This section is dedicated to Helpful Swim Tips.
Swimmer Skin Care
Taking care of swimmer skin can be challenging enough in the warmer months. Winter swimmer skin care is especially challenging. These are the basics. If you need additional tips or have questions, please send me an email @ [email protected]
#1) ALWAYS rinse off after getting out of the pool.
#2) Use soap designed for swimmers.
#3) Use a good moisturizing creme or body butter a few times a week
#4) Shower before getting in the pool. This helps your skin absorb fresh water and doesn’t allow as many pool chemicals to absorb while swimming.
#5) Apply a barrier creme before getting in the pool. Expensive does not mean better. There are many affordable barrier cremes.
Take a bath in Epsom Salts. This stuff helps with so many things; sore muscles, skin issues, removing pool chemical buildup. It is also cheap!
#1) ALWAYS rinse off after getting out of the pool.
#2) Use soap designed for swimmers.
#3) Use a good moisturizing creme or body butter a few times a week
#4) Shower before getting in the pool. This helps your skin absorb fresh water and doesn’t allow as many pool chemicals to absorb while swimming.
#5) Apply a barrier creme before getting in the pool. Expensive does not mean better. There are many affordable barrier cremes.
Take a bath in Epsom Salts. This stuff helps with so many things; sore muscles, skin issues, removing pool chemical buildup. It is also cheap!
Favorite Swimmer Soap
#1 Favorite Swim Soap - Summer Solutions Bar Soap. Single Bar. Double Pack. This is an inexpensive swim soap that lasts a long time! It is great for traveling because it does not take up much room and does not leak.
#2 Favorite Swim Soap - Neutrogena Body Clear Pink Grapefruit Acne Body Wash. This cuts through pool chemicals! It can be found almost anywhere. Budget friendly version - Amazon Clarifying Body Wash
Favorite Swim Hair Care
#2 Favorite Swim Soap - Neutrogena Body Clear Pink Grapefruit Acne Body Wash. This cuts through pool chemicals! It can be found almost anywhere. Budget friendly version - Amazon Clarifying Body Wash
Favorite Swim Hair Care
- Budget Friendly Swim Shampoo - Ultra Swim Chlorine Removal & Hard Water Treatment Moisturizing Shampoo,
- Spray Conditioner - This smells nice. Fairy Tales Sun & Swim Leave-In Conditioner Spray for Kids - Pre Swim & After Swim Hair Protection,
- Aqua Guard Swim Bundle - The blue bottle is the BEST pre-swim protectant. A little goes a long way.
- Aqua Guard - Only the blue bottle.
- Aqua Guard - Kids version
- TRISWIM Chlorine Shampoo and Conditioner Set - A great product line that you cannot go wrong with.
- If you need swim shampoo ASAP and cant wait for Amazon. Sally's in Jonesboro stocks swim shampoo. Sometimes they have a BOGO sale. The conditioner is ok. The shampoo is really good.
Favorite Lotion for Swimmers
- This stuff is cheap and often found at our local Walmart. Assurance Barrier Creme
- This is good for swimmer rash often caused by wearing a wet suit for too long. Also very well priced and east to get out of the container. CareAll Zinc Oxide 20% Skin Protectant Barrier Ointment 15 oz.
- Body Butter - Almost any type or brand. The favorites used by the PAC coaches are the Trader Joes Body Butters. Unfortunately they are only available in the store. Palmer's has been around forever, it budget friendly and found almost anywhere.
- Since the barrier creme is usually unscented, mixing it with your favorite body butter is a good option.
I can’t see without my glasses! How am I going to see in the pool?
Optical goggles are easy to find on SwimOutlet.com and they are very affordable. You do not need to go to the eye doctor to get them. In Arkansas an eye doctor must give you a copy of your prescription, if you request it.
Several on our team wear optical goggles. It is much easier to find - goggles than it is to find + goggles. If your prescription, in each eye is different, you just order two pair. Then separate the goggles at the nose piece and put the proper scrip together. *Not all goggles can be separated at the nose piece.
*NOTE - The supply of Optical/Prescription goggles does not seem to be as steady as regular goggles. Try to keep a backup at all times because certain strengths are often out of stock.
Speedo Vanquishers ($15-25 per pair) - These are my go-to prescription goggle. They come in adult, junior, clear, and smoke. They fit my face the best. Since I rarely lose my goggles, I do not mind them costing a bit more.
