Last Updated on November 10, 2022 by admin
Physical | Psychological | Social | Lifestyle
In this article, we will provide advice, hacks and tips on the benefits of competitive swimming.
Competitive swimming has many direct rewards such as medals, records and personal best times.
- But perhaps more rewarding than these are its many physical, psychological, social and lifestyle benefits.
- These allow the participant to develop and maintain a range of key life skills and disciplines. These include:
The physical benefits of competitive swimming
Developing a high level of fitness
Competitive swimming is one of the most effective sports for developing a high level of physical fitness and endurance. For example.
Developing the cardiovascular system
Competitive swimming is an excellent form of cardiovascular exercise.
- This helps develop the swimmer’s cardiovascular system, which includes the heart, lungs, and circulatory system.
Weight control
Competitive swimming burns a lot of calories and therefore, is a very effective way of controlling a swimmer’s weight.
Developing muscular and skeletal growth
Competitive swimming develops muscular and skeletal growth.
- As a swimmer is required to apply a consistently high level of resistance against the water, using all of their major muscle groups.
Improving flexibility
Competitive swimming improves a swimmer’s flexibility.
- This is by engaging all of their major muscle joints and lengthening their muscles.
Developing coordination
Swimming can help develop a swimmer’s coordination.
- As swimming requires some complex muscle movements of all parts of the body.
Low impact exercise
Competitive swimming is a low-impact exercise, which is a lot easier on the swimmer’s body.
- If performed correctly competitive swimming, is almost injury-free.
Helping to improve sleep
As with most regular exercise, competitive swimming helps the participant to destress and relax.
- This can lead to an improved quantity and quality of sleep.
Rest, recovery & relaxation
Competitive swimmers develop an understanding and appreciation of the importance of proper rest, recovery & relaxation.
- They often develop routines to ensure they correctly recover from the rigours of training and competition.
Slowing down the ageing process
The many health benefits associated with competitive swimming can collectively slow down the ageing process, as many of the growing ranks of ‘Masters’ swimmers will testify.
Related article on how to become a master’s swimmer
We have produced a related article, on how to become a master’s swimmer. You can view it by clicking this link: Master’s swimmer
Cross-training for other sports
Competitive swimming demands a greater level of fitness than almost any other sport.
- As a result, swimmers often find themselves representing their schools in a variety of sports and activities.
Swimming training is a very beneficial cross-trainer for a variety of sports, especially football/soccer and long-distance running.
- However, football/soccer and long-distance running are only of minimal benefit as a cross-trainer for competitive swimming.
The psychological benefits of competitive swimming
Improving wellbeing
Swimming like most forms of exercise releases hormones called endorphins in the brain, which can improve a swimmer’s sense of well-being, making them feel positive and happy
Managing stress
By releasing endorphins, competitive swimming can also be a great way of relieving stress and anxiety.
- Swimmers also learn how to cope with stressful situations, such as competition, by using techniques such as self-talk.
Improving memory & thinking
As with some other forms of regular exercise, competitive swimming can reduce inflammation and insulin resistance in the brain, which develops new brain cell growth.
- This, in turn, can improve a swimmer’s memory and reasoning abilities.
Concentration
Swimmers develop concentration skills, such as visualisation and self-talk, which can help them to focus on a particular skill or technique during the rigours of training, or during the pressure of competition.
Related articles on how to best use swimming visualisation and swimming self-talk
We have produced a related article providing advice, hacks, tips and examples, on how to best use swimming visualisation and swimming self-talk, to help improve swimming performance. You can view it by clicking these links: swimming visualisation. or swimming self-talk
The social benefits of competitive swimming
Competitive swimming provides many social benefits. These include
Confidence
Swimmers often develop a growing sense of confidence and self-esteem as their training makes them fitter, more skilful and quicker.
Overcoming Disappointment
Swimmers learn how to overcome the inevitable disappointment of not performing as well as they hoped in either training or competition.
- Swimmers often learn to put disappointment in its correct perspective.
- By thinking through the situation, considering if they would have done anything differently and reflecting if there were lessons to be learned.
Fair Play
Swimmers develop a sense of fair play and good sportsmanship.
- Good conduct and respect for others is a prerequisite for membership in many swimming clubs.
Friendship
Sharing the same swimming experiences with their training squad or teammates often leads to many long-term friendships.
Team Building
Although competitive swimming is seen by many as an individual sport, there are many team-building opportunities during training and competition, where swimmers can develop a sense of squad and team identity. Team building skills include supporting, encouraging, cooperation, all of which are valuable social skills.
