FIRST COVID-19 PANDEMIC
SUPER SWIM SERIES
April 18-19, 2020
Inside Your Head Natatorium
I have already told you the story of the Heisman Trophy Winner/Rhodes Scholar/POW who survived his captivity by visualizing 18 holes of golf everyday and how as an age-group swimmer my coach had us visualize our races in as much detail as possible. You have already had an opportunity to do this once at our Lockdown Training Camp.
Just as important as maintaining your physical fitness during this time is also keeping mentally sharp. Ask yourself, how many of your competition will be putting themselves into the mental space of competing? Not many, if any at all. Just because there are no USA Swimming sanctioned meets at this time, doesn’t mean you can’t put yourself in that mental space. If you do, it is just one more advantage that you will have over everyone else and one more opportunity to use this time to be the best that you can be. Thus, in that spirit, you have been specially invited to compete in the First COVID-19 Pandemic Super Swim Series. You will be competing against each other in this prelim/final meet. Here are the instructions.
Suit up for the meet - yes, I know it seems silly but you want to simulate racing conditions as much as possible. So put on your suit and wear what you would wear at a meet - sweats, parka, etc.
Set a space on the floor that will be your “lane”.
For the prelims, just go to your lane, and do your regular pre-race routine - take off your sweats, put on your cap and goggles, etc.
Either have some be the starter or do it yourself. Simulate a whistle and lay down in your lane. Close your eyes.
If you are doing this alone use your watch or phone as a stopwatch. Otherwise, your starter will then start you. “Women’s (name the event). Swimmers, take your mark……. (beep).
Visualize your race. Your goal is to come as close to your best time MINUS .3 tenths of a second. - You want o visualize a realistic best time! We will call this your target time.
This is your prelim swim. Put your sweats back on and wait at least 5 minutes to do your finals swim.
For your finals swim, leave the room and then re-enter as if you were marching in for a finals. . . . repeat the simulation.
Scoring
The prelim swim is just that - a chance to have a good race and make it to the finals. You want to hit your target time in prelims.
.3 of target time - lane 4 for finals
.4 to .6 of target time - lane 5 for finals
.6 to 1 second of target time - lane 3 for finals
1 second to 2 seconds of target time - lane 6 for finals
2 to 3 seconds of target time - lane 2 for finals
3 to 5 seconds of target time - lane 7 for finals
5 to 8 seconds of target time - lane 1 for finals
over 8 seconds of target time - lane 8 for finals
The finals swim is the one that counts. Scoring will use the NCAA Championship format 9,7,6,5,4,3,2,1
.3 of target time per 50 - 1st place - 9 points Thus, for a 100 meter event, you can be withing .6 of your target time for 1st place points; 1.2 seconds for a 200 meter event, and 2.4 seconds for a 400 meter event.
.31 to .6 of target time per 50 - 2nd place points
.61 to 1 second of target time per 50 - 3rd place points
1 second to 1.5 second of target time per 50 - 4th place points
1.51 to 2 seconds of target time per 50 - 5th place points
2.01 to 2.5 seconds of target time per 50 - 6th place points
2.51 to 3 seconds of target time per 50 - 7th place points
3.01 to 4 seconds of target time per 50 - 8th place points
4.01 seconds or more of target time per 50 - disqualification
Choose two events and take at least 5 minutes between events. The entire meet should take about 30 minutes at most. Write down your visualization times. When you are finished, complete this entry form. I will score the meet and announce the winner.