Why Swimming Should be About More Than Times and Medals
Age-group swimming shouldn’t involve overtraining or pushing too hard. The sport should bring joy to swimmers’ lives, rather than take away from it. The early years of a swimmer’s journey should be all about having fun, developing new skills, and forming new friendships.
Swimming provides enjoyment while teaching children valuable lessons and providing experiences they will remember for a lifetime. Every swimmer has their unique reasons for participating in the sport, which is part of what makes it so fun.
Oftentimes, athletes who are intrinsically motivated and driven by internal goals and genuine enjoyment of participation are more likely to enjoy a sustainable and satisfying career. Those who rely on extrinsic motivation often find it more difficult when the field gets more competitive or the training load intensifies.
In summer league meets, ribbons are guaranteed for every swimmer, and medals are given out frequently. These can be fun motivators for young swimmers who are new to the sport, adding excitement to the experience. They can also be a great way to encourage new swimmers to attend more practices or try a new event.
Similarly, swim clubs often offer clothing, towels, or backpacks to athletes who achieve new time standards or other milestones. These types of rewards are great at bringing attention to the standards and building excitement around achieving them. However, as swimmers progress in the sport, it’s important they continue to find enjoyment in the sport without relying solely on these rewards.
Swimmers who “play for love of the game” typically find it easier to enjoy their sport, even when facing adversity. When progression isn’t as linear as they’d like, they still find pleasure in the process. This kind of mindset is self-sustaining and leads to greater longevity in the sport, along with a deeper sense of happiness.
This approach is especially beneficial in times when an athlete is recovering from an injury or coming off a lower-performing season, when motivation might be low.
Back to the Basics
Most young swimmers see practice as a time to hang out with their friends, and that’s perfectly fine. They don’t need to have their eyes set on the Olympics at seven years old. Some of the best swimmers started simply because they liked being in the pool, spending time with friends, or taking a break from school work. Many preferred swimming over sweating outside, and few were thinking about long-term goals when they first jumped in. What mattered most was that they genuinely enjoyed it, and that enjoyment often developed into setting goals and dedicating themselves to the sport over time.
Children don’t have to have a rigid schedule or intense work ethic at a young age to succeed, but the odds of reaching a higher level are much greater when a swimmer truly loves what they’re doing from the start.
Many college or Olympic-level swimmers speak about “falling back in love with the sport,” or regaining their joy for the sport after dealing with setbacks or mental challenges. Many athletes experience this feeling when they focus too much on the times and qualification standards, losing sight of what drew them to the sport in the first place.
Swimming offers an incredible experience to each athlete. It is a sport that provides a competitive outlet, a sense of community, and an opportunity for improved physical health. For a young swimmer, it should not be a source of stress, but rather of happiness and personal growth.
