Courtesy of Ryan Bach, Boston University Swimmer
Ever tried doing a mid-season workout on your own? No teammates or coaches to support you, push you, or even yell at you? Doing a swim practice on your own can be a drag, but this ideal will often become more and more prominent as your swimming career progresses, and your obligations outside the pool increase. This is especially the case in college swimming. However, as some of the best swimmers know, “When the going gets tough, the tough get going.” When stuck in a situation that may seem like your academic obligations and your practice schedule seem to be butting heads, the best thing to do is turn to your teammates for support and advice.
Make an Effort
Make an effort to get to know your teammates. Ask them where they’re from, what classes they are taking, what their goals are. College swimming gives you the opportunity to work with a very diverse group of people, with many teammates having a very different background than your own. Take advantage of this, and learn from your teammates’ experiences and values.
Buddy-up with an Upperclassman
You don’t have to go to the extent of a sorority “Big-Little” relationship with the upperclassmen on your team, but having a buddy who has a few years of college experience under their belt can certainly help you learn the ropes of what we all know that is “college.” Upperclassmen can give you valuable insight on some tips and tricks they have learned along the way that most other college freshmen will have to learn the hard way.
Pay It Forward
In the latter years of your college swimming, pay your knowledge forward to the incoming underclassmen. Fill them in on something you wish you knew way back when you were a freshman. Show some leadership, even if you’re not captain, by demonstrating good habits that your freshmen can learn by. Push them to be better swimmers than you were, because hey, you’ll be almost retired anyways!
When your college career is over, and all is said and done, your swimming stats aren’t what’s most important about the sport. Nobody will remember who DQ’d that last relay to lose the meet, or who set what records when. The relationships you gain from your teammates in college are one of a kind; learn to leverage and appreciate them, and your school and swimming will take care of itself.
About Ryan Bach
Ryan Bach was raised in Glenview, Illinois before attending Boston University, where he studies business and competes for Boston University’s Men’s Swim Team. See more of his writing on his personal website.
Team Huddle: Boston University Men’s Swim Team (courtesy of Ryan Bach)