Should High School Swimmers Swim Double Practices?
High school swimmers deal with a lot. Taking all things into consideration they are expected to perform at school, eat well, maintain a tight schedule, make time for studying, have hobbies, and if they swim; then they are expected to swim at least 5-6 sessions a week.
When you take all that in, think about all the time it takes to commute to and from all these activities. Swimming double practices both in the morning and at night (in between they go to classes) means the swimmers are signing up for a big commitment.
What are the benefits of swimming double practices?
Swimming double practices allow for swimmers to develop and strengthen their skills in aerobic, anaerobic, speed, and technique under fatigue, helping to break through the threshold. It allows swimmers an opportunity under fatigue and builds their skills while putting in the distance.
What is the best age to start swimming double practices?
There is no specific age that is better than others to start swimming double practices, however, there are a few considerations in mind. Swimming double practice can start as early as age 14, however, many considerations should be taken into account when deciding what is best for an athlete.
What are the athlete’s commute time and distance to and from school
What are the practice time and distance of the workouts on average
What will be worked on in double swimming sessions? (I.e. distance and intensity)
Is the swimmer able to cope with the demanding schedule and recuperate adequately
What tools and help can he/she get when committing to swimming double sessions
All these considerations can help coaches, athletes and parents make a decision on whether the swimmer should start attending double swimming practices. Often, a customized approach to meeting the goals of the swimmer is the best way to decide.
Swimming double practices is not a good idea when…
Swimming double practices is not a good idea when the swimmer doesn’t possess a good supportive environment. Teenage swimmers experience a lot of stress with school and scheduling and fine tuning their commitments is a very important thing to plan.
The goal is to ensure overall well-being and addressing their needs for rest and a little social time outside of sport and school time.
If a swimmer is already feeling overwhelmed with academics and swimming it is crucial to meet the immediate needs of the athlete by addressing the areas of stress and finding a strategy to find better balance.