Tag: swim teams

7 New Years Resolutions Every Swimmer Should Consider

7 New Years Resolutions Every Swimmer Should Consider

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When you’re involved in competitive swimming, there’s a lot you need to keep in mind throughout the year. However, as the new year approaches, you may be starting to think about what your new years resolution should be. When you tie your resolution into your swim team, it can serve a number of purposes. The following are some of the resolutions you should consider setting, whether you participate in swim teams or you swim recreationally.

Eat Healthier

It’s so easy to just grab something unhealthy on the go when you’re moving so quickly between practices and meets and the other elements of your already busy life, such as work, school or personal events. This coming year, make it a point to eat healthier to give yourself a proper boost in your swimming performance.

Spend Quality Time with Teammates

Start your new years resolution related to competitive swimming.
Competitive swimming calls for new years resolutions.

Another problem many swimmers experience is a disconnect with their teammates when they aren’t at the pool. A great way to forge even greater team work among those on swim teams is to spend time together away from the pool as well.

Try Something New

Perhaps you’re best at one particular stroke and haven’t really explored anything else. There’s a good chance you could perform just as well, if not better, with another stroke as well. The new year is a great time to diversify and try out some new strokes to help you broaden your spectrum and experience new things.

Get More Sleep

Sleep is necessary to help your body heal in between your workouts, but it’s easy to short yourself on sleep in order to make sure you get everything done. If you’ve been guilty of this, make sure you make it a new years resolution to get more sleep this year. Your body will thank you.

Train Your Brain

Competitive swimming is almost just as much mental as it is physical. Therefore, it’s important to take a positive outlook and focus on your mental health so you can become the best swimmer you can be.

Reflect, But Don’t Linger

It’s important to be able to look at your past races and learn something from them, but you shouldn’t linger on your losses. Use them as a learning experience and move forward to use that information to do better next time.

Pick Up Journaling

It can be difficult to keep track of how well you’re doing with your swimming if you aren’t keeping some type of record of your training. This year, consider picking up journaling so you can determine what’s working and what isn’t to create the ultimate workout.

If you’re ready to move forward on your swim team and need the right gear, contact us. We carry everything you need to become the best swimmer you can be.

5 Ways to Recover from a Swim Meet

5 Ways to Recover from a Swim Meet

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Swim teams can be a great way to stay fit and to socialize with other people, particularly those who have common interests. One of the biggest aspects of joining a swim team is the swim competition. You’re likely to participate in a number of meets each year, allowing you to showcase the skills you’ve learned and strive toward becoming an even stronger swimmer than the last meet. However, it’s not just about the meets themselves. Once you’re done with your competitive swimming meet, you’ll need to recover. The following tips will ensure you have a fast, safe recovery.

Take a Rest Day

Competitive swimming requires sufficient recovery times.
Boost your recovery when you participate in competitive swimming.

One of the biggest mistakes individuals make when it comes to competitive swimming recovery is not taking a rest day. Many swimmers feel if they take a day off, they’re hurting their progress toward becoming a better swimmer, but this isn’t the case at all. Not only is a rest day critical to maintain your physical health, but it’s also beneficial to your mental welfare.

Get Plenty of Sleep

Sleep is an essential element to your body’s recovery period as well. This is because when you’re asleep is when the growth hormones do their work most effectively. Even if you’re getting the recommended eight or nine hours of sleep per night, don’t hesitate to take a nap as well if you feel like you need it.

Eat Properly

You may not feel like eating right after a meet, but it’s important to give your body the nutrients it needs to recover as soon as possible. The first 15 minutes after your meet is the most critical when your body can most efficiently replenish carbohydrates so it’s necessary to eat a carb-rich snack immediately after your meet. Be sure to drink as well so you can properly re-hydrate.

Consider a Massage

Massages can have a large number of benefits, even if you aren’t a competitive swimmer. However, if you want to help boost your recovery, a massage is an excellent option. A good massage will stimulate blood flow, which ensures your muscles get the nutrients they need.

Take a Recovery Swim

It may seem counter-intuitive, but it can actually be useful to indulge in a recovery swim. If your meet was in the late afternoon or evening, take your recovery swim in the morning. For a swim meet that takes place in the morning or early afternoon, an evening recovery swim can be ideal.

If you’re looking for the best gear for your swim competitions, contact us. We carry everything you need to become the most effective swimmer.

3 Ways To Improve Your Pre-Race Routine

3 Ways To Improve Your Pre-Race Routine

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When you’re swimming competitively, it’s only natural to feel somewhat nervous as race time approaches. The good news is there are many techniques you can use to help you calm those nerves and ensure you are completely focused on your swimming. When you utilize these tips, your competitive swimming for swim teams will become that much more effective.

