Sports for 13 year old girl quitting competitive swimming?

Question

I've been swimming competitively since I was 6ish, but I find that the sport isn't working for me. I quit a team 2 years ago because I felt like I couldn't keep up with everyone else and joined a new team. For a little more than a year, I didn't try to avoid swimming practices or meets, though I didn't love it either. When I was 6-9, my times were great for my age group, but for the past three years, my times either haven't changed at all, or have gotten slower. Now, each practice is really bad for me. For some reason, my kick is horrible. Definitely worst in my lane, and maybe the lane slower than mine.

My mom said that she would consider taking me out of swimming, but only if I joined another sport. However, if I keep swimming, I'll have to do it for another year.

So, do you have any suggestions for sports? Or should I keep swimming?

Answer 1

Only you can answer that question.  But what you need to find is what you like about swimming (there must be something, since you've kept it up).

Do you like the water?

Maybe water polo, diving, sychronized swimming?

Do you like the swimming-team type atmosphere?

Maybe track and field?

You might also hang on to swimming, even if dialing back your workouts some in the meantime, into high school.  High school swimming is MUCH different than age group swimming.  First, you will likely find yourself faster than a lot of the competition (especially as swimming in high school tends to have a lot of first-type competitive swimmers who have not been swimming age group for the last 10+ years).  Second, the team-atmosphere is more of a focus, and it is much more social.  Also--the dual meet structure may actually be a welcome change for you, and you might see your times improve.  I found high school and college swimming much more enjoyable than age group--and you really learn how to "race" better.

As for kicking--so what if your kicking is slow.  There are some awful kickers than swim Division I.  I was included in that category.

Answer 2

what sport really interests you? that is the question you should be asking for as at this age, you can learn to do quite a bit and be good at it.

Answer 3

First, re-think about swimming. Go over your drills, make your your technique is down, and do some visualization/mind techniques. Work hard on dry land especially. If, after all that, you still can't get better then find a sport you like. I would suggest ultimate Frisbee or bowling. Or cheer leading if your willing to drop your IQ and get made fun of because you think cheer leading (non-competitive) is a sport (or difficult or challenging for that matter).

Answer 4

My best suggestion is cross country / distance running.

Whenever I have coached good runners in swimming, their kick has been almost universally dreadful. Runners don't need flexible joints like swimmers do. Maybe that's your problem? Little kids are always more flexible that older kids and adults.

Answer 5

What is your prime? Because specialties frequently change. Have you tried zoomers for the kick? How fast are you?  If you are AA in anything I would keep swimming.  Is it social, are alot of your friends swimmers? Do you get a lot of pressure from your parents? Have you tried switching clubs? Have you worked on drills? For an alternate sport how about martial arts?

Answer 6

Since you would have good arm muscles, try golf!

Answer 7

I am a huge swimmer! i love it. I dont think you should quit just merely because working at it and achieving something makes it a whole lot better. if you are concerned about your kick or something, talk to your coach and see what he/she has to say. Take their words seriously and just maybe, you'll get it.

Good luck,

-Djboy15

Answer 8

Crosscountry.  Crosscountry goes GREAT with swimming.  So why not replace swimming with crosscountry?  Definitely keep swimming, though.  It is a great sport.

Answer 9

i am 13 that happened to me when i was 11 i stuck with it and now i love it. when you are a teen everybody reaches a plateau, even olympians have you just gotta work through it.

Answer 10

okayy. well im a swimmer too, but i definitely am in kind of the same boat as you. luckily, ive been playing basketball longer than ive been swimming, so im going to play basketball in high school and quit swimming.

If you like the style of competition of swimming, I would go with a sport like track and field, or cross country. You would definitely be good at it because swimmers have good cardiovascular endurance, so getting in shape and learning the basics would not be hard at all.

But, if you decide to keep swimming, just know that this olympic guy, i totally forget his name, he like won a lot of gold medals and stuff. but anyway, he didnt take off any time from his events in 5 years! but eventually he did and broke an american record. i cant believe i forget his name, but he came to our team and did a clinic.

Doing a sport that does require hand-eye/ foot-eye coordination would still be a good option even if youre not good at it. if you practice a lot, you will be!

anyways, good luck with sports! i hoped this helped.

Answer 11

Volleyball or softball. Your arms are already strong and you don't have to be good with your feet. I swim and play volleyball and it keeps my arms strong.

Tennis would be good, but if that's not your thing, I would go for volleyball or softball.