By SwimSwam Partner Content on SwimSwam

Commit Swimming is a new kind of workout manager for swim teams. For far too long swimming software has lacked creativity and simplicity.Commit has changed that. The video below says it all:

To get started logging your team’s workouts, go to commitswimming.com and click “Try it Now”. For a limited time only, Commit is offering a 14 day free trial, no credit card required. With your trial you get swimming’s #1 workout manager on all of your devices. This state of the art software is built specifically for swim coaches and comes with 24/7 first class customer support.

Here are 7 reasons you should start using Commit Swimming this season:

ONE

Commit’s pricing is fair and transparent. They are different from “the other guys”, and it shows in their pricing. There are no setup fees, no hidden fees, no “lock-in” period, no contract, and there is no negotiating or haggling. Everyone pays the same, low price. It’s $8/ month or $90/ year per coach. There are even discounts for teams with 3+ coaches using Commit. You can view information about team pricing at commitswimming.com/pricing.

TWO

Commit’s service is second to none. And they do it with 3 guys. When you call or email Commit Swimming, you’re speaking to a business owner, a software developer, a salesman, and a customer service rep all at the same time. There is no disconnect between what is promised to get done and what actually gets done. There is no “going up the chain”. Someone will hear your concern and give you a viable solution on the spot 100% of the time. Period.

THREE

Commit Swimming is the only swimming software company that lets you sign up on the spot without speaking to a pushy salesman or pulling out your credit card. And, for a limited time, this stress free sign-up process comes with a 14 day free trial. No credit card required. No gimmicks. Just a true free trial. Sign up for your free trial today at commitswimming.com/coaches. It won’t be around forever.

FOUR

You’re used to the routine. A sales rep visits your pool to show you just the basics of the new swim software your club bought. Next, you spend months convincing everybody on staff to adopt the new technology. That is a problem. Software should simplify your life, not complicate it… from day one… for everybody. Commit is so easy to use that you won’t need anyone visiting you, you won’t need an hour long webinar, and you’ll barely need to watch a 5 minute tutorial! Everyone on staff will be up and running within days.

FIVE

You shouldn’t be restricted to one line input boxes when writing a set. Other workout managment software forces you to follow a structured format that removes the character of your workout. No one wants to sit there and click buttons to change the reps, the distance, and the interval for each set. With Commit Swimming, all you have to do is type! It’s as easy as using a Word document, but it provides more data than traditional workout managers.

SIX

Do you want your swimmers to keep a log book? There is no need for them to write on a notepad anymore. With Commit’s mobile app, the athletes on your roster can review their workouts after they happen and take notes on each one. It’s a digital log book that speaks their language.

SEVEN

It’s the perfect time to get more efficient and organized. There are always reasons not to make adjustments to your routine, but you don’t want to look back in 20 years and realize that now you’re “that guy stuck in his ways”.

COMMIT SWIMMING’S VISION

Commit Swimming builds innovative software for our sport, bringing 21st century tech to swimming.

Every damn day Commit strives to improve technology in swimming, pushing the boundaries of what has been done before. For far too long swimming software has lacked creativity and simplicity. It is our goal to change that by delivering products that dazzle you with their simplicity and elegance.

Contact Commit anytime at founders@commitswimming.com. You can also follow them on Facebook, on Twitter, or on their blog.

CLICK HERE TO START USING COMMIT

Read the full story on SwimSwam: Don’t Be An Old Fogey, Write Workouts Like A Bad***

By Torrey Hart on SwimSwam

2017 YMCA LONG COURSE NATIONALS

• Monday, July 31st – Friday, August 4th
• Greensboro, North Carolina
• LCM (50m)
• Full Competition Schedule
• Meet Info
• Psych Sheets
• Live results: not yet available

For the next five days, the Greensboro Aquatic Center will host the top YMCA swimmers from across the nation. Here’s what to watch:

• In the 1500, University of Florida commit Leah Braswell will look to crack the top ten swims this year for ages 18 & under. At 16:48.34, she’s entered a whopping 20 seconds ahead of Catherine Buroker, entered at 17:18.74. The two went head-to-head at Short Course Nationals in the 1650 as well, with Braswell taking first by 11 seconds at 16:17.01. Braswell is also the top seed in the 200 IM and 800 free. She notably will not swim the 400 free, a race in which she owns the national record at 4:16.64 (six seconds faster than this year’s fastest swimmer, Anna Durak).
• University of Minnesota incoming breaststroke specialist Matthew McHugh will eye the 100 breast national record. At 1:03.60, he’s nearly three full seconds ahead of Blake Brockman‘s second-seeded 1:06.57. However, he’s still .80 behind Eric Ronda‘s 1:04.80 national record. McHugh swam the race at the 2016 Olympic trials, where he placed 85th. In the 200 breast, he’s the top seed with a 2:18.49. In the 50 breast, he leads the field by over two seconds with a 28.06 — his national record.
• On the sprint side, Henry Shutte will try to reprise his 50 free title from Short Course Nationals. His 23.63 is the seventh fastest time for 16 & unders this year, and his 51.76 100 free is the 11th fastest for that age group. For the women, 15-year old Paige Hetrick will try to hold off 18-year old Bailey Grinter, entered at 26.27 and 26.31, respectively. In the 100, Camryn Forbes will be the only swimmer with a shot to break the 57-second mark: she’s entered with a 57.03, nearly four tenths ahead of everyone else.

