Last Updated on June 27, 2022 by admin
In this article, we’ll provide advice, hacks and tips on the benefits of setting mini swimming goals, to help a swimmer achieve their main swimming goals.
Setting swimming goals
Goal setting is not just confined to swimming, it’s a life skill, which helps establish and focus on clear targets, priorities and expectations.
- They are an extremely useful tool in enabling both the swimmer and the coach to gauge the swimmer’s progress and development towards achieving their swimming ambitions.
Related article on the benefits of setting swimming goals
We have produced a related article on the benefits of setting swimming goals. Which you can view by clicking this link: swimming goals
Why set mini swimming goals?
A swimmer can gain many benefits from setting mini swimming goals, these include.
Breaking main swimming goals down into steps.
Some swimmers find that breaking their main swimming goals down into single ‘bite-sized’ tasks helps them to stay focused and on track.
- For example, if a swimmer has a main swimming goal to achieve a regional freestyle qualifying time.
- The coach may set them a series of mini swimming goals as steppingstones to help them achieve this objective.
These could focus on a wide range of small improvements that together could help the swimmer achieve their ambition. These could include,
- Improving their swimming nutrition and hydration.
- Increasing the number of training sessions, they attend by one session per week.
- Getting to training on time to perform a proper poolside/deck warm-up.
- Learning not to breathe directly out of their freestyle turns.
- Learning to maintain their speed going into the finish.
- Focusing on improving their underwater dolphin kick.
Re-setting of swimming goals
A key part of the swimming goals process is that they are regularly reviewed by both the coach and the swimmer.
- Following a review, it could be necessary to either re-establish or reset the swimmer’s main goals.
- Many coaches find it beneficial to re-establish or reset the swimming goals, by breaking the swimmer’s main swimming goals down into mini swimming goals to help them to get back on track.
- However, it’s important when re-establishing or resetting a swimmer’s goals, that they are in line with the current rate of the swimmer’s development and progress.
Illness, injury and setbacks
Sometimes swimmers get thrown off track when working towards their main swimming goals.
- This could be an illness, an injury or some other setback, which results in the swimmer missing a period of training.
- As a key part of a swimmer’s rehabilitation, the swimmer in conjunction with their coach, should re-set their swimming goals and make it a key part of their rehabilitation plan.
- Many rehabilitating swimmers set short-term, mini-goals to help them with each stage of their journey back to full fitness.
Related article on returning to swimming training after an illness or injury
We have produced a related article on returning to swimming training after an illness or injury. Which you can view by clicking this link: returning to swimming training after an illness or injury.
Making swimming goals seem achievable
Some swimmers can become a little overwhelmed when they set their main swimming goals.
- By breaking down their main swimming goals into mini swimming goals, can provide them with a defined pathway showing them how they can achieve their swimming ambitions.
Giving the swimmer a sense of achievement
For some swimmers, mini swimming goals can give them a sense of achievement, as they make small but regular progress towards their swimming goals.
Building positive momentum
As a swimmer starts to regularly achieve their mini swimming goals, this can help to build their confidence and help them gain positive momentum towards achieving their main swimming goals.
Setting mini swimming goals
Mini swimming goals still need to be smarter
Please remember that when setting mini swimming goals, they need to be SMARTER, in just the same way as main swimming goals.
The letters S-M-A-R-T-E-R all stand for the specific words, listed below.
- Specific: If the swimmer wants to improve a certain skill, the goal needs to be specific, such as: “I want to improve my backstroke finish” rather than “I want to improve my backstroke”.
- Measurable: How will the swimmer judge when they have reached their goal? “I will be able to go hard into the backstroke finish every time, without looking around”.
- Agreed: The swimmer will need to speak to their coach about their goals. They can then both agree on the course of action needed to achieve them.
- Realistic: Try not to set a goal that is too much of a challenge. If the swimmer wants to achieve a County record, set out to achieve several smaller improvements rather than one big one.
- Time-Bound: Give the swimmer time to achieve their goal. Not too long or they will lose interest say six months maximum or perhaps the date of the county or regional/state championship.
- Evaluate: The swimmer together with their coach should regularly check their progress towards their goals and plan the next step.
- Recorded: The swimmer should record the progress they make towards achieving their goals, ideally in their swimming log.
Related article on the benefits of keeping a swimming log
We have produced a related article returning on the benefits of keeping a swimming log. Which you can view by clicking this link: swimming log
Takeaways
There are many benefits to setting mini swimming goals, these include.
- Breaking down main swimming goals down into individual steps.
- Help re-set main swimming goals when they go off-track.
- Form a key part of a rehabilitation programme following an illness, an injury or a setback.
- Help makes the main swimming goal seem more achievable.
- Help give the swimmer a sense of achievement.
- Build a swimmer’s confidence and help them gain positive momentum towards achieving their main swimming goals.
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
Swimming Publications
EatSleepSwimCoach produces 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 the Swimming publications link on our website https://eatsleepswimcoach.com/publications/
Recommended swimming equipment
We have provided a recommended swimming equipment page.
- It contains 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.
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. 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