave the pool, swimmers should immediately dry off and change into their racing costume, t-shirt and track pants, and keep warm.
Swimmers should not warm up in a racing suit, as it defeats the purpose of the fabric and will reduce their life
Swimmers should remain on poolside with their team mates throughout the meet session – we swim as individuals but we are a team above all. If a swimmer should need to leave the poolside they should always seek the permission of their coach or poolside manager. Please be aware that due to child welfare regulations, under no circumstances are parents to come onto poolside, unless sanctioned to do so.
Race preparation
Swimmers should listen carefully to any instructions from their coach, including race plans and areas of focus. Swimmers must also listen out for instructions to report to poolside stewards, also known as ‘whipping in’. The stewards will check you off and tell you which heat and lane you are swimming in. It is the swimmer’s responsibility to report to the steward for their event. As meets are run to very tight schedules, the stewards and Referees are not obliged to wait for a swimmer to arrive for their heat or to fit them into a later heat if they miss their designated heat.
Hope you enjoying reading this and learned something from it as trainer, parent of swimmer.
Part two will follow..........
SOURCE: "Lancing College"
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