3 Tips for College Training Trips

Photo Courtesy: Ben Kromash

By Olivia Wile, Swimming World College Intern.

With the end of exams and the fall semester now behind college swimmers, it is time to shift the focus back from studies to swimming. As the month of December winds down, there may be more for these swimmers to look forward to than just the welcoming of a new year.

Whether departing right after the conclusion of the semester or waiting until after the holiday, team training trips are a much-anticipated part of the college swimming experience. For those athletes who have the opportunity to go on them, it is important to put in the prep work to get the most out of the experience.

In traveling home for break, it may be easy to take advantage of the time away from the pool. However, incorporating time to train throughout break is essential for not only a successful training trip but also a successful season.

1. Go in prepared.

Photo Courtesy: Wheaton College

As easy as it may be to get caught up in the holiday season and enjoy spending time with friends and family at home over break, it is very important to maintain shape prior to training trip. Reuniting with a club team or finding a place to complete provided workouts is critical for swimmers who are preparing for training trip and working toward their end-of-season goals.

Swimmers shouldn’t neglect weight training either. Ensuring access to a gym back home is another important part of training. As many training trip schedules include up to three practices a day – a morning and night swim and lifting in the middle – it is very important not to fall behind over break.

Although it takes around seven to 14 total days for aerobic fitness to decline (according to Active.com), many swimmers can contest that they lose feeling for the water and begin to feel sluggish after just a few short days. Also, going from zero to 100 can make swimmers even more susceptible to injury. As the volume and intensity of training usually increases over these trips, swimmers are more prone to extended soreness and injury if they fail to train over break.

Nonetheless, failing to put in the pre-trip work could prove more costly than just feeling out of shape and falling behind during the first few practices.

2. Go in with an open mind.

If there is anything about traveling with a large team or destination training, it is that there is a greater potential for schedules to change. Even if swimmers have been provided itineraries by their coaches, they should go into these trips with an open mind and some extra flexibility.

When it comes to flying or long bus rides, there is always the potential for road blocks to occur. Once reaching the destination, there is also no predicting when adjustments to practice will be made by coaches if they detect their athletes need more recovery.

It is certain that changes in the schedule are bound to happen somewhere along the unpredictable road that is training trip. Therefore, swimmers should expect the unexpected throughout the entire trip, from traveling, to workouts, meals and everything in between.

3. Go in with a good attitude.

sergio-guzman-happy-azores-2017-red-bull-cliff-diving

Photo Courtesy: Dean Treml/Red Bull Content Pool

Team training trips are designed to be difficult; there are no questions about it. Over the duration of these trips, many coaches will aim to push their swimmers both physically and mentally. Typically, these challenges will be eagerly accepted during the first three days. However, as days five and six roll around when the shoulders begin to feel a bit more sore than usual and being in close quarters with teammates begins to take its toll, it may be easy for swimmers to lose their positive attitudes.

It is very important to go into team training trip with – as well as maintaining and leaving with – a good attitude. A positive attitude is just as contagious as a negative one. Therefore, a swimmer’s experience on training trip will be greatly increased just by their attitude.

All commentaries are the opinion of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Swimming World Magazine nor its staff.

Name*

Email*

Welcome to our community. We invite you to join our discussion. Our community guidelines are simple: be respectful and constructive, keep on topic, and support your fellow commenters. Commenting signifies that you agree to our Terms of Use