A couple of weeks ago, just after the start of our high school season, one of my high school varsity girl swimmers was teary eyed and on the wall during a set. I asked what was the matter and she told me she was having mixed feelings about being selected to the varsity team; she felt she did not belong; that she could not keep up; that she was not good enough. I tried to boost her confidence by pointing out she was one of our faster 100 freestylers from the intersquad meet we just held. Would she prefer to have it easy in JV or have to work to become a top varsity swimmer? I told her to hang in there and she would adjust to the practices. The enjoyment of the effort put in to succeed is what makes succeeding so glorious.
Within just two weeks from the start of our season we had our first dual meet. This swimmer placed 3rd in the 200 and 2nd in the 100 Freestyle events and easily swam to what I KNEW she could achieve.
The Thursday following our Monday meet, I gave my swimmers a challenge set about two thirds into our practice session; 8 x 100's @ 2 at all out race pace with fins; goal is to try to hit your PR on EVERY SWIM. On number eight I turned to this swimmer and asked her to remind me what she went in the 100 Freestyle at the meet we just had; she went a 1:07. I told her and the team, if she makes her best time right here, right now, we end practice; she goes a 1:03 and becomes the hero for the day.
Thank you for making my day Kaylee!