A Natural Reaction

Anxiety surrounding swimming competitively can be a good thing.
Harness the power of anxiety when swimming competitively.

The first thing you need to recognize is being nervous is absolutely normal. Even if you can’t tell, everyone feels it. It’s the body’s natural response to situations that trigger the fight or flight reflex. It’s all in how you manage it that makes a difference, particularly as you look at your overall performance. For the most part, consider this your body’s way of preparing for the race ahead.

Channel That Energy

You may feel as though your anxiety before your swim means something is wrong, but this isn’t really the case. Therefore, instead of trying to stop your feelings of nervousness, it’s typically best to find ways to channel and use them to your benefit instead. Because the symptoms of nervousness are simply your body getting hyped up for your performance, you can actually tap into this power and give yourself a boost when you hit the water. Trying to get rid of the anxiety entirely will only serve to make it worse. When it’s out of control, you won’t be at your best.

Focus on the Outcome

As you prepare for your race with swim teams, it’s essential to focus on the outcome of your race. Visualization is an important technique that can help you perform better and ease the feelings of anxiety and tension as race time approaches. Close your eyes for a few minutes and think about how it feels to move through the water and the motions you take throughout your race.

It can feel overwhelming when you feel nervous before a swimming race, but the good news is you can  use it to your advantage. When you follow these tips, you will be able to harness the power of your nerves and perform even better.

If you’re looking for the right competitive swimwear and gear for your competitive swimming, contact us. We carry everything you need to participate in your swim teams.

How to Stay Relaxed and Focused During a Swim Meet

How to Stay Relaxed and Focused During a Swim Meet

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Whether you’ve been involved in competitive swimming for some time or you’re just getting started, you’ve likely felt the butterflies in your stomach before a big race or even before your first couple of practices when you don’t know what to expect. The good news is you don’t have to feel that way. While being nervous is completely normal, swim teams find ways to relax so they can perform better.

Competitive swimming doesn't have to be stressful.
There are ways to relax before your competitive swimming meets.

Focus on the Simple

It’s easy to lose sight of the competitive swimming techniques you’ve worked so hard on. It’s also easy to over complicate things when you’re facing an important race. The good news is this can often be resolved by focusing on what you know so you can tap into your power and swim your best.

Ignore Your Surroundings

Whether you feel intimidated by your competitors or you easily get distracted by their routines, ignoring your surroundings can be the perfect way to calm some of your anxiety and nervousness. A great way to do this is to use an MP3 player and ear buds to distract yourself from the sounds around you and help you focus on the task at hand. Choose music that calms your nerves and helps you concentrate.

Remember Past Performances

While no one likes to think about the races they feel they have failed in, it’s highly likely there are also past races you feel great pride in and felt you swam your absolute best. Focus on those races and what you did before and during them. When you remember the times you have performed well, you can feel more confident in your ability to do so during this race as well.

Practice Deep Breathing

Deep breathing can greatly relax the body, helping you center your mind and prepare your body for your next race. Closing your eyes and taking a few deep breaths when you’re feeling stressed out can do wonders for your anxiety level.

Feeling nervous for your next race is perfectly normal. It’s up to you to learn how to channel that anxiety into a more productive swim. With the help of these tips, you can accomplish those goals.

If you’re looking for the best competitive swimming gear, contact us. We carry everything you need to be a more effective swimmer.

5 Unexpected Ways Swimming Benefits Mental Health

5 Unexpected Ways Swimming Benefits Mental Health

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When most people think about the benefits of swimming, they consider the physical exercise aspect. While this is definitely one of the major advantages of joining swim teams, there are actually benefits to mental health as well. As you put on your custom t-shirts and get ready to head to the pool, consider these five ways swimming could be helping with your mental health as well.

There are many mental health benefits to swimming.
Learn about the mental health benefits of joining swim teams.

Reduce Your Stress

If you ask anyone, stress is a factor in their daily lives. While focusing on your performance in a swim team can certainly be a source of stress, swimming can actually help alleviate the levels of stress you feel from your life. There are certain areas of your brain that produce cells that help eliminate feelings of stress. Swimming has been found to promote the growth of these cells in the brain, helping you better manage and cope with other stresses.

A Soothing Effect

There’s a certain rhythm to swimming that can actually have a soothing effect on the mind. For individuals who experience higher levels of anxiety, the act of swimming can help them relax and feel more confident in other areas of their life. Whether you are swimming for sport or just for recreation, when your anxiety levels are soaring, swimming can be the perfect form of exercise to turn to.