Communication & Social Interaction
Competitive swimmers often develop their communication and social interaction skills, whilst working with their coach, squad members and teammates during training and competition.
The lifestyle benefits of competitive swimming
Competitive swimming provides many lifestyle benefits. These include:
An introduction to an active lifestyle
Competitive swimming introduces young swimmers to an active lifestyle, which many develop and maintain into adulthood and throughout their personal and professional careers.
An introduction to a healthy lifestyle
Competitive swimming also introduces young swimmers to a healthy lifestyle, which includes the development of a healthy diet.
- Swimmers develop an understanding of the health benefits of proper nutrition and hydration, which many continue into adulthood.
Related articles on swimming nutrition and hydration
We have produced related articles, providing advice, hacks, tips and examples, on both swimming nutrition and hydration. You can view them by clicking these links: swimming nutrition | swimming hydration.
An introduction to healthy lifestyle choices
Young competitive swimmers whilst adopting an active and healthy lifestyle, often make other lifestyle choices such as abstaining from smoking and limiting their alcohol consumption.
Swimming is a life skill
It’s often overlooked by competitive swimmers, but being able to swim at a high level is a valuable life skill, which could one day save a life
Commitment & dedication
Swimmers develop a sense of commitment and dedication to training and a fit and healthy lifestyle, in order to achieve their swimming goals.
Related article on how to best use swimming goals
We have produced a related article providing advice, hacks, tips and examples, on how to best use swimming goals, to help improve swimming performance. You can view it by clicking this link: swimming goals.
Responsibility
Swimmers develop an increasing sense of responsibility for their actions, particularly, how often and how well they train, compete and follow a healthy lifestyle.
Goal Setting
Competitive swimmers develop goal-setting skills, which help them to identify, work towards and achieve their key swimming development objectives. Goal setting is a valuable personal and professional life skill.
Related article on the benefits of setting swimming goals
We have produced a related article, on the benefits of setting swimming goals. You can view it by clicking this link: Swimming goals
Organisation & Planning
Swimmers develop organisational and planning skills. This enables them to balance and prioritise their increasing school, swimming and social commitments.
Educational benefits
Competitive swimming can help in providing a pathway to academic achievement, for example:
Swimming Scholarships
Universities and colleges, especially in the USA, sometimes offer young talented swimmers from all over the world a chance to combine their academic studies with their swimming career.
Sports Degrees
When applying for university or college places, a competitive swimming career will enhance your child’s C.V. especially if they are interested in a career in sports and leisure.
- There is an increasing number of sports degrees on offer, such as sports coaching, sports conditioning, rehabilitation & massage, sports development, sports & exercise science, sports management, sports & physical education, sports physiotherapy or sports therapy.
Career opportunities
Competitive swimming can help in providing a pathway to a career in swimming, namely:
Teaching
There are many swimming teachers, whether within a club, a swim school or learn-to-swim lessons.
- But there are nearly always employment opportunities for good swimming teachers.
Coaching
Most clubs’ head coach is either an unpaid volunteer or a part-time professional.
- Some larger clubs, however, have full-time professional head coaches.
- Assisting the head coach is usually a team of volunteer (sometimes paid) assistant coaches and teachers.
Lifeguarding
A lifeguard is a great first job for competitive swimmers, usually within leisure centres or seasonal open-air pools.
- Being a lifeguard requires the correct qualifications, which competitive swimmers have a distinct advantage in obtaining.
Sports Science
There are increasing opportunities for sports scientists within swimming.
- This includes areas of physiology, psychology and biomechanics, which also includes the study of nutrition and hydration.
Sports Fitness
Sports fitness is an overview of coaching, well-being and sport science.
- It’s a popular foundation course and/or degree at a number of universities/colleges.
- There is an increasing demand by swimming clubs for sports fitness professionals, particularly in the discipline of land/dryland training.
Takeaway
Competitive swimming has many direct rewards such as medals, records and personal best times.
- But perhaps more rewarding than these are its many physical, psychological, social and lifestyle, benefits.
- These allow the participant to develop a range of key life skills and disciplines.
Related article on joining a competitive swimming club
We have produced a related article, on joining a competitive swimming club. You can view it by clicking this link: Competitive swimming club
Recommended swimming equipment
We have provided a recommended swimming equipment page, containing the swimming equipment that we and our swimmers use and recommend.
- You can access this page by clicking on the following link: recommended swimming equipment
Swimming resource library
We have provided a swimming resource library, containing links to all of our publications and blog articles. To access any article simply click on the attached page link: Swimming resource library
The Competitive Swimming Exchange – Facebook Group
We are members of the Competitive Swimming Exchange. This is a competitive swimming 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. In fact, 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