Now Is The Perfect Time For Adult Swim Lessons
Photo courtesy of Helen Cogan Photography
No matter what level of swimmer or triathlete you are, there are many benefits to getting a swim lesson from a reputable swim coach. You may have taken a lesson or two in the past or have at least considered it, but now is the perfect time to act! All professional swimmers and triathletes work with a swim coach who helps them with their technique in the water. I am sure you are wondering why now is the perfect time and I am here to give you a few reasons!
You Are Coming Off of a Long Break
Many of us have not been able to swim for a few months, if not longer, due to quarantine and the coronavirus. I know this seems bad but this could be the reset your body needed. Your muscle memory may be a bit diminished which is perfect to get rid of those pesky bad habits and make some new ones.
Before you build those bad habits back by jumping into swimming at full throttle, try to find a coach or swim instructor to give you a lesson while your muscles are still “impressionable”. You will be able to nip the bad habits in the bud! You can begin drilling those good habits in while you get back into swimming. With pools and gyms slowly opening, a private swim session may be just what the doctor ordered to correct your freestyle stroke.
You Have a Year to Fix Your Swim Stroke
Covid-19 has put many of our triathlon and open water swim plans on hold for close to a year now. That really stinks but for those new to the sport or those who are not strong swimmers, this is great news! Now you have almost an entire year to work on your swim. You have been given a gift so don’t squander it!
This is plenty of time to find a coach, figure out the problem areas in your stroke, fix them and have them ingrained in your muscles memory for the next race season. Use this summer off-season time wisely. It isn’t that often that you get to use the summer for swim technique. Use this to your advantage. Find a coach or instructor to help you find the open water stroke that works for you and become a master at sighting, drafting and other essential open water skills.
With races cancelled, there is less emphasis on keeping your bike and run fast. This means you have more time to hit the open waters and get your stroke to a place you have never seen before! Find a coach and get out there.
How Do I Find a Reputable Swim Coach?
Coaching swimming is a skill that requires years and years of work to acquire. When you google search “swim coaches near me”, make sure to read the coach’s biography. If you are in the United States, they should at a minimum be a USA Swimming, ASCA or US Masters Swimming certified coach. If you are in another country, try finding a coach certified by the governing organization for swimming in your country. This certification is not enough though.
Along with the certifications describe above, look at other achievements the swim coach or instructor has had. Additionally, see what their experiences are. Do they or have they competed or accomplished any well known swims? This doesn’t make someone a good coach but it does help them to work with you on the mental side of the sport. They can relate what it feels like at a certain point in a swim or triathlon compared to a person who has never competed in the sport.
See if you can find any reviews or if there is a way that you can talk to other people who have used that coach in the past. You should also talk to a few coaches before picking one for your lesson or to be your coach. All of these steps will help you find a coach who is right for you who can help you fix your stroke and become a better swimmer.
If you are still not convinced that you should hire a swim coach, then read this article from Triathlete Magazine!
Do Not Wait! Find Your Swim Instructor ASAP
Don’t wait to do this! Find a coach and start working on your stroke as soon as possible. Don’t let this summer “season” go to waste. Just because there are no races for a year, does not mean you can just phone it in. Get a head start on next year by getting your swim in order now!
If you are in the Boston, MA area, then please give us a call! We are happy to help and we will be having open water swim instruction all summer long. If you live somewhere else but need help researching a coach, then please reach out and we are happy to help you find someone to get you on your way!
Enough reading, time to get to work!