Read the full story on SwimSwam: 2017 YMCA Long Course Nationals Begin Monday

By Braden Keith on SwimSwam

2017 YMCA LONG COURSE NATIONALS

• Monday, July 31st – Friday, August 4th
• Greensboro, North Carolina
• LCM (50m)
• Full Competition Schedule
• Meet Info
• Psych Sheets
• Live results: not yet available

The hosts of the 2017 YMCA Long Course National Championships have had to alter the starting end of the pool being used for 6 events as a result of a malfunction with the backstroke wedges at the Greensboro Aquatic Center.

The 100 backstroke races, 200 backstroke races, and 400 medley relays, which are all of the races that begin with backstroke swims, will be started from the opposite end of the pool from the meet’s other events.

A statement posted on the meet website reads:

“The Greensboro Aquatic Center has discovered that the Backstroke Wedges mounted on the starting blocks at the Scoreboard end of the competition pool do not fully retract after being used for a start.  This problem is related to how the starting blocks are connected to the moveable bulkhead and does not occur at the diving well end of the pool where the starting blocks are connected to the permanent deck.”

Organizers believe that this could be a safety issue for swimmers executing turns with the wedges still in teh water as well as damage the wedge by swimmers.

The Greensboro Aquatic Center will host next year’s ACC Championships (which are expected to return there for many years after, pending the evolution of the state’s political climate). The pool will also host the 2021 NCAA Division I Women’s Championship.

Read the full story on SwimSwam: Backstroke Wedges Malfunction in Greensboro; Alter Competition Format

By Karl Ortegon on SwimSwam

Kennedy Lohman has announced her transfer from the University of Arizona to the University of Texas after one season in Tucson.

Lohman hails from Louisville, Kentucky, part of a group of very impressive swimmers from the Lakeside Swim Team. An alumna of Sacred Heart Academy, she won three consecutive KHSAA state titles in the 100 breaststroke during her freshman through junior seasons.

TOP TIMES

• 100y breast 59.81
• 200y breast 2:10.87
• 200y IM 2:00.76

During her sole season at Arizona, Lohman was the Wildcat program’s go-to breaststroker. She swam breaststroke on their medley relays at the NCAA Championships, with the 200 medley scoring in the A final and the 400 medley relay scoring in the B final. Lohman carries lifetime best breaststroke relay splits of 26.70 in the 50 and 58.43 in the 100, impressive times that will benefit Texas immediately. Additionally, she went her lifetime bests in the 100 breast and 200 IM while at Arizona, though her 200 breast PR is from 2013.

Lohman nearly scored individually at NCAAs this spring, reaching 17th in the 100 breast prelims with a 59.94, just off of her PR of 59.81 from the 2016 Texas Invite. That meet was also where she split a 26.70 on the 200 medley relay.

At Texas, Lohman could takeover breaststroke medley relay duties right away. Madisyn Cox just graduated, and she split 58.30 and 27.18 on the Longhorns’ scoring relays at NCAAs last season– Lohman would actually be an upgrade in the 200 medley relay. Lohman will get two years to train and race with Olivia Anderson, a 1:00/2:11 breaststroker who will be a junior this upcoming season. The incoming freshman class for Texas is very freestyle-heavy, so Lohman will probably take Cox’s spot as the program’s top breaststroker.

I am very excited to announce that I am transferring to the University of Texas. I would like to thank the team and coaches at the University of Arizona for a great year. I am looking forward to spending the next three years with such an amazing program!

A post shared by Kennedy Lohman (@klo_74) on Jul 30, 2017 at 3:41pm PDT

Read the full story on SwimSwam: Arizona’s Best Breaststroker, Kennedy Lohman, Transfers to Texas

By Lauren Neidigh on SwimSwam

2017 FINA WORLD SWIMMING CHAMPIONSHIPS

• Sunday, July 23rd – Sunday, July 30th
• Budapest, Hungary
• LCM (50m)
• Full Competition Schedule
• Meet Info
• Psych Sheets
• Omega Results
• Pick ’em Contest
• Event-by-Event Previews

After an outstanding performance at the 2017 FINA World Championships, Team USA’s Caeleb Dressel has been named Male Swimmer of the Meet. In his first World Championships, Dressel won 7 gold medals. Individually, he won 3 World Championships titles: the 50 free, 100 free, and 100 fly. He was also a member of 4 champion relays.

2017 World Championships Performances: Caeleb Dressel

• Men’s 50 free- gold medal, American Record
• Men’s 100 free- gold medal, American Record
• Men’s 50 fly- 4th place, American Record (semis)
• Men’s 100 fly- gold medal
• Men’s 400 free relay- gold medal
• Men’s 400 medley relay- gold medal
• Mixed 400 free relay- gold medal, World Record
• Mixed 400 medley relay- gold medal, World Record

FINA bases their Swimmer of the Meet selection on the following points system: 1st place = 5 points, 2nd place = 3 points, 3rd place = 2 points, 4th place = 1 point, World Record = 2 additional points. Only individual swims are included when tallying these points.

All-in-all, Dressel garnered 16 points. His gold medal total (7) was more golds than any country other than the U.S. earned throughout the meet. Dressel and Michael Phelps are the only men in history to win 7 gold medals in a single World Championships meet. He also became the first man to win 3 World Championships gold medals in one night when he won the 50 free/100 fly double on day 7 and then finished off the day with gold in the mixed 400 free relay.

