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| Growing Self-Confidence |
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To swim to the peak of one’s abilities, one has to have a strong belief in those abilities. Everyday, swimmers are encouraged to do something they have never been done before: swim faster, swim longer, improve turns, improve streamlines, increase distance per stroke, increase stroke rate, kick more effectively…the list is as long as there are seconds of practice time. When swimmers realize what they are improving and how much they are improving…they are building their confidence. Growing self-confidence takes about as much time and effort as growing a plant. A plant needs your nurturing care to not only survive, but to flourish. Your confidence is no different. You can nurture your confidence everyday. Coming to practice is like watering your plant…a plant can not grow without water, neither can your swimming. Plants need sunlight to help their growth process…you need to provide your own sunlight in your positive outlook on everything associated with your swimming. A confident swimmer takes the positive from every experience. If you're having trouble doing that, make an attitude adjustment. Lastly, this plant needs a fertilizer to assist its growth…this is where your parents, coaches, and teammates come in. Trust these people to give you the guidance, strength, and support to build your confidence. If this isn’t happening, talk to these people, I’m sure that they want to help, you can help them learn how. After months of preparation, our plant is ready to bloom! How can you ensure that you will swim as fast as you can? The mind always decides what the body is capable of. Try this exercise: 1. Get out a piece of paper and a pen or pencil. 2. Write down a time that you feel you are capable of swimming in your best event, right now. 3. Erase that time and write a slightly faster time. (Did your heart start to beat faster?) 4. Write above the time “To swim this time,” 5. Write below the time “I need to prove to myself that I have the ability to ______________” 6. Be as specific as you can be and fill in that blank…don’t get wordy, or complicated, just fill it in. Example: "To swim this time, 59.99 in the 100 back, I need to prove to myself that I can consistently break 30.0 in 50's backstroke in practice," or maybe, "To swim this time, 59.99 in the 100 back, I need to prove to myself that I can consistently race and compete with those in my training group that have already acheived that time." Chances are that, if you have a positive outlook and are taking this exercise seriously, you are already capable of doing what you wrote in the blank. Your job, right now, is to work to that end and prove it to yourself. The sooner the better! What are you going to do to attain the key that will unlock your mind, allowing you to swim as fast as you are already capable? So many swimmers want to swim faster than they ever have, without swimming as fast as they can. Why only go that far? Believe that you can swim as fast you can. Practice swimming as fast as you can. Know that you will swim as fast as you can. Then, on race day, just swim as fast as you can…no more could be asked of anyone! Four Great articles for parents, coaches, and athletes alike by Dr. Alan Goldberg (Sports Psychologist, Amherst Univ), about performing without limits:
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