A Social Outlet

Whether you fall more on the introverted side or you are an extrovert, swim teams can be an excellent way to socialize with others, particularly those who share an interest in you. Even if you aren’t a part of a team, you will always encounter new people when you’re at the pool or on the beach.

Boost Brain Health

In order to have good mental health, your brain needs to be physically healthy as well. Studies have shown simply being in the water can increase blood flow to the brain, which leads to healthier cells overall. Blood is responsible for supplying the brain with oxygen and the nutrients necessary to be healthy.

If you’re looking for the best customizable swim gear in Dallas, TX, contact us. We carry everything you need, whether you join a swim team or you simply swim for recreational purposes.

5 Ways to Develop Mental Toughness for Your Next Swim Meet

5 Ways to Develop Mental Toughness for Your Next Swim Meet

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Mental toughness is essential in competitive swimming.
Competitive swimming requires a level of mental toughness.

When most people think of competitive swimming, they think of the physical characteristics of the performance. However, there’s more to it than that. When you put on your customized swimsuits, you need to be in the right mental state of mind in order to perform your best. The following tips can help you reach that goal.

Develop a Routine

While you don’t have to stick to it 100 percent, developing a routine you will follow can help mentally prepare you for every meet. Some of this routine will focus around swim teams, while others will be on a more personal level. Talk to your coach to find out what elements would serve you best for your routine.

Focus on Smaller Goals

You may be fully focused on the big picture, but this can make it more difficult to accomplish your goals. Instead, select two or three small goals to focus on and work toward those. Once you achieve them, you can pick new ones.

Embrace the Challenge

Competitive swimming isn’t easy for most people. You have to work hard to get where you want to be. However, just because it isn’t easy doesn’t mean you should give up and let things be. Instead, you should embrace the challenge and use any failures as motivation to push yourself toward improvement.

Keep a Level Head

It’s easy to get caught up in the moment and allow your emotions to take over at the poolside. When you win, you may want to shout from the rooftops how amazing your did and when you lose, you may want to hang your head in shame. Instead, focus on staying calm and collected to help keep your mental health on target.

Always Be Prepared

Many swimmers spend time thinking about their next meet and visualizing how they will do. For some, this may seem counter-intuitive, creating mental strain, rather than providing mental toughness. However, when you are fully focused on what you need to do, you are more likely to achieve your goals.

Those who join swim teams shouldn’t solely focus on making sure they are physically prepared for the races. Instead, they should also learn how to be mentally tough to help them get the most out of this experience.

If you want to customize swimsuits for your swim team, contact us. We can help you select the right suits for your team and customize them for a sense of unity.

All Swim Levels Need a Good Swim Team Dealer

All Swim Levels Need a Good Swim Team Dealer

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Swim Team Gear
Different swimming levels require different swim team gear.

Swim teams cover a range of ability levels. Some teams are for those who are just getting started, while others are meant for individuals who have worked hard to reach a higher level of swimming. Some swimmers do it for school spirit, and others are involved because they simply love to swim and compete. No matter the reasons, most swim teams have something in common: they need a swim team dealer that can provide them with swim team suits and other swim gear.

Youth Level

Many individuals start out in youth swimming of some sort. Some swimmers will start taking swimming lessons at a young age and naturally progress into competitions. Others will start swimming in an effort to join competitive leagues. Regardless of the progression into competitive swimming, these youth levels are often the best place to start. Individuals get used to working as a team and build their skills for the future.

High School Level

The high school level caters to individuals who are between the ages of 14 and 19, allowing them to compete under their school’s name for a good reputation and skill building for those who want to continue swimming after high school. Because of the varying experiences high school swimmers have, they will require different types of equipment than levels that cater mostly to more experienced swimmers. Like many of the other levels, they will need swim team suits to create unity in the look of its members.

College Level

The college level of swimming becomes increasingly more competitive. Like many other college sports, recruiters purposely seek out individuals who have the skills and experience necessary to win consistently. The college swim season is typically longer than the high school season, which means these teams often have a greater need for equipment over a longer period of time. Some of these swimmers move on to the Olympics or other competitive leagues.

Club Level and Beyond

After college and even while in high school and college, there are options at the club level and often beyond These levels are designed for the elite who have the skills necessary to do well in the water. These elite levels will require the best swim gear and swim team suits to allow their members to compete at the right level.

As you look for a swim team dealer, it is important to consider the level at which your swimmers compete. Finding a dealer who can supply your team with everything they need saves money and reduces time spent shopping for the right equipment.