Great Britain’s Adam Peaty was a close 2nd with 14 total points. He earned 5 points for each gold (50 breast, 100 breast) and 4 World Record points for breaking the record in the 50 breast during both prelims and semifinals. China’s 2015 Male Swimmer of the Meet Sun Yang (200 free gold, 400 free gold) shares 3rd place with the USA’s Chase Kalisz (200 IM gold, 400 IM gold), as each won 2 events.

Top Male Performers: 2017 FINA World Championships

1. Caeleb Dressel, USA, 16 points
2. Adam Peaty, GBR, 14 points
3. (Tie 3rd) Sun Yang, CHN, 10 points
4. (Tie 3rd) Chase Kalisz, USA, 10 points

Dressel’s time drops from before U.S. Nationals to the World Championships have been huge. Most notably, he went into Nationals with a lifetime best of 52.2 in the 100 fly. He dropped it down to a 50.87 to earn his spot at Worlds, and then obliterated his best time again by a full second with a 49.86 in the Worlds final. That came just a half hour after the 50 free, and made him the first man to ever break 50 seconds in textile.

Dressel’s Time Progressions:

Read the full story on SwimSwam: Caeleb Dressel Named FINA’s Male Swimmer of the Meet at 2017 Worlds

By Rachel Harvill on SwimSwam

With less than a month to go, Swimming South Africa has released their roster for the upcoming Junior World Championships in Indianapolis, Indiana.

The team of 10 boys and 10 girls will be led by manager Keenan Riffel and coaches Peter Williams, Bianca Williams, and Ntokoza Cele. The full South African roster is listed below.

Men

• Alessio Ferrari
• Andant Van Rensburg
• Bryce  Skea
• Chad Michau
• Jack Oliver
• Jarryd Baxter
• Luan Grobbelaar
• Luke Erwee
• Matthew Bosch
• Michael Houlie

Women

• Christin Mundell
• Dune Coetzee
• Hanim Abrahams
• Inge Weideman
• Kate Beavon
• Kiara Noades
• Kwezi Duma
• Mariella Venter
• Olivia Nel
• Rebecca Meder

The World Junior Championships are set to take place in Indianapolis, Indiana at the newly refurbished Indiana University Natatorium from August 23rd through August 28th, 2017. The meet will feature male athletes ages 15 through 18 and female athletes ages 14 through 17.

This is the sixth edition of the FINA World Junior Championships, which was first held in 2006 in Rio de Janerio and was most recently hosted by Singapore in 2015. The upcoming competition will mark the first time that the United States has ever hosted the Senior or Junior World Championships.

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Read the full story on SwimSwam: South Africa Announces World Junior Championships Team

By Karl Ortegon on SwimSwam

2017 YMCA LONG COURSE NATIONALS

• Monday, July 31st – Friday, August 4th
• Greensboro, North Carolina
• LCM (50m)
• Full Competition Schedule
• Meet Info
• Psych Sheets
• Live results (also on Meet Mobile)

Tonight was the first session of the 2017 YMCA LC Nationals, with the 200 free relays being contested as prelims along with timed finals of the 1500 free.

Somerset Hills had the quickest men’s 200 free relay in 1:36.24, ahead of three other teams that went 1:36’s. Somerset Hills got a 23.94 lead-off from Jack Alexy and were anchored by Ryan Carkhuff‘s 23.87 split.

2nd was Rapids Area at 1:36.36, getting a 23.07 3rd leg split out of Ben Puglessi. The 17-year-old had the fastest relay split of the top 15 finishing relays, and his 23.07 is much faster than his PR of 25.48. It’s possible that his split is a result of a touchpad error, though, so we’ll update this post if there was in fact a timing malfunction.

The women’s relay was very close, too, between multiple teams. At the finish, it was Red Bank at 1:47.01, just barely ahead of Cheshire (1:47.02), Fanwood Scotch Plains (1:47.08), and Butler (1:47.23). The fastest split came from Butler’s anchor, as Taylor Petrak popped a 25.85 to help guide her team to 4th place. Petrak will swim for Ohio State starting in the fall.

The 200 free relay finals will be contested in tomorrow night’s finals session.

In the women’s 1500, top seed Leah Braswell of York had a lot more competition than the psych sheets had shown. She was seeded first with a 16:48.34, with a lot of time between her and 2nd seed Catherine Buroker of Wilton, who more than 30 seconds behind at 17:18.74. Tonight, while Braswell did go a lifetime best 16:46.88, Buroker dropped over 26 seconds to take 2nd at 16:51.85, getting within 5 seconds of Braswell.

Riley Pestorius of Somerset Valley took the men’s 1500, going 16:07.56. 2nd went to Patrick Butkovich of ME Lyons at 16:09.99.