Adult Version - https://www.swimoutlet.com/p/speedo-vanquisher-optical-goggle-7789/?color=208&sid=72399
Junior Version - https://www.swimoutlet.com/p/speedo-jr-vanquisher-optical-goggle-5726/?color=10807&sid=72399
Sporti Antifog S2 ($6-13) - These are similar in shape and style to the Vanquishers. They come in smoke and clear. I have used these before and they are a great budget friendly option. Sometimes these come in a mirrored finish. They are one of the few + prescription options available.
- Prescription https://www.swimoutlet.com/p/sporti-antifog-s2-optical-goggle-22598/?color=29563&sid=72399
+ Prescription https://www.swimoutlet.com/p/sporti-antifog-positive-optical-goggle-29800/?color=29563&sid=72399
Mirrored https://www.swimoutlet.com/p/sporti-antifog-s2-optical-mirrored-goggle-8177967/?color=59446
Other Options
TYR Big Swimple ($15-25) - These are a solid body goggle. You must have the same scrip in each eye. They are only available in -5 through -8 right now. These have a squishier eye gasket. I have not worn these particular goggles. But, Swimples are great for kids who are rough on their stuff. The strap can not be changed out easily on this style.
https://www.swimoutlet.com/p/tyr-big-swimple-optical-active-goggle-8132089/?color=47676&sid=72399
Sporti Antifog Optical Pro II ($6-10) - These are another affordable option. I have tried to wear these and have a pair floating around. They are not my favorite because they seem to distort my vision on the sides and they did not fit my eye sockets well. They may be perfect for someone else.
https://www.swimoutlet.com/p/sporti-antifog-optical-pro-ii-goggle-22390/?color=28904&sid=72399
Mirrored - https://www.swimoutlet.com/p/sporti-antifog-optical-pro-ii-mirrored-goggle-8177969/?color=59450
TYR Corrective Optical Goggles ($17-20) - I have not worn these. TYR makes some great products.
https://www.swimoutlet.com/p/tyr-corrective-optical-goggles-3465/?color=26026&sid=72399
Several on our team wear optical goggles. It is much easier to find - goggles than it is to find + goggles. If your prescription, in each eye is different, you just order two pair. Then separate the goggles at the nose piece and put the proper scrip together. *Not all goggles can be separated at the nose piece.
*NOTE - The supply of Optical/Prescription goggles does not seem to be as steady as regular goggles. Try to keep a backup at all times because certain strengths are often out of stock.
Speedo Vanquishers ($15-25 per pair) - These are my go-to prescription goggle. They come in adult, junior, clear, and smoke. They fit my face the best. Since I rarely lose my goggles, I do not mind them costing a bit more.
Adult Version - https://www.swimoutlet.com/p/speedo-vanquisher-optical-goggle-7789/?color=208&sid=72399
Junior Version - https://www.swimoutlet.com/p/speedo-jr-vanquisher-optical-goggle-5726/?color=10807&sid=72399
Sporti Antifog S2 ($6-13) - These are similar in shape and style to the Vanquishers. They come in smoke and clear. I have used these before and they are a great budget friendly option. Sometimes these come in a mirrored finish. They are one of the few + prescription options available.
- Prescription https://www.swimoutlet.com/p/sporti-antifog-s2-optical-goggle-22598/?color=29563&sid=72399
+ Prescription https://www.swimoutlet.com/p/sporti-antifog-positive-optical-goggle-29800/?color=29563&sid=72399
Mirrored https://www.swimoutlet.com/p/sporti-antifog-s2-optical-mirrored-goggle-8177967/?color=59446
Other Options
TYR Big Swimple ($15-25) - These are a solid body goggle. You must have the same scrip in each eye. They are only available in -5 through -8 right now. These have a squishier eye gasket. I have not worn these particular goggles. But, Swimples are great for kids who are rough on their stuff. The strap can not be changed out easily on this style.
https://www.swimoutlet.com/p/tyr-big-swimple-optical-active-goggle-8132089/?color=47676&sid=72399
Sporti Antifog Optical Pro II ($6-10) - These are another affordable option. I have tried to wear these and have a pair floating around. They are not my favorite because they seem to distort my vision on the sides and they did not fit my eye sockets well. They may be perfect for someone else.
https://www.swimoutlet.com/p/sporti-antifog-optical-pro-ii-goggle-22390/?color=28904&sid=72399
Mirrored - https://www.swimoutlet.com/p/sporti-antifog-optical-pro-ii-mirrored-goggle-8177969/?color=59450
TYR Corrective Optical Goggles ($17-20) - I have not worn these. TYR makes some great products.
https://www.swimoutlet.com/p/tyr-corrective-optical-goggles-3465/?color=26026&sid=72399
Changing my words
Being mindful of my words, as a coach and as a parent, is hard. It is very easy to say that someone has done a great job when they come in first. It can be hard to say they did a great job when they are last, get dq’d, or don’t finish as expect. I have been working on choosing my words more carefully. Instead of saying, “You came in 1st, that is great!” I have been trying to say, “I am proud of the work that you have been doing at practice. I see you improving. You are listening at practice. I see you working hard and getting better.” Everyone wants to be seen or acknowledged. I have noticed kids smile even bigger when I acknowledge their hard work, effort, and improvement. Everyone wants to win. Very often winning is so much more than the place they receive at the end of the meet.
