1 – Free time
Having a routine can be a very comforting thing. In the offseason, swimmers often find themselves wondering what to do with their newfound freedom. What’s going to replace the hours I usually spend in the pool? Wait, I can actually see my friends? Hmmm. Odd.
2 – Staying in shape
I was so excited to start running, going to spin classes, and doing ab workouts on my own. At first, it was so much fun to set goals and motivate myself. However, I soon realized there are very few exercises that burn as many calories as swimming. Adapting your diet to a life without swimming, even temporarily, can be pretty challenging.
3 – You smell different
Literally. A friend said this to me the other day. This observation was immediately followed by You don’t smell like chlorine anymore. Classic.
4 – Training guilt
I think the worst part of the offseason is not having practice. I constantly hear about the importance of consistency in swim training, and even taking off a few days can get you out of shape. You’re probably feeling like you should be in the pool and worrying about how long it’s going to take you to get back to where you were before.
5 – Missing your teammates
It’s funny how you can get so used to seeing your teammates on the daily. Believe it or not, swimming is the majority of your social life. When you don’t see your team everyday, you come to realize they were a huge part of your life and you need them back.
6 – Lack of motivation
It’s easy to get your homework done earlier in the day when you know you have to leave for practice soon. But when you have all the time in the world to get it done, it’s easy to tell yourself you’ll do it later. Before you know it, it’s 10pm, and your backpack is still sitting on your bed, unopened. Oops!
7 – Separation anxiety
You may be relieved to have a break, but you’ll miss it after a little while. You’ll be overcome by the feeling that the pool is where you belong. They say absence makes the heart grow fonder, right? This has never been more true.
Hi, if you could take the time to answer my question I would really appreciate it. 🙂
I am a middle-school aged swimmer, and my swim team’s winter season just ended. I was thinking about swimming 2-5 days a week during the off-season to stay in shape. Not really focusing on high yardage or intensity, I just wanted to do some easy swimming and focus on technique, starts and turns.
Is this a good idea, or should I spend the 2 months of off-season to take a break?
High school is usually one season, usually in the spring semester of school.
What’s off season in swimming?…I’m unfamiliar with that concept…