TEAM SCORES

Women

1. York YMCA/Wilton YMCA 33 *TIED*
2. –
3. Countryside Ralph Stolle 26
4. Greater Spartanburg 24
5. North Shore Sterling MA 16

Men

1. Wilton 26
2. Somerset Valley 20
3. ME Lyons 17
4. Greensboro 16
5. York 15

Read the full story on SwimSwam: Catherine Buroker Drops 26 Seconds, Takes 2nd in Mile at Y Nats

By Anne Lepesant on SwimSwam

The Straits Times reported on August 1, 2017 that Singapore’s Jing Wen Quah will join Texas A&M University women’s swimming and diving team beginning in the fall of 2017. Quah is the youngest of three siblings, and the third to swim for a Division I program in the U.S. Her older brotherZheng Wen Quah is a rising sophomore at Cal, and her sister Ting Wen Quah swam at, and graduated from, UCLA. Zheng was runner-up in the 200 fly and fifth in the 100 fly at 2017 NCAAs, and scored 31 team points for the Bears as a freshman. He represented Singapore at the 2017 World Championships in Budapest, where he placed 18th in both the 100 fly and 200 fly. Ting was the Bruins’ Most Valuable Swimmer in 2013 and 2014, and still holds the school’s SCY records in the 100 fly and 200 free.

Jing Wen Quah won the 200m butterfly at the Singapore National Swimming Championships in June. At the Commonwealth Youth Games in the Bahamas in July, she won five gold medals and a silver. She is representing Singapore later this month at the SEA Games in Kuala Lumpur.

Quah graduated from the independent Anglo-Chinese School in Singapore, where she was enrolled in the international baccalaureate program. She swims at Swimfast Aquatic Club.

Top LCM times:

• 100 fly – 1:00.28
• 200 fly – 2:12.95
• 100 free – 56.47
• 200 free – 2:03.10
• 200 IM – 2:18.72

Also committed to the Aggies’ class of 2021 are: Anna Belousova, Audrey McMurray, Camryn Toney, Charlye Campbell, Haley Yelle, Harper Walding, Joy Field, Kara Eisenmann, and Taylor Pike.

If you have a commitment to report, please send an email with a photo (landscape, or horizontal, looks best) and a quote to Recruits@swimswam.com.

Read the full story on SwimSwam: Singaporean Butterflyer Jing Wen Quah to Join Texas A&M in the Fall

By Gold Medal Mel Stewart on SwimSwam

After an outstanding performance at the 2017 FINA World Championships, Team USA’s Caeleb Dressel has been named Male Swimmer of the Meet. In his first World Championships, Dressel won 7 gold medals. Individually, he won 3 World Championships titles: the 50 free, 100 free, and 100 fly. He was also a member of 4 champion relays.

Caeleb Dressel 2017 World Championships Budapest, Hungary (photo: Mike Lewis)

Caeleb Dressel 2017 World Championships Budapest, Hungary (photo: Mike Lewis)

Caeleb Dressel 2017 World Championships Budapest, Hungary (photo: Mike Lewis)

Caeleb Dressel 2017 World Championships Budapest, Hungary (photo: Mike Lewis)

Caeleb Dressel 2017 World Championships Budapest, Hungary (photo: Mike Lewis)

Caeleb Dressel wins 50 free at the 2017 World Championships Budapest, Hungary (photo: Mike Lewis)

Caeleb Dressel 2017 World Championships Budapest, Hungary (photo: Mike Lewis)

Caeleb Dressel 2017 World Championships Budapest, Hungary (photo: Mike Lewis)

Caeleb Dressel and Nathan Adrian – 2017 World Championships Budapest, Hungary (photo: Mike Lewis)

Caeleb Dressel 2017 World Championships Budapest, Hungary (photo: Mike Lewis)

Caeleb Dressel 2017 World Championships Budapest, Hungary (photo: Mike Lewis)

Caeleb Dressel and Nathan Adrian – 2017 World Championships Budapest, Hungary (photo: Mike Lewis)

Caeleb Dressel wins 50 free at the 2017 World Championships Budapest, Hungary (photo: Mike Lewis)

Caeleb Dressel wins 100 fly at the 2017 World Championships Budapest, Hungary (photo: Mike Lewis)

Caeleb Dressel wins 100 fly at the 2017 World Championships Budapest, Hungary (photo: Mike Lewis)

Caeleb Dressel 2017 World Championships Budapest, Hungary (photo: Mike Lewis)

Caeleb Dressel wins 50 free at the 2017 World Championships Budapest, Hungary (photo: Mike Lewis)

By Anne Lepesant on SwimSwam

On Saturday July 29, 2017, the Santa Clara Swim Club 10 & under girls’ 200 medley relay set a new National Age Group record at the Speedo Long Course Far Western Championships in Concord, California. With their 2:18.17, the SCSC quartet of Davina Huang (10), Lyla Elaydi (10), Kelsey Zhang (9), and Bhavanashree Vishwanath (10) took a chunk out of the 2:18.71 mark set by the TAC Titans just 13 days ago. TAC Titans, in their turn, had broken the Ohio State Swim Club record that had stood since 2014. The Santa Clara relay has now taken more than a full second off the OSSC mark.

Take a look at the record progression, through the splits below:

The Santa Clara girls swam the 200 free relay on Friday, clocking a 2:03.83, just 1.02 seconds off the NAG set by Ohio State Swim Club, also in 2014.

