FCST Newsletter - Feb 12, 2018

FCST Team Newsletter:

Dryland's Function in Championship Meets

Written by Coach Markell Lyng, BS, FAFS, FMR, CSCS

Dryland Director First Colony Swim Team

FCST proudly trains our swimmers functionally on land throughout the entire season. The season is carefully planned and periodized according to in season meets and Championship Meets. As we approach Championship Meets the workouts will change both in and out of in the water, this is often called “Meet Prep”, “Race Preparation”, “Championship Season” or “Taper”.  Swimmers often hear the term "taper” and think they should be resting and not work hard in the water or on the land. Although the total work load will decrease to help the athletes recover and prepare them to race as effectively as possible, the intensity must continue and at times increase in order to enable the athletes to swim their best. The swimmers train all season working on strength, balance, coordination, reaction time, stability, endurance, power, and mobility so they can swim fast! A lot is demanded of the swimmers during a Championship Meet with many opportunities to race, which also includes warming-up and warming-down multiple times per session. In order for each swimmer to be able to race with the desired intensity, it is imperative that the intensity in dryland stay high until just prior to the meet. This is why even the day before a meet dryland workouts might be part of the practice. It has been proven that this is the most effective way for swimmers to maintain everything they have worked on throughout the season.  Even while Simone Manual was in Rio leading up to the 2016 Olympic Games, she was doing functional dryland training so that she would be able to race fast when it mattered most.

The athletes challenge themselves at each practice and train their bodies and minds to work and recover day after day. During the preparatory phase leasing up to a Championship Meet an athlete's physiology changes and often times the athlete will feel very tired, sore, or sluggish. It is also normal for an athlete to be moody and nervous, as well as many other negative or unusual emotions. This is often called the "taper blues". Not only are they nervous about performing well, but they are upset because their bodies do not "feel right". Although no one likes to feel this way, it is a common part of the process. The most important time for an athlete to feel their best is while they are racing at the Championship Meet, not several days or weeks prior to the meet. We carefully train them to peak at the right moment. If the training is decreased too early, they will be at their best before the meet starts. The most important thing parents and teammates can do is to reassure the swimmer that there is a plan and that they will feel good when they are racing at their Championship Meet.

I am extremely proud of how hard the swimmers have worked this season I am very excited about their upcoming meets. I know they will continue to work hard for the rest of the season so they can do their best when it matters most.

Go FCST!

Meet Entry Timelines and Information*:

*Families are responsible for communicating meet entry issues with their athletes respective coach, as their primary coach is most responsible for their athletes training and competitive plan.

**Once the final entry deadline has passed, no changes may be made on FCSTs' end. Athletes can deck-enter at the meet (if allowed by meet management) at their own expense and with coachs permission. This is not the most ideal way to enter a meet having schedules planned ahead of time is very beneficial to the athlete.

FCST Contacts^:

• FCST Office: (281) 969-8759; Mon.- Thurs: 9:00am - 5:00pm; Fri: 9:00am - 12:00pm
• Team Accounts & Billing: Hillary Martinez ([email protected])
• HR & Administration: Christina Hollar ([email protected])
• Volunteer Cordinator: Lisa Kolluri ([email protected])
• Team Merchandise: Janet Blowers ([email protected])
• FCST Coaches & BOD: Contact Page

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