Should I stick with competitive swimming?

Question

I am a 14 year old guy. I am from Florida, and has always loved to swim. I moved to GA four years ago, so I haven't swimmed like I use to. I always thought I was one of the better swimmers... So, I always knew how to swim good, I didn't know all the strokes and never done competitive swimming at all. So in January I found a place who can help me learn all the strokes and train me. They taught me all the strokes until May. I was getting better each week! I wanted to do this so I can go on the high school swim team. So, then they told me I should go to a summer swim team. So I did... It's like a community team, and everyone know eachother, too! I am not like really athletic, but not fat either, just really an average type body. I'm a little preppy, but that's it. The kids their are so skinny, and I feel like a whale to them. They where those stupid spedio's and I just were an American Eagle bathing suit. I am so slow compared to them, she put me with three other kids, who were alot worse

Answer 1

You had my sympathy until I read this:

"Even the girls are faster than me, that's really sad..."

Being a girl who worked very hard for many years, it makes me want to reach through the computer and kick your lazy, whiney @ss!

You have to ask yourself what you want to get out of being on the swim team. From what you have written here, you want success without putting out effort. It's just one excuse after another.

If you've written all this as a desperate cry for encouragement, then -- sure -- keep at it. You probably won't have instant success, but you can improve with time. It won't be easy, though. And there is always someone who is faster. Or doesn't have to work as hard.

That's life. Buck up.

p.s. NYU is Division III = NO athletic scholarships

Answer 2

This sounds exactly like me when i was 14. RIght before highschoool and i joined a club swim team so i could be on the high school team.

Ill give you a little story.

Well when i joined i was 14, as said, and i wasn't close to any of the swimmers swim level. So i would swim with the kids that were about 4-7 years younger then me. No joke i would. And i was a pretty heavy kid, not extremely fat, but i was def. a heavy kid. but slowly i would swim and swim everyday in the summer and but highschool season my freshmen year, i still sucked lol! but i kept at it (like you should) and now i just finnished my 11th year and im one of the top swimmers on the team. and now im trainer even harder for my senior year which i plan on doing well at states with. and then go onto college and swim. So TRUST ME kept you dream of swimming in college. Its not impossible by any standards. in three short years ive develpted alot of swimming skills. BTY i live in FLorida too, around tampa and i didn't start working out or do anything extra till the end of my 10th grade year. i just did the swim workout which got me pretty far. SO KEPT WITH IT! and trust me you will be a very happy camper at the end. i started off horrible and now im at the top. and you can do the same

Answer 3

wow.....good luck with all this. i think every day each i should stay in comptive swimming or not. it is and AMAZING sport. a couple of things i would do is too

1. if you plan on staying in it, get a jammer or two, they keep u covered and u may loss so time.

2. go to the gym, run and lift. switch off and on with upper body and lower body

3. just keep working at it. if one of the coaches is ur age become friends with him or her, and you 2 can work on ur technique. the key to speed in technique

i hope i helped if you have any other questions email me.

Answer 4

if you like it stick with it......i love swiming...and you just started swimming so of course you wont be as good as everybody else.....swimming takes a lot of time and you have to really like to be willing to work....

so start running or doing weights...or even cotinue the private training......and when high school comes, its a lot more competitive and the workouts are a lot harder so youll learn A LOT if you stick with it......

youll defiantly neeed to get a jammer or speedo....a regualar bathing suit is only going to drag you down a lot

again.....swimming takes a lot of work so keep practicing....youre never gonna be the best the first time you try something

Answer 5

Stick with it.  Focus on your times and your improvements.  A lot can happen in only 1 season.  Do get some equipment http//:www.swimoutlet.com you should wear a jammer, I prefer tyr racetech goggles.  The high school team will be a different experience so keep that in mind.  As for the coach, ignore it.  I have found that their are few talented coaches out there.  A lot of summer league pools have a snotty atmoshere.