Read the full story on SwimSwam: Santa Clara Girls Down 10 & Under NAG in 200 Medley Relay at Far Westerns

By Eli Noblitt on SwimSwam

FINAL TEAM STANDINGS:

Women:

1. Swim Atlanta (1000.5)
2. Chattahoochee Gold (488)
3. Stingrays (463.5)

Men:

1. Swim Atlanta (963)
2. Chattahoochee Gold (329)
3. Stingrays (277)

University of Georgia rising sophomore Veronica Burchill looked to be in good shape heading into the World University Games after this weekend’s performances at the Georgia Senior Long Course State Championships. She’s the only member of the UGA women’s team who will be representing the Lady Bulldogs at the international competition. Burchill captured four titles over the weekend, including the 50 free (25.68), 100 free (55.18), 50 fly (27.06), and 100 fly (59.60). She was also the top seed coming out of prelims in the 200 meter freestyle before scratching finals (2:02.13). Burchill’s 50 fly time was a personal best by nearly half a second.

Several current and rising Bulldogs competed in the meet, which is not surprising, as it was held at UGA’s Gabrielsen Natatorium and hosted by the Athens Bulldog Swim Club (“ABSC“). ABSC’s Taylor Dale, who just completed his collegiate eligibility last Spring, was also a standout alongside Burchill. While Burchill hails from Carmel, Indiana, Dale is a Georgia native from Dalton. He won the 50 back (25.62), 100 back (54.52), 100 fly (54.55), 50 free (23.46), and 100 free (50.90). Dale was also seeded first out of prelims in the 50 fly (25.26) before being disqualified in finals. Most notably, four of those swims were personal bests for him. Dale will join Burchill at the World University Games after qualifying in both the 50 and 100-meter backstrokes.

Other multi-event winners include Caroline Aikins, who swims for Swim Atlanta. Aikins, who is the younger sister of rising UGA sophomore Katherine Aikins, swam lifetime bests to capture the 100 back (1:02.97) and 200 back (2:16.44) titles. Rising UGA junior Colin Monaghan took the 50 breast (28.93) and 100 breast (1:03.81). Swim Atlanta’s Nick Hogsed, who swam his first two years at Arizona but will join Ohio State this Fall, won the 200 free (1:49.50) and 400 free (3:56.52). Swim Atlanta’s veteran Maria Alvarez, who is from Colombia, swam collegiately for Texas Christian, and now resides in Lawrenceville, Georgia, won the 200 free (2:04.13), 400 free (4:19.40), and 800 free (8:57.01).

Read the full story on SwimSwam: Burchill, Dale Dominate at Georgia Senior State Championships

By Rachel Harvill on SwimSwam

Andrew Bretscher has been named the new head coach of the Virginia Military Institute swimming and diving programs.

Bretscher previously served as the head coach of both the the men’s and women’s swim teams at Norwich University. There, he led the team to 18 new school records and the women’s and the men’s teams to their highest finishes at the New England Intercollegiate Swimming and Diving Association Championships since 2001 and 2000 respectively. In addition, both teams earned College Swimming Coaches Association Scholar All-American honors in 2017.

“I am extremely excited and honored to be joining the athletics staff at VMI,” said Bretscher in an interview with the Augusta Free Press. “The opportunity to work with the men and women at such a prestigious institution is a dream, and I am thrilled to take the helm of the swimming and diving programs as we make our inaugural appearance in the America East Conference.”

Prior to working at Norwich, Bretscher served a three-year stint as a graduate assistant at Frostburg State while he was completing his master’s degree. Bretscher graduated from The Ohio State University in June 2010 where he competed on the varsity swim team.

“It’s a very exciting time for VMI swimming and diving,” said VMI athletics director Dr. Dave Diles. “Coach Bretscher has an incredible background. His time at Norwich University, working with cadet athletes in a military setting, will be invaluable as he transitions to VMI.”

Read the full story on SwimSwam: Andrew Bretscher Named as VMI Head Coach

By Olivier Poirier-Leroy on SwimSwam

This 100% organic post was originally posted at YourSwimBook.com. Join Olivier’s weekly motivational newsletter for swimmers by clicking here.

The local swim meet can be a deafening beehive of activity.

With sometimes upwards of a thousand swimmers milling about, bouncing with the full-tank type of energy that comes from being tapered, it can be a little bit of a frenzy.

The roar of the crowd, the thunderous swimming in the pool and the train-whistles that coaches from both sides of the deck unleash towards their swimmers can make it hard to notice much else but what is happening in the water.

But if you stop for long enough, you will almost certainly overhear one of the following:

1. “Would so-and-so please report to the marshaling area?”

Swim meets are a cacophony of excitement. Between the roar of the crowds, seeing friends you haven’t seen for a while, or succumbing to a swimmer nap mid-session, it can be easy to see how some swimmers can lose track of time.

My particular weakness was playing basketball between events. At the Mel Zajac Jr. meet especially there would be a session long game of Bump going on at the outdoor hoop by the warm-down pool. It was a steady rotation of swimmers coming out of their races and playing until the last possible moment before having to go up for their next race.

2. “When are you up?”

It’s hard to not to get neurotic about missing your race when you consider all of that hard work and training you have put into swimming fast. (Not too mention the shaving, or for the ladies, not shaving for so long.)

Some swimmers will guesstimate how much time they have until they race by hedging on teammates swimming a couple heats before them. When they see said teammates go up they know it is time to get prepped to swim.

3. “What heat is this?”

Often said with a variable amount of panic, when you hear a swimmer say this it is safe to assume that their back has stiffened, eyes widened, with hands grasping tightly on their cap and goggles.

Bonus points if they ask this question—while standing below, near, or within grasping distance of the scoreboard displaying the event, heat, previous heat’s times, meet sponsor, and more.

4. “We have a disqualification in the last heat.”

