Last Updated on October 9, 2023 by admin
In this article, we’ll provide advice, hacks and tips on swimming life skills, as acquired by competitive swimmers, and how they can be used in daily life.
To succeed as a competitive swimmer requires seven key attributes
- The swimmer is required to master a set of key technical skills and drills.
- They are required to be physically fit and strong, with added endurance.
- The swimmer is required to be committed and dedicated to the sport.
- They are required to be able to perform in pressurised and stressful situations.
- Swimmers require quality nutrition and hydration.
- They are required to be able to recover effectively from the rigours of swimming.
- Swimmers require the correct support and training.
During their quest for swimming excellence, swimmers acquire a broad range of skills and disciplines. Many of these are swimming life skills.
What are swimming life skills?
Swimming life skills are a set of skills acquired by a competitive swimmer.
- These can enable them to effectively deal with situations encountered in daily life.
These include,
1. Swimming itself is a key life skill
Perhaps one of the greatest swimming life skills is swimming itself. Learning to swim can help save a life.
According to the World Health Organisation
- Drowning is the 3rd leading cause of unintentional injury-related deaths worldwide.
- These account for 7% of all injury-related deaths.
- There are an estimated 360,000 annual drowning deaths worldwide.
For more information please see: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/drowning
2. Confidence
Competitive swimming can develop a swimmer both technically and physically.
- This can be a major boost to their self-confidence.
- Swimmers can get an enormous sense of achievement when learning new skills.
- This is also the case when they achieve success in competition.
- Competitive swimming helps develop a fit, healthy and toned body. Which can also boost a swimmer’s self-confidence.
- This new-found confidence often translates to increased confidence in daily life.
3. Time management
Top swimmers learn to understand the importance of good time management.
- Many swimmers have to manage a variety of commitments.
- These can include training, competition, school/college, work, social and family commitments.
- Swimmers are very rarely late for an appointment.
- They also learn to get up very early in the morning to attend morning training.
Related article on swimming time management
We have produced a related article on the benefits of good swimming time management. You can view it by clicking this link: swimming time management.
4. Goal setting
Goal setting is not just confined to swimming, it’s a life skill. This helps establish and focus on clear targets, priorities and expectations.
- They are a useful tool to gauge the swimmer’s progress towards achieving their ambitions.
Related article on setting swimming goals
We have produced a related article on the benefits of setting swimming goals. You can view it by clicking this link: setting swimming goals.
5. Adopting a healthy lifestyle
Competitive swimming educates the swimmer about the importance of a healthy lifestyle.
- Swimmers focus on their diet and hydration in particular.
- Ensuring they consume healthy, ‘swimming-friendly’ food and drink. To help optimum swimming performance.
- Many swimmers also undertake additional land-based training. This supplements their training in the water.
- They also ensure they spend time relaxing and recovering, as swimming training and competition are often rigorous.
Related articles on swimming nutrition and swimming hydration
We have produced related articles, on swimming nutrition and swimming hydration. You can view it by clicking these links: swimming nutrition | swimming hydration.
Related articles on additional ‘land/dryland’ training
We have produced a series of related articles, on additional ‘land/dryland’ training. You can view it by clicking these links: developing your swimming core | invisible training | plyometric exercises for swimmers | swimming yoga.
6. Mental skills
Many top swimmers use a range of mental techniques.
- These include how to adopt a positive attitude, relaxation, self-talk and visualization.
- These skills can be used to help in all types of pressurised and stressful situations.
Related articles on swimming mental skills
We have produced a range of related articles on the benefits of swimming mental skills. You can view this by clicking these links: positive attitude | relaxation | self-talk | visualisation |
7. Focusing on your own performance
Many top swimmers develop the ability to focus on their own performance.
- Top swimmers focus on the things they can control.
- Such as their own swimming performance.
- They do not worry about things that they can’t control.
- Such as the performance of other swimmers
- Swimmers also learn to accept that they can only do their best
- They also learn from any setbacks.
- They know that there’s always room for improvement
Related article on improving a swimmer’s focus
We have produced a related article on improving a swimmer’s focus. You can view it by clicking this link: improving a swimmer’s focus.
8. Self-improvement
Competitive swimmers are constantly striving for self-improvement.
- They spend a great deal of time and energy in the pursuit of becoming faster, fitter and stronger.
- The quest for self-improvement is a key life skill.
9. Perseverance and dedication
When asked ‘what is the key to swimming success? Dick Hannula, the legendary American swim coach replied, “be consistently persistent”.
- As in life, there are rarely any shortcuts to swimming success.
- To be successful in competitive swimming takes a great work ethic and years of perseverance and dedication.
10. Teamwork and communication
For a competitive swimmer to reach their full swimming potential, they need to be provided with the correct support and training.
- Providing support is mainly the responsibility of the parents.
- Providing training is mainly the responsibility of the coach.
- There needs to be effective communication between the swimmer, coach and parents.
- To ensure the swimmer receives the correct support and training.
Related article on swimming coaches & parents: building the relationship
We have produced a related article on swimming coaches & parents: building the relationship. You can view it by clicking this link: swimming coaches & parents.
Another key component regarding training and teamwork, are teammates and training partners
- Both have a key supporting role during training and competition.
- Learning how to develop friendships and working relationships is a key swimming life skill.
Related article on a swimming training partner: why you should have one
We have produced a related article on a swimming training partner: why you should have one. You can view it by clicking this link: a swimming training partner
Takeaways
Swimming life skills are a set of skills acquired by a competitive swimmer.
- These can enable them to effectively deal with situations encountered in daily life.
They include,
- Swimming itself
- Confidence
- Time management
- Goal setting
- Adopting a healthy lifestyle
- Mental skills
- Focusing on your own performance
- Self-improvement
- Perseverance and dedication
- Teamwork and communication
Swimming resource library
We have provided a swimming resource library.
- This contains links to all of our publications and blog articles.
- Now with an easy-to-use index.
- 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