Swimmer Workout Guidelines
Parents, please discuss these guidelines with your swimmer(s)
Have Fun, but please observe the following
- Arrive on time
- Attend as many practices as possible
- Observe ALL pool rools
- Get into the pool immediately following the coaches’ direction.
- Stay in the water unless told otherwise.
- Listen to instructions.
- Try your best to do all the strokes as instructed.
- Keep quiet while the coach is talking; stay above water so you will know what to do.
- Be respectful of all coaches.
- Respect the rights of others, including their personal property.
- Treat team equipment as if it were your own (kick boards, etc).
- Put your name on goggles and clothing (team sweats, etc).
- Keep track of your own things; don’t expect others to remind you where you left them.
- Keep informed! Check the bulletin board and swimmer folders daily for team information.
Goal-Setting for Swimmers
Goal setting is a tool that can help you improve your skills and/or reach your dreams.
We want each member of the Gator swim team to “be the best you can be”. Therefore, we encourage you to set at least three (3) goals and monitor your progress throughout the season. Some examples might be: Improving your times, becoming legal in all four strokes, achieving a Gator team record, making a State qualifying time, having perfect attendance at practice, qualifying for the Ken Caryl Invitational, or swimming a new event. You should then identify what you need to do to achieve these goals. (i.e. Attend every practice, work on starts, improve stroke technique, etc)
The following information on making SMART goals should help to guide swimmers who are willing to work hard toward their goals.
Goals must be SMART: Specific, Meaningful, Affirmed, Realistic, Trackable
Specific means just that goals should be stated with a concrete time or statement of what is to be achieved, as well as when you plan on attaining that goal, (e.g. I want to achieve a 1:06 in the 100 fly by June 21, 2018, or I want to be legal in the breaststroke by the end of the season.) Focus practice times and efforts on your goal.
Meaningful means setting goals that are personal and purposeful to you. The goals you set must be your own, not your mom’s or your dad’s or your coach’s, but yours.
Affirmed means confirming your goals by firmly planting them in your heart and soul. Write your goals out and place them on the refrigerator, on the wall in your room or anywhere else you will see them daily.
Realistic means setting goals that are achievable by you within the time frame you and your coach have established. To have high expectations is great, but goals must be attainable or you’ll not experience success, and swimming will not be fun anymore. Your coach can help you set challenging, but realistic goals.
Convince yourself that YOU CAN ACHIEVE THEM. Eliminate I CAN’T from your vocabulary.
Trackable means being able to chart your progress on the way to your success. Setting intermediate goals helps establish a means of monitoring your achievement. You are not only able to gauge your improvement, but you will experience success along the way. This feeling of accomplishment will help motivate you in obtaining your long-term and ultimate goals.