Perhaps you hoped that the official didn’t notice your sloppy two hand touch. Or the 16 underwater fly kicks in your breaststroke pullout. Or the fact that you were already breaking out off your dive when the starter’s pistol went off.

Either way, you hoped that by sneaking out the side of the pool quickly, and making a bee-line to the locker room before the official could break the bad news to your face that it would somehow wouldn’t count.

Erroneous!

5. “We need one more timer before we can start.”

There are so many cogs in the wheel that makes a swim meet go around.

You have a couple officials in the timers booth working an electronic system that looks like it could launch a shuttle into space. A series of volunteers officiating from all angles of the pool.

And yet, this all comes to a grinding halt when that one timer doesn’t show.

It’s at this precise moment that the non-swimming brother or sister in the stands is volunteered (conscripted) into service.

Lucky!

6. “Did you hear me cheering?”

The kaleidoscope of cheers, whistles, and outright screaming that takes place during a hotly contested race can be difficult to pierce for even the most accomplished whistle-blaster.

When swimmers have each one another’s backs at race time they need to make sure that their teammate knows they were cheering for them (otherwise it doesn’t count!). As a swimmer themselves, they should realize that while the noise is appreciated, it’s pretty hard to make out much.

7. “What d’ya go?”

It’s always an interesting experience in the warm down pool after a race where multiple heats worth of swimmers are all angling for the same few spots in finals.

Swimmers from opposing teams who have never spoken will suddenly think nothing of asking their competitors what they went.

8. “You guys rest for this meet?”

Swimming is just as much a sport of gamesmanship as any other.Often times it comes not to the swimmer is best prepared physically, but the one who has better mastered the psychological aspect to the sport.

From the antics in the ready room, to the attempts at psyching out the competition behind the blocks, swimmers are always looking for an edge up, even if that edge is simply knowing how prepared the competition is.

9. “I don’t know why my coach entered me in this.”

Want to see a swimmer squirm?

Put them in one of their off events.

Doesn’t matter if it’s a sprinter doing a distance event, or a distance swimmer doing a sprint event (not so bad this way around), but there are often moments of confusion when a swimmer sees that they have been enlisted, err, entered into an event they a) haven’t ever raced before, or b) are doubtful they can complete it.

Whether it is a 200 fly, 400IM or the mile, swimmers doing an off event under the guise of coach trying to instill some mental toughness will issue their doubts when their 200 flyer teammate gives them a perplexed “what are you doing here?” look behind the blocks.

10. “Good swim.”

The only two words any swimmer really wants to hear.

(Okay, you’re right—“Great swim.”)

While the reward of having a good swim is satisfaction enough, it is always great to hear these words, whether they are from your coach, teammates, or even just your non-swimming little brother who is timing.

About YourSwimBook

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Read the full story on SwimSwam: 10 Things People Say at Swim Meets

By Karl Ortegon on SwimSwam

2017 NCSA SUMMER CHAMPIONSHIPS

• Long course (50m)
• Indianapolis, IN
• August 1st-5th, 2017
• Meet Central
• Psych sheets
• Prelims timeline
• Finals timeline
• Results on Meet Mobile – ‘2017 NCSA Summer Swimming Championships’

Tomorrow the 2017 NCSA Championships begin, with many of the United States’ top junior swimmers competing in Indianapolis. The meet will run from August 1st to August 5th in what will be a preview of sorts for the World Junior Championships, which will also be held in Indy, just at the end of August.

For now, the only available live results are on Meet Mobile, but we can update that if a live results link is posted on meet central.

Brooke Forde of the Lakeside Swim Team is perhaps the biggest name on the psych sheets. She’s headed to Stanford in the fall, but not before racing in Indy this week and then at the World University Games in Taipei. Top juniors Cody Bybee, Taylor Pike and Bryce Mefford hold multiple top seeds, and we’ll also get to see some racing from Amalie Fackenthal, who is the top seed in the sprint freestyles, and Jack Dolan, a rising sprint freestyler out of Missouri.

After a quick glance at the psych sheets, keep a look out for Claire Tuggle, who this year has been smashing 11-12 NAG records. She’s 13 now, and she’s entered in the 50, 100, 200, 400, 800 free as well as the 200 and 400 IM. Tuggle is the third seed in the 200 free with a 2:02.21.

Read the full story on SwimSwam: All the Links You Need for the 2017 NCSA Jr Championships

By SwimSwam Contributors on SwimSwam

Courtesy of Donna Hale

For as long as I can remember, I have been a swim mom.  Summer League, high school, USA Swimming:  they have filled my family’s lives with such profound joy, cherished friendships, and life lessons about laughter and loss.

This chapter is coming to a close in a few fleeting days.  There will be no more pasta dinners, pep rallies, weekend meet marathons, and weekend sharing with my extended swim family.  I am lucky that my baby is swimming in college and has a new experience to look forward too and many memories to make.

But it will be different.   Unless you have been a part of extended swimming for more than a decade – 14 plus years – it is hard to explain.  These words will forever ring in my head and my heart “Take Your Mark.”

