Good Swim Times?

Question

I would like to participate on my high school's swim team my freshman year. The problem is, I've never been on a swim team, never been trained or timed, or anything! I think I am pretty good. I would have a year to sort of "train" myself before I would have to join the team. What are the times I should aim for, for different strokes and lengths? Please, I really need help on this. Please remember to say both the lengths and times. This would be so helpful!

Answer 1

If you've never been on a team before and never trained competitively, I'd say you should work on your racing technique before you just dive into getting good times. Since you're just starting, you will improve drastically right away after getting the technique down. Work on times after you know the stroke, race plans, etc.

I recommend joining an off-season team for conditioning and an idea of what the school season will be like. Lots of school swim coaches run a summer conditioning program so you could get to know some other people on the team as well as the coach.

Answer 2

It depends on the depth of your high school team.  To make my team, you need to be able to swim 100 yards continuously without stopping -  we work with you from there.  More competetive teams (outside our league) do 40X100 on 1:30 the first day of practice and if you don't make the set you're off the team.  

Decently competetive (middle of the pack) times are around 1:05 for boys and 1:10 for girls in the 100 free.   That's a good baseline for swimming.  Make sure you work on the other strokes too, but don't worry too much about time.  If you can do them you're ahead of the game.

Answer 3

Well for a 50yd free (2 laps) try to shoot for a time like 32sec, 100yd fr 1:08  (To go to the state meet in DE the cutoff time is 1:04, anything faster than that can go)

50yd bk 36 sec, 100yd bk  1:20

50yd br  45 sec, 100yd br  1:35

50yd fl  36 sec,  100yd fl   1:20

I have never heard that you have to be on a club team to be on varsity.  Where I live in DE is a competitive state.  The times I gave will make 3rd string varsity where I am.  3rd string means in a 6 lane pool three lanes are the home team 2,4,6 and the odd lanes are the visiting team.  The fastest swimmer first string would be in lane 4, next lane 2 and 3rd string is lane 6.  The 100 IM is not a hs event anywhere

Answer 4

hey! i just finished highschool swimming about a month ago , and i can tell u that it is ALOT different that summer recreational swimming. first off, if you dont get enough sleep, you will NOT have ANY energy for your hard practices. Thats what happened to me and i slowed down ALOT... um ill tell you my times , they are only 50's though because i didnt have the energy to practice and build my stamina during the season.

These are from last summer:

50yards  breast= 32.31

50yards  fly-27.64

50yards free-24.87

100 IM(individual medley)-1 minute 6.4 seconds

good luck! remember eat well, sleep well.AND STUDIES COME FIRST.

Answer 5

My advice would be to join a team.  Training yourself will not work because you need someone to critique your stroke.  And many high schools require you to be on a club team before you can be on their team.  At least my high school was that way for their varsity swimmers.  Here are some times I think would be good for you:

50 free - 30 seconds

100 free - 1 minute

50 fly - 38 seconds

100 fly - 1 minute 10 seconds

100 IM - 1 minute 18 seconds

Those are a basic on times.  But it all depends on which strokes you are best at.  I didn't put in backstroke or breastroke because it all depends on what you're good at.  But definitely join a team!