5 Things College Swimmers Can Learn From Masters Swimmers

Photo Courtesy: Elise Lee

By Emma Foster, Swimming World College Intern

Swimmers can learn a lot from Masters swimmers. As a college swimmer, I have particularly found this to be true. I am lucky enough to be one of the coaches of the Orca swim team in Seattle. As a part of that commitment, I recently had the chance to attend a Masters swim meet. It was one of the coolest experiences in my swimming career.

While I’ve been a competitive swimmer since age 7, and feel like I know the ins and outs of the sport, being on deck of a Masters meet was a completely different experience. Sometimes college athletes can get beaten down by the day-to-day grind. Being around Masters swimmers that are so excited to be doing what they are doing was a breath of fresh air. It reminded me of the every day things that make the sport of swimming so great.

With that in mind, here are 5 things college swimmers can learn from a Masters swimmer:

1. Swimming is for All Ages

Photo Courtesy: Erika Braun

When you’re a college athlete, sometimes it’s easy to forget about people beyond the ages of 19-23. For many sports, that’s pretty typical because the wear and tear doesn’t allow for participation beyond the college age. Swimming, however, is different. When people say that swimming is a lifetime sport, they mean it.

Not only are competitive swimmers able to keep swimming their whole lives, but older athletes often step into the sport for the first time. Masters teams are known to be full of swimmers who have joined the sport at the age of 40, 50, or even 70 years old. The low impact of a water sport combined with the ability to exercise and participate in a team environment is a huge draw for those lured into Masters swimming.

Once people see what else the sport has to offer they are often hooked. This reminder of the draw of swimming and the ability to participate in the sport for a lifetime is important for college swimmers who may not see beyond their college years.

2. Sportsmanship

olympic-club-2015-usms-nationals-san-antonio

Photo Courtesy: Katherine Raatz

Swimmers in general are known for typically being great sports. However, at a Masters meet you see some of the best sportsmanship that you will see at an athletic event. Everyone is excited for the athletes who are competing. It is amazing to see little kids cheering on their moms and dads, and to watch the excitement on the parents’ faces. The competition is certainly fierce, and swimmers put their all into their races and practices. But when the water clears, swimmers across the lanes congratulate one another and celebrate the accomplishments of being in the pool and pursuing their goals, no matter the end result.

It’s good for college swimmers to remember that as fierce and fun as the rivalries can be, at the end of the day, there’s a certain respect between every swimmer that grows from an understanding of the sport and its demands. Celebrating the accomplishment of being a college athlete can go beyond just your teammates and extend into lifelong friendships with swimmers from other teams.

3. Advocating for Your Training

Photo Courtesy: Jeff Commings

From my experience with swimmers, Masters swimmers are probably the best at advocating for themselves. While I certainly wouldn’t encourage college swimmers to control their training to the extent that a Masters swimmer might (deciding to get out an hour early from practice is a perk reserved for the retired athlete), something can be said for swimmers learning how to communicate what they might need in their training.

Watching Masters swimmers advocate for themselves is a reminder that, while coaches and teammates obviously want the best for you, the person most invested in your swimming success is yourself. It’s a great reminder that it’s OK to communicate about what you might need for you swimming (so long as you’re still listening to your coach!).

4. Trying New Things

matt-grevers-tyler-deberry-usms-nationals-san antonio

Photo Courtesy: Tyler DeBerry

As monotonous as swimming can sometimes seem, there is always something new to try. Whether it be a new race, a new drill, or a new technique, the Masters swimmers I interact with tend to embrace the opportunity to try new things and the chance to get better every practice.

Remembering this and embracing the opportunity to change your race plan, change your stroke, or switch up your usual races is something that every college swimmer should do once in a while. While sometimes change can seem scary or difficult, in the end it represents a chance to get better.

5. Triumphs Big and Small

Photo Courtesy: Bill Brenner

Sometimes the college swimmer forgets to see beyond their taper meet. When there is a big goal in mind, the little victories every day can seem inconsequential. In comparison, many Masters swimmers embrace the every day triumphs. Finishing a race, nailing a drill, or making a higher yardage than they’ve done before is something to be proud of. Watching Masters swimmers celebrate these accomplishments reminds the college athlete that the sport of swimming is full or triumphs big or small and should be celebrated and enjoyed.

As much as a college swimmer has experience in the sport, it’s important to remember that swimming represents opportunities well beyond the college years. The community formed in the Masters community represents one of the greatest things about the sport of swimming: people working alongside each other, sharing lanes, swimming towards their goals, big and small.

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Cokie Lepinski

8 years ago

Way to go Elise! This is great and you have nailed all the cool things that Masters swimming has for those burnt out “former” swimmers. We will take good care of you and return the whole aspect of fun to your swimming. Don’t wait, jump back in folks!

Cokie Lepinski

8 years ago

Whoops sorry, meant Emma!

Dev Koushik

8 years ago

Swimming my life

Paul McMahon

8 years ago

I haven’t learnt to take breaths while front swimming. find it hard

Larry Kress

8 years ago

Masters swimmers, for the most part, have a greater respect for the power of “rest” as they manage their workouts and how many times a week they swim.

Maria Elias-Williams

8 years ago

And the very cool thing about Masters Swimming is that there is always another meet. We all go through different phases of our lives where swimming may be #3, # 6, or #11 priority! I don’t always have to get my best time to believe that I have been successful!! When my son is going through major medical challenges, I know that I will not hit my best times, but the fact that I got 10,000 yards in one week may be a HUGE accomplishment.

Durrell Rittenberg

8 years ago

Rick Colella is a good choice for this article. He is an inspiration for many masters swimmers and continues to improve every year.

Jim Lasersohn

8 years ago

What a great article Emma. As a member of Orca Swim Team, we want to appreciate what you bring to our practices. You don’t simply provide a workout, you give us things to think about for our sets and give us that encouragement to focus on a technique or push that set a little bit more than planned, etc. And a big thanks for giving your time to us as a coach. We know that between school work and training, we imagine this is valuable time you are dedicating to us. I am glad you have found it to be a rewarding experience for yourself as well.