As a swimmer and a swim parent you literally hear these words thousands of times.  If you are like my daughter, perhaps you false started a few times in your swimming career in anticipation of what was ahead – once for her at a rather large year-round meeting costing her the coveted first place.  These words are so profound when you consider they are appropriate for all the experiences and moments in your life.   Every day, every race and every moment is all about “taking your mark.”    Through the years many of my closest friends and family have said that we were insane to devote so much to a sport: an extracurricular activity.  There have been moments in this final year when I wondered if they were right.  Is it worth the investment?  The time?  The sacrifice?  For the parents of those starting out, I would like to offer my opinion and the reasons why it is worth the moments spent to “take your mark.”

1. Swimming creates family that extends beyond blood, teams, and races.  In a world where we rarely devote entire weekends much less days to a single activity, swimming gives us a chance to truly get to know our teammates, families, and even competition in a deep and meaningful way.  This bond shines through loud and clear both in tragedy and triumph.   In our own swim family, we have lost treasured competitors, teammates, coaches and parents.  And no one ever had to worry about who would step forward in these times:  It was our swim family.  The beauty of this sport is that this applies to both the swimmers and their parents.  Many of these amazing people have helped me raise my children and watched them grow up.  And as this chapter closes, they will fade into the background: gone but never forgotten in the social media age.  They are etched in my heart through treasured memories.
2. Swimming teaches unforgettable, painful and  profoundly uplifting lessons about life, loss, laughter and letting go!   The only way to get the most out of this sport and anything really is to embrace the journey.  There is always someone who can beat you.  But they cannot lessen your spirit.  Swimming teaches you that arriving at the wall first means nothing if you cannot celebrate the journey and know it is a privilege.    You are compelled to hug your greatest opponent who just might also be one of your dearest friend.
3. Swimming prepares you for life in countless ways.  You will get out of this sport what you put in.  It is an awful lot like life.  My daughter used to think, as did I, that what mattered most was getting to the next level, achieving the next cut, and always getting better.  Because there are many things that are out of your control, you will end up sad and disillusioned if this is what matters the most.   She taught me, and I hope a few others, that no matter how many races you win, you cannot be a champion unless you live a life of character and courage.  This does not mean that you cannot make mistakes.  I have heard people talk about holding the greats like Phelps and Lochte to a different standard.  No one is perfect.  It is how we learn from our mistakes, both private and public, that defines us.
4. Finally and perhaps most of all, swimming is about character – not about not making mistakes – but about owning them and moving forward each and every day.  My daughter has been lucky to swim for coaches who believe deeply that it is important for athletes to give back and to pass it on.  As I watched my baby’s last summer relay and prepare for her final summer races, I see signs everywhere that this sport is good for our communities.  Soon to be college freshmen cheering for six-year-olds to make it across the pool.  The hugs, high fives and  numerous “it will be okay” passed down from one generation of swimmers to another.

The torch passes.  The memories glisten like shining stars. Take Your Mark!

Donna Hale is swim mom of 14 years.  Her daughter is a high school senior and will swim next year at Davis & Elkins College. She swam for The Potomac Marlins, Lake Braddock Swim & Dive and the Burke Station Destroyers.

Read the full story on SwimSwam: SwimMom Musings: Take Your Mark

By Karl Ortegon on SwimSwam

2017 U.S. OPEN CHAMPIONSHIPS

• Long course (50m)
• East Meadow, NY
• Aug. 2-6, 2017
• Psych sheet
• Pre-scratch timelines
• Meet information
• Meet central

Hannah Hecht contributed to this report.

The U.S. Open will kick off on Wednesday, August 2nd, in Long Island. Probably the biggest story that swim fans are expecting is a first look at Ryan Lochte racing since his Rio suspension. Lochte said he’d be back for the LA Invite a couple of weeks ago, but ended up no-showing the meet. You can read more about Lochte’s return here.

LIVE RESULTS

Lochte is only entered in two events this week– the 100 backstroke and the 200 IM. Lochte is a former world record holder in the 200 back, but he’s since shifted from backstroke to freestyle and IM, and the 200 IM is his best event.

Other big names on the psych sheets for the U.S. Open include Olympic gold medalist Cullen Jones, former short course world record holder Arkady Vyatchanin, Rio Olympian Gunnar Bentz, Rio Olympian Chloe Tutton of Great Britain, Rio Olympian Christopher Reid of South Africa, Rio Olympian Brad Tandy of South Africa, 4×50 free relay world record team member Madison Kennedy, short course world champion Michael Andrew, former world junior record holder Maxime Rooney, 2011 open water world champion Ashley Twichell, and our #1 recruit of 2017 Eva Merrell.  

Read the full story on SwimSwam: All the Links You Need for the 2017 US Open

By Gold Medal Mel Stewart on SwimSwam

At the request of many teams and dedicated swim fans, SwimSwam now offers a way to embed the latest swimming news stories directly into your team website.  This is a great way to keep the swimmers visiting your team site informed about the swimming news stories relevant to your team.  News from every category on SwimSwam is available in widget form and every widget is automatically updated with the latest swimming news stories from SwimSwam as they are published.

Get Swimming News on your team website from SwimSwam

For example, if your team was in the Big 12 conference you might head to the Big 12 page on SwimSwam and copy the code on the bottom right of the page:

<iframe width="310" height="400" src="//swimswam.com/iframe-embed/?cat=41396" frameborder="0" scrolling="auto"></iframe><a href="http://swimswam.com/?cat=41396" style="font-size:10px;color:#CCC;"><br/>Big 12 Swimming News by SwimSwam</a>

Pasting this HTML code into your website will embed this widget of Big 12 swimming news stories:

How to Embed the Swimming News Widget

1. Find the category relevant to your team.  Categories can be found from the dropdown menus in the main navigation of SwimSwam or
2. on any article next to the date.
3. Click on the link to the category and scroll down the page.  The embed code and a preview of the widget are available.
4. Copy the code in the box (beginning with “<iframe…”).
5. Paste the code into the HTML editor of your website.
6. View the widget on your website!

