Swim lessons can be extremely beneficial in the development of young athletes. Even if your child is not competing on an actual swim team, swim training during the summers could aid their performance during their athletic season. Body control, endurance, and confidence can all be learned with proper lessons in the pool.
Body Control
It is important for an athlete to have proper control of their muscles and movements. Which, if you have ever worked with young kids, is not always the case in these little athletes. This is something most young kids do not always have the hang of at their age. In older athletes, body control and proprioception can easily put them ahead of their competition. Swimming teaches coordination, muscle control, proprioception, and timing. Even if these lessons are learned in the pool they can easily translate to skills learned on the court or field.
Athletic Endurance
Texas summers can easily get up to 105 degrees. This is not weather that anyone wants to be running around or working out in. If there was a fun way to stay active – and stay cool – that would obviously be the ideal option. Pools provide that availability! Swimming is a great way to improve cardiovascular performance and stay in shape. Swimming for 30 minutes regularly can be a great way to maintain (or improve!) cardiovascular endurance. Different activities during this period of time use different muscles in the legs, arms, back, chest, and core. Of these – core strength is essential. Regardless of the sport, core strength and stability will play an important role.
Confidence
Swim lessons is an ideal way to stay in shape and develop important skills. Without confidence, however, it can be very difficult for an athlete to perform to the best of their ability.
Maybe your child is terrified of the water but fearless in gymnastics. Maybe they really struggle learning things they are not automatically good at. Maybe they need work with self discipline. Maybe they are too hard on themselves. Maybe they don’t like to try new things. Regardless of any mental roadblocks the athlete has – swim can challenge that.
Imagine learning the lessons of “It’s ok if you mess up, you still need to try”, or even just being challenged with “I want you to try” – before the big game, the new skill class, the competition, important try outs, etc.
Sports are mentally and physically challenging – but they are also meant to be fun! Help your athlete improve their performance, get stronger, and more confident in their sport by refining some of the basics during swim lessons.