5 Reasons to Love Spring Training

120706-F-MQ656-228 JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM (July 6, 2012) Sailors from the Royal New Zealand navy and U.S. Navy dive into the pool to start a 200-meter freestyle relay during a Rim of the Pacific Exercise (RIMPAC) international swim meet. Over one hundred Sailors from multiple nations gathered at Scott Pool to compete in a friendly swim meet and get to know each other prior to the start of the operational portion of RIMPAC 2012. Twenty-two nations, more than 40 ships and submarines, more than 200 aircraft and 25,000 personnel are participating in RIMPAC exercise from Jun. 29 to Aug. 3, in and around the Hawaiian Islands. The world's largest international maritime exercise, RIMPAC provides a unique training opportunity that helps participants foster and sustain the cooperative relationships that are critical to ensuring the safety of sea lanes and security on the worlds oceans. RIMPAC 2012 is the 23rd exercise in the series that began in 1971. (Department of Defense photo by U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Michael R. Holzworth/Released)

Photo Courtesy: Michael R. Holzworth, TSgt, USAF

By Kennedy Cutler, Swimming World College Intern

There is a six-week period between returning from spring break and the end of the school year that many refer to as spring training. It’s the time of year where most swimmers don’t have a big meet coming up and you can put all your focus into the finer details of swimming. As we linger somewhere in this part of the year-round cycle (approaching the end for many collegiate swimmers while just beginning for most club teams), here are some reasons why spring training is a favorite:

1. Weekends Off

Photo Courtesy: Taylor Brien

Everyone loves swim meets. But something everyone loves just as much? Having a weekend off. In season, swimmers typically have a meet every weekend, whether it be a one-day deal or a three-day invitational. During spring training, most swimmers don’t have a meet, and therefore have a chance to relax for a day or two.

2. Less Stress

Photo Courtesy: Mark Mitchell

Besides having less concern about an upcoming meet, practice schedules tend to be a little more flexible. This allows the ability to catch up on sleep, homework, and hanging out with friends not only on weekends, but during the week when necessary.

3. Warmer Weather

Photo Courtesy: Monmouth Swim Team

This one could be the winner for why spring training is the best. As the sun starts to warm everything up with the approach of summer, everyone finds themselves in a better mood, and quite often more motivated to get through a tough practice. Oh, and don’t forget – this means dryland sessions can move back outside.

4. Technique Work

Photo Courtesy: Annie Grevers

This could be one of the part of spring practices. Spring is the time for learning new drills or improving upon old ones, meaning there is always something to work on. And with less time prepping for a meet, there is more time to focus on perfecting the little things.

5. Creating a Foundation

April 17, 2015; Aberdeen, S.D.; Kayla Sproles, Northern State University swim team, from a November 2014 team practice. Credit: Greg Smith, NSU University Relations

Photo Courtesy: Greg Smith

The most important part about the spring season is that it’s the foundation for not only the upcoming summer meets, but the entire year to follow. Whatever work you do during these weeks is the starting place that you will only build on in the months to come.

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