For help embedding the widget, feel free to contact us or respond in the comment section below.

Read the full story on SwimSwam: How To Put SwimSwam News on your Website

By Gold Medal Mel Stewart on SwimSwam

After an outstanding performance at the 2017 FINA World Championships, Team USA’s Caeleb Dressel has been named Male Swimmer of the Meet. In his first World Championships, Dressel won 7 gold medals. Individually, he won 3 World Championships titles: the 50 free, 100 free, and 100 fly. He was also a member of 4 champion relays.

Caeleb Dressel 2017 World Championships Budapest, Hungary (photo: Mike Lewis)

Caeleb Dressel 2017 World Championships Budapest, Hungary (photo: Mike Lewis)

Caeleb Dressel 2017 World Championships Budapest, Hungary (photo: Mike Lewis)

Caeleb Dressel 2017 World Championships Budapest, Hungary (photo: Mike Lewis)

Caeleb Dressel 2017 World Championships Budapest, Hungary (photo: Mike Lewis)

Caeleb Dressel wins 50 free at the 2017 World Championships Budapest, Hungary (photo: Mike Lewis)

Caeleb Dressel 2017 World Championships Budapest, Hungary (photo: Mike Lewis)

Caeleb Dressel 2017 World Championships Budapest, Hungary (photo: Mike Lewis)

Caeleb Dressel and Nathan Adrian – 2017 World Championships Budapest, Hungary (photo: Mike Lewis)

Caeleb Dressel 2017 World Championships Budapest, Hungary (photo: Mike Lewis)

Caeleb Dressel 2017 World Championships Budapest, Hungary (photo: Mike Lewis)

Caeleb Dressel and Nathan Adrian – 2017 World Championships Budapest, Hungary (photo: Mike Lewis)

Caeleb Dressel wins 50 free at the 2017 World Championships Budapest, Hungary (photo: Mike Lewis)

Caeleb Dressel wins 100 fly at the 2017 World Championships Budapest, Hungary (photo: Mike Lewis)

Caeleb Dressel wins 100 fly at the 2017 World Championships Budapest, Hungary (photo: Mike Lewis)

Caeleb Dressel 2017 World Championships Budapest, Hungary (photo: Mike Lewis)

Caeleb Dressel wins 50 free at the 2017 World Championships Budapest, Hungary (photo: Mike Lewis)

By SwimSwam on SwimSwam

Swimming is well known to be the most difficult leg of a triathlon race for athletes to get down. Most people come in with great experience in cycling or distance running, but most triathletes are new to the sport and its many intricacies of training. That’s why we put together this video to guide some of our triathlon viewers to gain an extra stroke (pun intended) on your competition.

Most young swimmers quickly learn the difference between aerobic and anaerobic training. When it comes to triathlon training, these disciplines are still just as important. As less experienced swimmers, however, you need to make a quick and easy fix to your freestyle that will certainly pay dividends in your future training and racing.

The biggest tip in triathlon training is to breathe every 3 during your normal long distance aerobic training, all while training your stroke to implement the “gallop” stroke during your race. These two training differences, couples with the gallop stroke will make your training and racing more efficient.

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Music by Guggenz

See More Phlex Swim Channel Videos Here:

Read the full story on SwimSwam: Video: Triathlete’s Ultimate Swim Training Tip

By SwimSwam Partner Content on SwimSwam

Taking viewers behind the scenes, Synchro Sisters shows you the sport of synchronized swimming like you’ve never seen it before.  This isn’t your parents’ type of Olympic television. Synchro Sisters has an edge. Think Bravo or Vice. The production-value and narrative-strength of this series is top-notch, the best you will see on the topic of Olympic dedication and drama. Just watch it and get hooked.

This four-episode docu-drama series is available worldwide on the Olympic Channel digital platform at olympicchannel.com and on its mobile apps. See all episodes here:

Episode One– The World-Class Rivalry Of Aquanuts and Aquamermaids

Episode Two –  How Two Of The World’s Best Synchro Clubs Strike A Balance

Episode Three– Syncrho’s Big Backers Will Shock You

Episode Four – A Cruel Twist Threaten One Squad’s Dreams

About the Olympic Channel

The Olympic Channel is a multi-platform destination where fans can discover, engage and share in the power of sport and the excitement of the Olympic Games all year round. Offering original programming, news, live sports events and highlights, the Olympic Channel provides additional exposure for sports and athletes 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. The Olympic Channel was launched in August 2016 in support of the IOC’s goal, set out in Olympic Agenda 2020, of providing a new way to engage younger generations, fans and new audiences with the Olympic Movement. Founding Partners supporting the Olympic Channel are Worldwide TOP Partners Bridgestone, Toyota and Alibaba. The Olympic Channel is available worldwide via mobile apps forAndroid and iOS devices and at olympicchannel.com.

The above is an ad from The Olympic Channel.

Read the full story on SwimSwam: Watch Synchro Sisters Episode Three From The Olympic Channel