The work by Angela Lee Duckworth and Carol Dweck has been influential in how I think about effort. There is a popular Ted Talk, about Grit, by Angela Lee Duckworth. “Grit is passion and perseverance for very long-term goals. What I do know is that talent doesn't make you gritty.” It is about 6 minutes long. She quickly brings up having a “Growth Mindset” and Carol Dweck. The “Power of Yet” is about a 10-minute Ted Talk.
I know I ask much of our swim parents. These talks are helping me to be a better coach. We are all busy. If you could please watch these two videos, I would be appreciative.
Angela Lee Duckworth on Grit - https://www.ted.com/talks/angela_lee_duckworth_grit_the_power_of_passion_and_perseverance?language=en#t-354328
Carol Dweck on Growth Mindset –
https://www.ted.com/talks/carol_dweck_the_power_of_believing_that_you_can_improve?language=en#t-36
I hope everyone is enjoying their day away from the pool and I look forward to seeing you at practice.
Sincerely,
Coach Anna
The work by Angela Lee Duckworth and Carol Dweck has been influential in how I think about effort. There is a popular Ted Talk, about Grit, by Angela Lee Duckworth. “Grit is passion and perseverance for very long-term goals. What I do know is that talent doesn't make you gritty.” It is about 6 minutes long. She quickly brings up having a “Growth Mindset” and Carol Dweck. The “Power of Yet” is about a 10-minute Ted Talk.
I know I ask much of our swim parents. These talks are helping me to be a better coach. We are all busy. If you could please watch these two videos, I would be appreciative.
Angela Lee Duckworth on Grit - https://www.ted.com/talks/angela_lee_duckworth_grit_the_power_of_passion_and_perseverance?language=en#t-354328
Carol Dweck on Growth Mindset –
https://www.ted.com/talks/carol_dweck_the_power_of_believing_that_you_can_improve?language=en#t-36
I hope everyone is enjoying their day away from the pool and I look forward to seeing you at practice.
Sincerely,
Coach Anna
The DQ… Unfortunately, it isn’t a trip to Dairy Queen.
Every single swimmer will get disqualified or receive a DQ. It is part of learning the sport of swimming. Our team follows the same rules as Olympic swimming athletes. It is a good thing. Officials hate having to “DQ” a swimmer, but they understand that their efforts not only insure a fair “playing field” for everyone, but it actually helps our young athletes learn the sport, too. Every swimmer involved in the sport for any length of time has been “DQed”, even at the national and international (Olympic) levels.
As a coach I do my best to not talk about DQ’s at a meet with swimmers or parents unless it would be beneficial to cover due to an event later that day. I do not hand out the DQ slips and keep them as training tools. Most of the time, a swimmer knows exactly what they did wrong. Very often they don’t want to admit it because they think someone will be mad or disappointed.
Making mistakes is part of life. It is one of the ways we learn. It will be ok. Everyone earns a few dq’s along the way.
THE MOST IMPORTANT thing to remember is what DQ really stands for….and that is DON’T QUIT.
The most common stoke infractions are list below. We work on proper stroke technique at every single practice.
Breaststroke
*Does not touch the wall with 2 hands
*Adds flutter kick during/after the breaststroke kick
*Pulls hands past elbows/waist
*Arms do not move simultaneously
Butterfly
*Does not touch the wall with 2 hands
*Adds flutter kick after/during the dolphin kick
*Arms do not move simultaneously
Backstroke
*Does not stay on the back or roles to the tummy
Freestyle
*Pulls on lane line to gain forward momentum
*Pushes off the bottom of the pool
A few swim parent articles from Elizabeth Wickham. She is a writer on Swim Swam.
New Swim Parents
https://swimswam.com/whats-best-advice-new-swim-parents/
The car ride home after a meet.
https://swimswam.com/6-tips-swim-parents-car-ride-home/
Encouraging Your Swimmer
https://swimswam.com/5-tips-for-swim-parents-on-how-to-encourage-your-swimmer/
6 things I’ve learned as a swim parent
https://swimswam.com/6-things-ive-learned-swim-parent/
Why swim parents are the best!
https://swimswam.com/5-reasons-swim-parents-best/