What to Do When Your Kid Wants to Be a Competitive Swimmer When your kid…
The 5 Habits of Highly Efficient Swimmers
Good habits are a cornerstone of any highly efficient swimmer’s training. That’s one reason practice matters: the more you do something, the easier it is to keep doing it. This can be bad when it comes to bad habits but that’s why it’s so important to build good habits as soon as you can it.
While that means repeating bad habits can be a recipe for disaster, this is also why it’s so important to build good habits as soon as you can. Using a swim training tool like SwimMirror can help you catch some of those mistakes early, which is we recommend using pool mirrors in daily practice!
However, some advice is useful for any swimmer, no matter their swim stroke. These five habits of highly efficient swimmers can help any swimmer improve at any point in their training!
1) Constantly compete with yourself.
Elite swimmers never settle for anything less than their best. When you have the right mindset, you can push yourself to succeed in ways you’d never before thought possible. Don’t just talk about being better—make the time for swim practice and have the resolve to follow through on your goals.
2) Count your swim strokes.
Work to maintain complete control of your swim strokes at slower speeds. A good way of doing that is by keeping count of them. A lower swim stroke count generally means your movement is more efficient per stroke, while a higher swim stroke should be part of a conscious decision to move faster!
3) Minimize your drag as much as possible.
This habit ties into the above one. The world’s best swimmers get the most distance out of each stroke they take. To get Olympic swimming technique you have to avoid drag. Is your stroke noisy? Do you feel resistance as you move forward? Train your senses to notice drag when it happens and adjust yourself accordingly.
4) Stay as quiet as you can in the water.
Noticing a trend here? The more resistance you show the water, the more it frustrates you and slows down your swimming. By striving to be smooth and silent in the water, you become more streamlined and efficient as a swimmer.
5) Never compromise swim technique.
Always, always, always try to keep your swim technique as perfect and precise as possible. Doing otherwise can create bad swimming habits that you have to unlearn. That’s why it’s important to maintain technique so that you condition your body to naturally respond with proper form as you swim. Flailing at the last second to try and win won’t make you a good or consistent swimmer.
Looking for other ways to improve your swim technique?
SwimMirror is an innovative pool mirror designed for competitive swimmers. Find out how this aluminium mirror reflects your strokes back at you as you swim, giving you feedback in real-time!