What Type Of Squad Swimmer Are You?
When swimming with a squad, there are a few key people to look out for (other than the coach) that will either help or hinder your swimming progress. Your swimmers around you may have as big an effect on your swimming as your coach does! Here are five main types of squad swimmer:
THE LEADER
Unfortunately, not every lane has a leader. Just because someone is swimming at the front of a lane does not make them ‘The Leader’. Often the best leaders will lead from the back. When The Leader emerges, everyone’s swimming in the lane improves. The Leader knows their interval times, their stroke counts and often knows everyone else’s times and stroke counts too! They know how many lengths they have done and know how many to go. They make it easier for you to improve, so when you find a leader, make sure you treat them well!
THE WORK HORSE
The Work Horse has been around longer than the coach. They are part of the furniture and the squad wouldn’t be the same without them. They swim every squad session and even show up on public holidays to swim when the squad is off but the pool is still open. Work Horses mostly only do freestyle and prefer to swim with a pull buoy. If you ever are looking to improve your steady endurance swimming, find a Work Horse and sit on their toes as they normally only have one pace.
THE SLACKER
The Slacker shows up late, leaves early and often visits the toilet once or twice during the main set. If they aren’t visiting the toilet they are re-arranging their swim cap or complaining of leaky goggles instead of doing the last 100m sprint rep. The Slacker will talk through the coach’s instructions and ask the coach to repeat the instructions several times only to swim the wrong stroke, the wrong pace or the wrong way down the pool. Unfortunately, The Slacker often gets away with this behaviour as they are usually quite charming and lovable in their own way. They have learned how to sweet talk the coach out of a few lengths, so if you ever need an easy swim just follow The Slacker’s lead!
THE JOKER
The Joker often has similar characteristics to The Slacker and it can be hard to spot the difference between the two. The Joker will talk back to the coach and give everyone a hard time, but at the end of the day The Joker will have done the set and swum as hard as anyone else, with a smile on their face the whole way. Every good squad needs a joker to add the silver lining to the dark cloud that is long threshold sets!
THE HOT SHOT
You’ll only see The Hot Shot as they swim past to lap you again. The Hot Shot has no business being in your lane, but for some reason they thought it would be a good idea to swim with you. A good leader will send them to the front of the lane or kick them out altogether! Usually The Hot Shot won’t take enough rest, swim easy sets too hard and oddly enough, only show up to one session a week, making you wonder how they got to be so fast! If you need to improve your sprinting get behind The Hot Shot, holding on to them for just a couple of lengths may help you set a new PB!
The longer you swim in a squad, the more these people will start to stand out to you. You will also have to find your own place in the squad – and you won’t be the same type of swimmer every session. Just because you’re The Work Horse today doesn’t mean you can’t be The Leader tomorrow. Everyone is The Slacker on the odd occasion, just make sure it’s not you every session! Squads are there for you to get a good work out but have some fun too and these characters all make squad life a bit more interesting for us all!
Spencer Vickers is the head coach of Parnell Baths Squads and provides one on one coaching at Tepid Baths. 021 993 577 – spencer@futuredreams.co.nz