Last Updated on March 16, 2021 by admin
In this article, we will provide advice, hacks and tips on the benefits of keeping a swimming journal.
Many competitive swimmers keep a swimming logbook.
- However, some swimmers only use their logbook to record their training sets and volumes.
- Which can add little value to a swimmer’s on-going development.
- Many top competitive swimmers also keep a swimming journal.
- To help them organise, record and monitor the value-added information such as their thoughts and feelings.
The benefits of keeping a swimming journal
- A swimming journal is designed in such a way that information can be easily retrieved, analysed and understood, to help swimmers develop and achieve their swimming ambitions.
- For example, when recording a training session. A journal should ideally detail the following,
- How did today’s training go for them?
- What was their perceived rate of effort?
- The things that went well?
- What didn’t go so well?
- How did they feel during and after training?
- What can they improve?
- Recording this type of information can be extremely valuable when it comes to analysing the effectiveness of the training.
- This can help to improve a swimmer’s training and competitive performance, and help to set future goals.
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We have produced a related article on the rate of perceived exertion for swimmers. Which you can view by clicking this link: the rate of perceived exertion for swimmers
The additional benefits of keeping a swimming journal
Many swimmers find that keeping a journal often helps them to allay any potential concerns.
- It can also help them manage and prioritise any problems.
- By day-to-day monitoring, many find that they can more easily identify and control any potential concerns, problems or negative behaviours.
- For example, this could be helped by the introduction of visualisation or self-talk.
- This ability to manage and prioritise problems can help to increase a swimmer’s self-confidence
Related article on swimming visualisation
We have produced a related article on swimming visualisation. Which you can view by clicking this link: swimming visualisation
Related article on swimming self-talk
We have produced a related article on swimming self-talk. Which you can view by clicking this link: swimming self-talk
Record tasks and ideas on-the-go
A swimming journal is an ideal place to record those tasks and ideas which can occur on-the-go.
- Many swimmers have specific ‘things to do’ sheets in their swimming journal.
Boost memory and recollection
Many educational and scientific tests have found that the action of recording something in writing, makes it more likely to be remembered and recalled by human memory.
Develops self-discipline
Setting time aside to record information in a swimming journal requires self-discipline.
- With a little perseverance and dedication, it can become a good habit that can develop over time.
Contents of a swimming journal
In addition to the usual logbook details such as the type of training and volumes involved.
- A journal should ideally provide ongoing details of a swimmer’s thought and feelings on the key areas of their development, this includes,
Training/practice
- How did today’s training go for them?
- What was their perceived rate of effort?
- The things that went well?
- What didn’t go so well?
- How did they feel during and after training?
- What can they improve?
Competition (per event)
- How did the event go for them?
- What was their perceived rate of effort?
- The things that went well?
- What didn’t go so well?
- How did they feel during and after their event?
- What can they improve?
Land/dryland training and cross-training
- Many competitive swimmers regularly undertake dryland/land training and cross-training.
- This is to gain additional benefits beyond those which can be achieved by training in the water alone.
- These include increased power, strength, endurance, speed, and coordination.
- Swimmers should ideally record details similar to those when training in the water.
Related article on swimming dryland training
We have produced a related article on swimming dryland training. Which you can view by clicking this link: swimming dryland training
Related article on swimming cross-training
We have produced a related article on swimming cross-training. Which you can view by clicking this link: swimming cross-training
Nutrition and hydration
- Monitoring a swimmer’s nutrition and hydration will help to ensure that they are receiving the correct levels of quality sustenance.
- This can have a significant effect on a swimmer’s performance.
- Many swimmers include a nutrition and hydration sheet, to help record and monitor their daily intake of all meals and snacks.
Related articles on swimming nutrition and swimming hydration
We have produced related articles, on swimming nutrition and swimming hydration. Which you can view by clicking these links: swimming nutrition | swimming hydration.
Sleep
- Getting the correct amount and quality of sleep can dramatically improve a swimmer’s performance.
- It can help the swimmer recover from the rigours of training and competition.
- Monitoring a swimmer’s quantity and quality of sleep can help to ensure that they receive enough slumber to swim at their optimum.
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Swimming journal formats
Swimming journals are often combined to form a part of a swimmer’s logbook.
- Sometimes they can be a separate tome.
- Ideally, swimming journals should be tailored to meet the individual needs of each swimmer.
- How an individual swimmer records and monitors the information, is down to individual preference.
- Some swimmers prefer to record detailed notes.
- While others prefer brief notes and tick boxes.
- For many swimmers, it is usually somewhere between the two.
- Swimming journals can come in both paper and electronic formats.
- Again, this is mainly down to individual preference.
Related article on keeping a swimming logbook
We have produced a related article on keeping a swimming logbook. Which you can view by clicking this link: swimming logbook
Experimentation, dedication and reward
For many swimmers, keeping a swimming journal can seem like even more ‘paperwork’.
- Especially if they have to contend with academic studies.
- However, with a little experimentation and dedication, keeping a swimming journal should not be all that time-consuming.
- Many swimmers who keep a swimming journal often find that the little extra effort required can bring rich rewards.
Takeaways
For many competitive swimmers keep a swimming logbook.
- However, some swimmers only use their swimming logbook to only record their training sets and volumes.
- Which can add little value to a swimmer’s on-going development.
- This is why many top competitive swimmers also keep a swimming journal.
- Which usually forms a part of their swimming logbook.
- A swimming journal designed to help them record and monitor their thoughts and feelings, to help them achieve their swimming ambitions.
- Recording this type of information can be valuable when it comes to analysing the effectiveness of the training, improving a swimmers performance and helping to set future goals
My Swimming Logbook
My Swimming Logbook is a set of tried and tested customised combined swimming logbook and journal templates that enables you to customise your swimming logbook.
For information regarding this publication please follow our link: my swimming logbook
Swimming Publications
We produce a growing range of publications on a wide range of swimming subjects.
- These include competitive swimming drill publications for backstroke, breaststroke, butterfly and freestyle.
- Which are now available in both Amazon Kindle and paperback formats.
- For information regarding our portfolio please follow our link: Swimming publications.
Swimming Resource Library
We have produced a swimming resource library.
- This contains links to all of our blog posts.
- These are subdivided by swimming category.
Categories include: Swimmer Development | Swimmers Health | Swimming Coaching | Swimming Competition | Swimming Drills | Swimming Dryland/Land Training | Swimming Equipment | Swimming Psychology | Swimming Training.
- To access any article simply click on the attached page link: swimming resource library.
The Competitive Swimming Exchange – Facebook Group
The Competitive Swimming Exchange is a Facebook group to help exchange ideas and information to collectively improve the sport we love.
- It’s an international group for all swimmers, coaches, teachers, masters, triathletes and swimming parents.
- It’s for all those who are interested in competitive swimming, either in the pool or in open water.
For more information about joining this group please use the following link: The Competitive Swimming Exchange