The Do's & Don'ts of Comp Swimming

Do's and Don'ts of Competitive Swimming

If you aspire to become a competitive swimmer one day, there are certain rules and processes you should follow. In this article, we outline the 7 most important do's and don'ts of competitive swimming.

The Dos:

Attend with a positive attitude

Attitude is everything is most things we do. Being in a positive frame of mind will help release happy hormones into the body and will assist with gaining great results. Other Dos include-

 1) Stretches and warmups

It's very important to stretch your muscles before a swim session as this could save you from a lot of agony later on. Along with stretches, you should be starting your workout with some sort of dry land or pool warmup. The warmup will help in getting your muscles and energy systems acclimated to every workout. Furthermore, this will help prevent injury during the session and will allow for your body to reach maximum performance during the toughest part of the workout

2) Use your whole body

One of the most common mistakes we see in young children is that they use their upper body muscles too much. You should be engaging your entire body while swimming, as using only your upper body will exhaust you much faster.

3) Add variety to your workouts

It is natural to get bored of the same workout everyday swimming at the same pace. Therefore, it is important to explore different drills and mix up your workout in order to keep making progress. It will become harder for you to develop yourself as a swimmer if you don't challenge yourself in workouts.

4) Stay hydrated

This seems very simple but is sometimes forgotten how important it is for every swimmer. Drinking water before, during, and after a swim session will in increasing endurance and fighting fatigue. It will also help in boosting your energy so you can stay focused on every set of your workout. Please always remember to keep a water bottle on the side of the pool!

The Don'ts

1) Hold your breath

When we first learn how to swim, we are all taught to take a deep breath and hold it while we put our face in the water. However, this breathing technique is incorrect for competitive swimming. Holding your breath will deprive your muscles of much needed oxygen while swimming. Instead, try exhaling slowly while your face is underwater and when it is time to inhale again, your face will naturally lift up out of the water for another breath.

2) Eat big before swimming

This might seem obvious, but it is important that it is listed in this article. An athlete's diet is just as important as their training. Additionally, the timing is also critical. While it is recommended to not eat a big meal before practice, it is okay to fuel your body with a little snack in order to perform at your highest.

3) Let hips sink

When your hips sink you are creating more resistance in the water and this leads to you slowing down. Swimming at the top of the water will not only increase endurance and stamina, but also engage your core. We suggest using a snorkel in the beginning as you don't have to work on your breathing and can focus on your technique.