WHY SWIM?
For many years people have thought the reason to swim is for physical purposes, but the truth is, the values and skills taught by swimming are endless. It can lead to the development of positive mental attitudes, increase self-confidence, create a foundation for new friendships (local and statewide), improve levels of physical conditioning, teach self-discipline, increase levels of self-esteem, advance organizational skills, teach sportsmanship, and introduce youth to a lifelong sporting activity.
Many physicians and pediatricians consider swimming the ideal activity for developing muscular and skeletal growth. Why do doctors like it so much? The answer is five fold.
First, swimming develops high quality aerobic endurance, the most important key to physical fitness. In other sports an hour of practice may yield as little as 10 minutes of meaningful exercise. Age group swimming teams use every precious minute of practice time developing fitness and teaching skills.
Second, swimming does a better job in proportional muscular development by using all the body's major muscle groups. No other sport does this as well.
Third, swimming enhances children's natural flexibility (at a time when they ordinarily begin to lose it) by exercising all of their major joints through a full range of motion.
Fourth, swimming helps develop superior coordination because it requires combinations of complex movements of all parts of the body, enhancing harmonious muscle function, grace, and fluidity of movement.
Fifth, swimming is a preparation for life. It is valuable for children to learn to adapt to reasonable levels of emotional stress including disappointment. The small disappointments we experience as children prepare us for those we must handle as adults.
We have always felt that the great value of swimming as a sport is that it prepares one for life. The total swimming experience is made up of people, attitudes, beliefs, work habits, fitness, health, winning and losing, and so much more. Swimming is a cross section of lifetime experiences. It can provide so many learning situations. A swimmer learns to deal with pressure and stress, sometimes self-imposed, sometimes applied by others. One learns to deal with success and failure. One learns teamwork and discipline.
Swimming becomes a self-achievement activity. There is only one person in the water in a given lane in any race. The responsibility for performance ultimately lies with the individual. The performance level of the individual is determined by how well the individual has prepared physically and mentally for the competition.
Many swimming experiences can be of the disruptive, discouraging type, but at least a young swimmer learns that this is part of life, and the swimmer must learn to cope.
By learning how to handle frustration and disappointment, the young swimmer gains confidence. The swimmer learns dedication and commitment. Through perseverance, a swimmer learns to overcome adversity. All of these experiences tend to develop an individual who is better able to handle life's hardships and face problems.
As coaches and parents, we tend to preach that hard work will lead to victory. We preach that clean living and proper training such as diet, sleep and regular attendance at workouts will lead to winning. Though in the long run for a productive successful life, these are probably truthful concepts, but don’t always work in short term situations.
We have all been in situations where a bigger, more gifted person with poor work habits is the victor in race after race. Or we've known others who never seem to study, yet get good grades. We've known business people who never seem to lift a finger, yet for one reason or another, they close deal after deal.
These things just are not fair. Yet this is one of the valuable lessons that swimmers learn: "life is not fair." We don't all start out in life with the same physical, mental, emotional and financial resources. In that respect, "life is not fair."
A swimmer must learn what is fair for one is not necessarily fair for another. A swimmer learns we are all different and each individual controls his or her own destiny. A swimmer learns to emphasize given talents and skills. A swimmer learns to improve on a regular basis. By not setting limits and restrictions this improvement will surely lead to success. A swimmer learns if he or she does their best, then there are no failures. A swimmer learns to set realistic goals. Once a goal is reached, new goals must be established. A swimmer learns that effort becomes an individual crusade. If the ultimate goal is an Olympic gold medal, then with the proper talent, dedication, belief and support, all swimmers believe it can be done.
This is the positive achievement side of swimming that we like so much. Through experience in swimming, our young people learn attitudes and habits that will remain with them for the rest of their life. Most swimmers learn to be "can do" people.
Generally, these positive attitudes, belief in self and solid work habits will produce a terrific adult. Our society and our world is enriched by these former swimmers as they become adults. Because of their training, they handle life with a smile. They contribute time and energy to others in every way imaginable.
We can be proud of what swimming contributes to this world. Though "life is not fair," a swimmer knows how to deal with that and can achieve a balance. For the most part, former swimmers grow up to be ordinary people, but they always have that extra plus from the swimming experience.
We are different and can be proud of it. It's a pity and truly "unfair" that thousands and thousands of young people are missing the swimming experience. We must find ways to share our fantastic sport.
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NEAT
NORTH EAST AQUATICS TEAM
FREE TRIAL WEEK – Sept 13th -17th, 2010
New London Community Pool Ages 6-18
Do you love swimming? Have you ever thought about swimming competitively? Come see what swimming has to offer at our trial week.
North East Aquatics Team is a United States Swimming (USS) team.
TO REGISTER for the trial week – email ‘neat_news@yahoo.com’ or call 920-982-9401
Trial Week Practice Time: M-Th 5:00-6:00pm, F 4:00-5:00 pm.
Visit our website at neatswimming.com
For swimmers age 10 and under, parents are required to attend practice during trial week. For swimmers over age 10 parents must attend a short meeting to sign waiver at beginning of practice.
Facts about North East Aquatics Team: Swimmers learn and refine 4 basic strokes and kick, Practices are 1 – 2 hours, 3 -5 days a week
FAQ: Do I have to compete to be in swim club? 
No, many swimmers swim one or two sessions before they are ready to compete. The coach works the swimmer and parents preparing the swimmer for competitions. It is not a requirement to compete. What is the cost to join? Depending on level, Cost $7- $10 per week to join swim club plus a once a year sanction fee of $53.
