Ok so I really want do a port in high School and im pretty OK at swimming but Im 5'0 and 14 & everyone says you need to be tall to be a swimmer. How can I become a better swimmer. My pool is 1/100 of a kilometer so how many laps should I swim daily/ total a week? thanks
2007-07-05 11:09:05 · 12 answers · asked by Kelly Taylor 49 4 in Sports ➔ Swimming & Diving
Height has nothing to do with making the team in high school. However, it depends on what level your high school swims whether or not you'll be able to make it. Some teams have time and stroke standards that all swimmers must meet and they practice twice a day at a high intensity. Some teams are walk-on and are much more flexible and less intense. Some teams have a restricted size and you must qualify at tryouts. Some teams are open and have no cap in numbers.
Your best bet is to contact the coach or athletic director at the high school you'll be attending. Get the information ahead of time as to what is expected of swimmers committment wise, timewise and skillwise. Before tryouts there is always an information meeting at which they will tell you what's expected as well but if you plan on starting your training from scratch now then you might as well contact the school and get your info ahead of time.
My high school team was highly competitive. We had to make it through initial tryouts and then if we made second call we had to swim time trials and stroke trials which determined which swimmers were kept and who were turned away. We had to demonstrate 100 of each stroke for technique, swim a choice sprint and a choice 200 for time as well as demonstrate proper starts, turns and transitions. Our team was limited to a certain number of girls and only the best of the best made it. Almost all of those who qualified for the high school team swam in summer and winter programs with USA club teams.
Find out what's expected of you and if you can, ask the coach for suggestions for your preparation. If you go in prepared you'll have a better chance of making the team. but in all honesty it really comes down to what the coach expects of you and how hard you're willing to work.
Good luck!
2007-07-06 02:13:19 · answer #1 · answered by Kristy 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You don't have to be tall to be a swimmer. You just have to be good. 1/100 of a kilo doesn't help me but if your pool is like 20 or 30 feet then 20 or 30 laps is fine. However long you swim, it should be challenging. Your heart rate should go way up but don't drown yourself and lose breath. Also, your muscles should feel like they got a good workout each times you to laps-- not sore rather that tense feeling. 120-140 laps (lap being there and back across the pool) a week would be a very good goal to reach by the end of the summer.
Practice your flip turns alot, because if you're not as fast as the tall swimmers because of the fact they are tall, then your flip turns can be your secret weapon (alot of people have bad flip turns).
Usually, swim teams are really large and freshman can be on the team even if they are not that good. You have probably heard of intermurals though- don't skip them! They will basically prepare you for the swim team.
Rather then only swim, sometime another sport like yoga or running will help you to become a better swimmer. The more toned your muscles are and the better your lung capacity, generally the better swimmer you are. (although this is not always true)
I wish you good luck- and even if you don't make the team don't worry- there are different sports every season and by the end of the year you will have found your calling.
2007-07-05 18:21:29 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Swimming is a great sport to be involved in at the High School level. You do not have to be tall, you will learn all the strokes. It takes a tremendous amount of dedication but the end result is worth it. Not only in the pool but though out you HS years. The best way to become better is like everything, work at it. Join a club team, you can be a swimmer competing only for HS but to be a good swimmer you need to work year round.
Good Luck
2007-07-05 18:57:36 · answer #3 · answered by bobcoach2000 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I am 5'8" (male), and swam in high school and Division I College Swimming. Height helps, but is not the end of the story. And there is certainly no reason you need to be tall to even participate in high school swimming. From an athletic and social standpoint, high school swimming should be a great experience--definitely something you should consider.
As for a 1/100km pool (which is 10 meters, and about 11 yard), that is a pretty tough pool to train in. You will probably be racing in either 25 yards or 25 meters, depending on where you live. But to get in shape, it would work. No set number of laps, but to get in decent shape before practices begin, perhaps try to work yourself up to 1000-1500 yards, mixed up with freestyle and the various strokes. 1000 yards would be about 90 laps. But honestly, your high school team probably is used to new swimmers who are not in shape, and will work you from a minimal workout ability to those levels.
2007-07-13 15:30:21 · answer #4 · answered by Neptune221 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Height should not keep you from swimming. In terms of work loads... my high school team... (which was one of the worst in the state excluding some club team swimmers such as myself)... swam anywhere from 1-3 kilometers a day... while my club team can vary from 7-13 on days with double sessions... so how much you swim depends on how hard you want to work and how good you want to be... HOPE THAT HELPS!
2007-07-05 20:04:49 · answer #5 · answered by swimmerdude313 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Of course you can. It really comes down to how much practice your willing to put in. When I first tried to make my schools swim team I was overweight and I found it extremely difficult. After I worked hard and made the team I continually got better and even lost 30 pounds! Just work at it your height is not going to affect anything if you just work hard. Also as far as laps go if your just starting just find your comfort zone probably something like 50-60 per week. Just go into with a positive attitude and the idea your going to practice. good luck!
2007-07-05 22:01:11 · answer #6 · answered by mitchell s 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
omg, you are never to short to swim! LOL I have been compteitive swimming for like 9 or 10 years, and this will be my 2nd year on a highschool swimteam, one thing good to know are the strokes, Butterfly, backstroke, breast stroke, freestyle, I think if you don't know them, you might get taught but practice them, so you have an idea of what you are doing. Do some laps in the pool, and also practice some flip turns, if you don't know there you cna resereach them on the online, and good luck, and I hope I helped you! I am sure you will do fine!!
2007-07-08 19:54:35 · answer #7 · answered by ♥ElizabethAnne♥ 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well I would just keep swimming everyday I would swim lets say do how many laps you are used to doing as in down and back and everyday add 1 and if you are feeling really good add 2
2007-07-05 18:13:10 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Height does not matter. Just swim as many laps as you feel comfortable swimming and then swim some more.
2007-07-05 20:17:13 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
i am 4'11" and i was a freshman on my high school team last year and i would beat out seniors. if you have good arm strength or leg muscles then you could beat taller people. also you can beat them off the wall on your flipturn
2007-07-13 14:42:33 · answer #10 · answered by Michasia H 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