Am I doomed if I join the swim team?

Question

I am 16 years old and I have never joined a swim team of any sort. This year is the first year our school is able to create a swim team by combining schools. I really want to join but I am so nervous. My cross country season will have just ended and I would like to try swimming before track season. When I go swimming, I can only swim maybe 6-8 laps before I feel exhausted and take a couple minute rest. I swim one lap freestyle, and then breaststroke the next lap. The pool is only 75 ft, 25 yards. Am I doomed if I join the swim team? My arm strength is absolutly horrible since I only run and I get tired so fast. What are the swim events? I think I would die if its more than 50 meters. I am pathetic

Answer 1

You aren't "doomed" but it's a tall order.  You'll find the more experienced swimmers on a HS team don't even bat an eye at 1000 yards of just warm-up.  Your attitude isn't helping you, no one should call themselves "pathetic".  At 16, lifting weights is certainly an option to improve your arm strength.  With a cross-country background, you should be OK cardiovascularly as you refine your swimming technique and learn to swim efficiently.

The events in a HS meet are 200 Free, 200 IM, 50 Free, 100 Fly, 100 Free, 500 Free, 100 Back, 100 Breast.  Additionally there are 3 relays, the 4x50 Medley, 4x50 Free, and 4x100 Free.

Answer 2

You are not doomed for sure. You'll do fine. Ive been on a swim team since I was 8. Keep practicing and you'll get better if you try hard. Dryland also helps. Stretch a lot----running is great for swimming too. Dont worry.  :)

Answer 3

ok um the events are 50 of each 100 of each 100 IM and i think maybe 200 IM but definitly 500 Free so yeah but if you train and focus on your stroke you will do better i promise you that and no you are not pathetic you just need to do the right training

Answer 4

I was completely unathletic and randomly joined my high school swim team freshman year. I was TERRIBLE, so bad that everyone's parents eemed to know who I was by the end of the season (considering the other freshman had swum for half of her life, yeah, I was pathetically bad). I don't think anyone expected me to stick around, but I did. I joined a club team and improved vastly, and I'm now going into my junior year.

I think you should go for it. Swimming is a hard, but great and very rewarding sport (swimmers have hot bodies, lol). You already seem to have the athelticism. All you need to do is train, and train hard and you will definetely improve. You are not 'doomed'. You just need to stick with the sport and work at it. Seeing as you're a cross country runner, you have the mindset for endurance (something I don't have). I don't think you'll be wayyyy behind everyone; there'll probably be people in a similiar situation.

High school events are: 200 medley relay; 200 IM; 200 free; 50 free; 500 free; 100 free; 100 back; 100 breast; 100 fly; 200 free relay; 400 free relay.

Answer 5

you would do fine. you might as well just try it.