Why Compete?

 Through competition we are able to witness physical performance from those who have a vision and the skill to express it. In the sport of swimming there are integral Physical and Psychological attributes that we as coaches monitor through concrete markers of performance. Markers that are set in competition.


Physical -  Physical performance markers show us the athlete is physically developing. They let us know what is and is not working. By emphasizing the physical aspect of competition and the demands that going into training, a swimmer may become superbly in tune with their body as they reflect on the training and effort they put in while at practice. 

Physical markers we look at are often referred to as Skills or Skill Related Components (SRC.)

Skills are the components of sport that an athlete needs to perform at a higher level. Since we can’t always see what is going on at the physiological level, we train7 underlying skills that are need for swimming and incorporate them into our daily practices.

Balance: The ability to maintain equilibrium while stationary or moving.

Example: Establishing proper head and core alignment in free or backstroke.

Coordination: The ability to use the senses and body parts in order to perform motor tasks smoothly and accurately.

Example: Timing the breaststroke kick with the beginning of the arm-sweep.

Agility: The ability to rapidly and accurately change the direction of the whole body in space.

Example: Open turns and Flip turns

Accuracy: the degree to which the result of a measurement, calculation, or specification conforms to the correct value or a standard.

Example: Ability to plant feet on the wall coming off a turns

Speed: The amount of time it takes the body to perform specific tasks.

Example: Time for a 50 free

Power: The amount of force a muscle can exert.

Example: Breakout speed. How quickly and rapidly can an athlete generate force while rested?

Reaction Time: The ability to respond quickly to stimuli.

Example: how quickly does the athlete get off the block during a race once hearing the start?

We evaluate LSAC swimmers on how well they are able to demonstrate competency in movement forms that are specific to swimming. Proficiency in these movements are evaluated through test sets in practice and performance in competition.


Psychological - The brain is the strongest muscle of the body. Through competition, an athlete can improve upon his or her mental resilience by toughening mind and the physical part that follows. To improve, the athlete must make personal evaluation of their current status, and then make the decision and change and grow. 

Competitive sports provide the athlete with hardships and obstacles that strengthen the spirit. The challenges shared amongst teammates forges strong relationships and unify groups. They test the mind and push the athlete outside of their comfort zone. This is where growth occurs.

Competition teaches strengths and weaknesses, and when properly reinforced through positive reinforcement develops commitment.

In practice, an athlete who perceives an imbalance between their capacities and those demanded by the environment (in a situation where those demands have great consequence) will experience stress and an escalating heart rate. This increased arousal (heart rate) causes perceptual narrowing and panic. 

Perceptual narrowing can lead to increased distractibility, experienced as constantly shifting points of focus. Whether stressed physically or mentally, one is less able to think ahead, and to choose a route or sequence of movements. These factors affect performance in the all environments.

On the other hand, a positive mindset allows the athlete to conceive his or her goals. By thinking positively, the athlete increases their commitment to the sport. Saying you have it means nothing. Talk - Action = Jive. 

Those who are committed feel it everyday. They welcome stress and embrace the pain that comes with hard work. They relish every moment where they are pushed to another level. 

A swimmer with a positive mindset knows how to put the pieces together. They know how to train effectively, recover properly, eat and sleep and have a positive effect on the team’s mission and vision. 

They focus on the details involved with daily work. They are willing to push harder every day and are driven towards achieving success rather than falter to failure.

They embrace new challenges and continually raise the bar for themselves. They do this so that may they enjoy the results that such rare dedication and effort deliver.

A swimmers with a positive attitude is someone who is greatly motivated to do better. Motivation is something we all have. It is the fire that drives us work harder and push ourselves beyond our limitations. It is the desire to be persistent towards achieving our dreams and is the cornerstone of success for every great achievement.

Achievement motivation occurs when the athlete is motivated to achieve success rather than achieve failure. It is the athlete’s best interest to achieve an ideal performance state where anxiety is limited and motivation is high.

Qualities of a highly focused/highly motivated swimmer

1. Swimmer has a “quiet” mind or a “clear” head

2. Absence of negative-self talk

3. Adaptive focus on task related cues

4. High motivation in regards to skill related components

5. Excellent management in regards to mental processes

6. Eyes on prize – sticks to goals

7. Relaxation techniques

8. Mental imagery – ability to see the steps that lead to successful swimming

So where does motivation come from? The funny thing about motivation is no one can motivate any to do anything. True motivation comes from within.

Signing up for Meets

 

How do I sign-up for a Meet?

To sign-up, log into your account and find the swim meet event section on our site. On the Athlete Signup page, click on the name of the swimmer that you wish to sign up. You may also do this through the OnDeck app. On the next page, chose the option "YES, Please sign (swimmer) up for this event". A list of events will appear. Click on the box that appears before the swimmer's time (on the left hand side of the screen) to select which events you want to enter. 

