How to join a swim team?

Question

Okay, I will be going into the 8th grade. I am very good at swimming. I can do back stroke and front stroke perfectly. I can't dive :(. I have a pool in my backyard, but it is not so big for me to actually practice.I want to know what type of exercises/diets should I do to prepare for a swim team. What would any swim coach be expecting for me to do? One more thing,do you think it is to late to join a swim team now that it is going to be September?

Answer 1

It isn't too late.  I coached a high school swim team and accepted anyone who was willing to give it all they had.

Basically, you need to be in the water swimming for practice.  Don't try to dive unless you find a deep end somewhere (you can practice that trying to jump head first through a hula hoop floating in the water.)

Unless you are overweight, don't worry about diet.  Swimming burns a lot of fat.  Personally, I would expect you to have some knowledge of the strokes (watch the olympics.) You said you can do backstroke and freestyle.  Great.  I would wait for help to start the other two or you might pick up illegal swimming habits.  You can do it and GOOD LUCK!

Answer 2

'front stoke' is called freestyle.

go to your local rec center this winter or local pool this summer and ask for swim team info.

Answer 3

learn how to swim...lol

Answer 4

If you're going to join a swim team... you should be ready for hard practices. And, you might want to know Breaststroke and butterfly first.

Answer 5

Cookie,

September is a perfect time to join a swim team as school is just beginning, the summer championship season just finished, and the new fall/winter season is just about to get under way.

If you already can master the Backstroke and Freestyle you have enough skills to begin 'training' with practices and work outs.

Different swim coaches expect different things. However, all effective swim coaches (or coaches of any sport for that matter) expect their athletes to be able to commit to a level that's comeserate to their ability. Speak frankly with the coach that's going to work with you and let them know what you'd like to accomplish. They should be able to let you know what level of commitment will be expected.

I would suggest joining a team and give it a season to see where your skills fall in comparison to others. Then start making short term goals. Continue to update your short term goals as you begin to accomplish them. Start off with reasonable/reachable goals. Once you see how fast these goals are accomplished begin adding long term goals. Don't be afraid of making your long term goals lofty. If you don't dream big you won't accomplish big dreams!

Good luck...

Answer 6

September is a perfect time to join.  You will need to know how to swim the butterfly, breaststroke, backstroke, and freestyle (crawl) in order to compete on a swim team.  Work on what you don't know now because learning while you workout will be a killer to the point where you might quit.