Is anyone on a REAL swim team? Do you like it?

Question

It's just I'm thinkning about joining, but it might be too high pressure. I am on a very low key one right now, but I may want to go up more. Any suggestions?

Answer 1

Going from a team that focuses on enjoyment to a team that focuses on competition can be very daunting. However, if you feel you are ready, go for it. The first step to being on a more competitive team is to make the team in the first place (highly competitive teams don't have walk-ons!). Once you clear that hurdle you just have to dedicate yourself.

Depending on your age you'll spend anywhere from 1.5 to 6 hours a day in the pool, 5 to 7 days a week. Our top team members (ages 14 to 18) swim 6 to 7 days a week including multiple practices starting as early as 5:30am. They give up most of their weekends to travel and compete and train as a team. These elite swimmers compete in National, international and world competitions and a select few have made Olympic qualification. These are the swimmers who have full college scholarships to DI universities for their abilities. They are required to make a certain number of practices per week and are also required to provide a certain number of hours of community service. On top of being athletically proficient, our team also institutes a grade policy. Our swimmers are required to maintain a B or better average in school and are rewarded for getting top marks.

Is there pressure? In a way yes. But elite athletes are a special breed that thrive on the challenge. Our coaches are amazing about not pressuring the athletes. There are standards set and if you can handle them then you will be fine. If you cannot live up to what is expected of you then you may want to stick with a less competitive team. Your best bet is to find out exactly what is expected of you from the team you want to join. If you can hack it, go for it!

The best thing about highly competitve teams is that they tend to be very tightly knit families. These people spend a lot of time together and can talk about anything. They hang out together and have a LOT of fun. You team will become an extended family for you and you will grow along with them. It can be an amazing experience for the right person.

Personally, for my first 10 years I swam on a very open, accepting team that was not high profile or highly competitive. Ever since college I've wondered where I woudl have ended up had I joined a more high-profile team and all of my teammates (yes, we're still friends!) often wonder the same thing. I say give it a shot, what have you got ot lose?! You can always go back to being more relaxed if you really don't like it.

Good luck!!!

Answer 2

They are fun, and a great way to make friends.

I am on two swim teams, one is for my school and the other is a club. Our club swims on Monday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday Mornings for 2 1/2 hours each. Then my school club swims every weekday after school for 1 hour.

In my club we are divided into different groups. Intro 1 - They swim about 3 hours a week, Intro 2- They also swim about 3 hours a week, then there is Junior 1, they swim about 7 hours a week, and then junior 2, they swim about 10 hours a week, and then there are the senior which i am and we swim about 12 hours a week...it can be stressful with school but it's fun.

If you are new they can probably place you in a group where they do less work...everyone has to start somewhere... good luck.

One more thing, when you join you should experiment with different strokes to find out which one you are best at, if you ever go to competitions coaches will often place you in events with stokes you are good and experienced with.

You are quite right saying competitive swimming can be 'high pressure' at times but you just have to stick with it and get through tough practices, this will only make you a stronger person. Your team mates and coaches will always be cheering you on during your struggles, that makes it a lot easier.

Answer 3

I am on a cometitive swim team and it is very high pressure because we are a national team and travel around alot and i have been to junior olympics and everything so if you want to be a cometitive swimmer like this than it is very high pressure we practice 4-6 hours a day monday thru saturday our practice consists of morning practice from 7-9 and after noon from 3-5 and on tuesday, thursday, saturday practice is from 7-9 and then from 3-7 and on monday, wednesday, friday practice is from 6-9 and 3-5. On saturday swimming is from 6-11. On tuesday, thursday, saturday we run 3 miles. Our practices are very hard core and tireing. If we are not putting 150 percent in to every set our coach will stop us, yell at us and make us start over until we are trying so hard that we cant feel are body, our mind is going crazy, we break down in tears in the middle of a set because its so hard. But dont get me wrong, swimming is somthing that i enjoy and its a sport that after each set i feel so proud of myself, of what i have accomplished. Swimming is not an easy sport but if you take the time to learn it, it is very rewarding. If you are on a very low key one then maybe once you have learned all the basics then move up to more of a competitive team that still works on basics and you get to compete locally and work your way up to real competitive swimming, if you are ready for it now, just go for it. Good luck and have fun!

Answer 4

I have been swimming for over 8 years. I swam competitively for all 4 years of my high school career. It is an awesome workout and great if you like to be competitive. I'm actually joining the United States Coast Guard to be a rescue swimmer. I love the water and everything to do with it. Now i hope to go out and help people because that's what i really love to do. If you choose to join a swim team, good luck to you and remember never let someone tell you that you can't accomplish something; never give up.

Answer 5

I'm on a competitive swim team, and I have loved it. As long as I do my best my coaches don't pressure me to do anymore than I have to. I think as long as you have good technique, and you are able to swim well that a more competitive team won't be much different than the team that you are on. If you don't like the team that you are on now, then I wouldn't go up to a more competitive team because then you will feel like you are being pressured. Good luck!

Answer 6

swim team is so much fun. you get to make new friends and you learn to be a better swimmer. you also start to bond with every body all age groups and most people are up to new friends. me and 7 ppl are on the team and are the team "cheerleaders and we cheer and shout and its so much fun i like it alot! but it depends if you like to compete and swim. oh and after swim meets everyone on the team goes out some where like to eat or to get ice cream for a job well done even if you dont win. plus you get a trophy at the end and ribbons like first second third and fourth for every race you swim. i love it! its also a good work out it builds mussels. hey it i havnt heard of anyone who didnt like it once they tried and coaches will help you alot. the only pressure you get will be released when you get that jolt of excitement when your standing on the starting block and the pressure will be drifting away once your in the water and swimming fast.

Answer 7

my experience with swimming has never included "high pressure" being on a team gives you support and motivation. people to talk to about technique, coaches that can help you train and improve. team-mates that will cheer you on, when your racing. for the most part, it has been a sport devoid of the kinds of pressures that come from playing "team sports" like baseball or soccer, where the team is relying on you to perform.

if you want to step it up, increase your intensity in training, then do it! there will only be people there to encourage you and help you get better.