 

Once you have completed this, click the Save Changes button at the bottom right hand side of the screen. 

 

**If you do not click the Save Changes button, your entries will NOT be saved!!** 

 

Once you have done this, your swimmer will show as Committed for the meet. The coaching staff will approve each swimmer's entries to complete the process. 

 

*Be advised that once meet entries are submitted and processed, no refunds- even if you don’t attend the meet.*

Things for parents to know when signing up for a meet: 

  • Meet information and documents are emailed by the head coach and also posted on our team’s website under the meet section
  • There are 4 important documents that are shared with every meet:

—Meet Info, Timeline, Psych Sheet and Heat Sheet —

  • Once the meet becomes open, you will receive an email and have a certain amount of time to sign up your swimmers before it closes. 
  • You sign-up online through your TeamUnify account or use the OnDeck app
  • Pay close attention to meet deadlines. Once the meet closes, the coach will not be able to sign up the swimmer. 
  • Meet fees vary depending on the hosting location. They are usually $8.00–$9.75 per event + $8.00 coaching fee per child and per meet.
  • State level meets+ are covered by the team.
  • Some meets limit the number of events per day and per weekend. Pay close attention as to not exceed the amount.
  • Meet can either be “open to all swimmers” or require a certain time cut to be able to swim it. This information
    is included in the email communication and is also listed in the meet information. Always check with your coach
    if you are unsure about your child’s time or eligibility.
  • Consult with your coach to determine which events your child should swim.
  • In-town/out-of-town Meets - Some meets will be local (e.g. UT swim center), others will be out of town (e.g. San Antonio, Belton, Corpus Christi). Out of town meets may require overnight stay at a hotel. Depending on the meet and swimmers attending, the team may be able to negotiate hotel group rates. This information will also be communicated via email by the coach or a board member.
  • Age group - meets are sometimes divided up by age groups. There are meets in which the 12 & under age group swims in the morning and 13 & over age group swims in the afternoon. Other meets may be for just 12 & under or 13 & over. Some meets may combine all age groups. This information will also be listed in the meet information document.

Things to know the day of the meet

What to bring to a meet: 

  • For your swimmer: 
    • Your child may have a lot of time in between events. Some small form of entertainment such as a book, small toy, etc. can be brought.  The team is not responsible for lost, broken, or stolen items at a meet. 
    • Swim bag, black competition swim suit, team silicone cap (refer to gear ordering), goggles, towel(s), snacks, water or other sports beverage, team T-shirt (one is provided at registration), pants/shorts, hoodie or parka (some facilities have A/C), and a sharpie for event marking. Ensure all personal items are clearly marked with child’s name. 
    • For parents: 
      • Depending on the venue, bring a blanket or foldable chairs. Some meets will allow for parents and swimmers to sit together. Some other, will not. Seating area may be limited and can get crowded.

Warm-up schedules: the team warms-up before each competition day. The warm-up start times vary per meet and per day. It is very important for parents to check the website and your for updates on warm-up times. All swimmers are to report to the coach before the start of a warm-up. Warm-ups are usually ONE hour before the meet starts. Please take this into consideration when planning travel time to a meet.

Heat Sheet Review: please review the heat sheet the day of the meet. This sheet will tell your child which heat and lane they will be swimming for each event. Depending on the venue, these can be purchased at the competition, accessed online (if available), or via App (MeetMobile).

Event Marking: in order to help your child remember what events they are swimming, it is advisable to mark this information
in a small area on his/her arm or leg with the use of a sharpie. The information needed: 

  • Event # (note that the event # varies by gender and age group), event name, heat, and lane 

Check-in: please read the meet information carefully. If your child is swimming any 400+ distance event, positive check-in will be required. There is usually a grace period for this, so pay close attention to the times allowed as listed on the meet information. 

Deck Entries: some meets will allow deck entries. Usually there is an extra cost involved. Deck entries must be coordinated with the coach. Some meets will have deadlines and restrictions for deck entries. Deck entry cost is the responsibility of the parent/swimmer.

Ribbons and awards: this varies from one meet to the other, but typically ribbons are awarded to 1st – 8th place by event, gender, and age group. Awards are collected by the coach and distributed the following week. The coach will place them in the child’s family folder.

Scratching from an event: The Meet Info document will have specific information on scratching rules. Contact the coach if you need to scratch your child from an event. 

Parent seating: Depending on the venue, parents may or may not be able to sit with the swimmer. Usually bleachers are provided for parents to sit. LSAC team tries to sit together when possible. 

 

 

Show your team support and wear your team gear and cheer on!