A reasonable question for parents in swimming is how coaches select events for athletes at swim meets. There are a number of “methods and reasons”.
For our team, here are the most common ones.
“Swim Away from Success” – If Susie swims a great 100 fly one week, we’ll avoid that event for 3-6 weeks if we can….why? Because Susie needs time to both make new and improved technical changes before she races it again and also needs time to physiologically improve once more. The more times you race the same event, the law of diminishing returns applies itself with vigor. THINGS TAKE TIME.
RACE EVERYTHING – Simple explanation…mental and physical toughness. We train many many yards/meters each week. Now, stand up and race and then stand up and race 20/30 minutes later and do it again and again until your event limit is reached. It makes you realize the supposed “limitations” you have, are all in your head….and you become “race tough”. Excellent philosophy and execution, especially early in the season.
LIMIT to a few races a day. – Rationale….years of observation tells me that in “first swims” of the day, athletes tend towards 70-75% best times. 2nd swims tend toward 40-50% best times and 3rd swims in a single session, tend towards 20-25% best times. Eat, rest a few hours and come back and do it again, and the same percentages apply.
Going real best times is relatively difficult especially when you have been racing all season. Preparation and rest matter.
Note that number 2/3 are contradictory…but they are also complimentary season-long strategies. We use #2 to lead us to #3 later in the season.
RELAYS - WHENEVER POSSIBLE. Simply because nothing fires up a team athlete more than the chance to race WITH his friends with team status at stake. Usually new breakthrough best times occur FIRST in relays. We swim them as often as we can!
