Regular Season Nov 21, 2009
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At this point of the season, with training routines firmly in place and their physical endurance on track, how much does mental preparation come into play? How important is this particular element to overall tournament success?
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Brett Findley
Franklin Swimming |
 | We haven't really slowed down at all. So for them to have to swim fast when tired, it takes a lot of focus. We give them pep talks from time to time. And now that we've turned that Christmas corner, the end is in sight. They can see the end of the tunnel. We keep telling them it's coming, so be ready. They know they have to step up. When it comes down to go time, they have to be ready. |
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Ryan Nix
Decatur Central Swimming |
 | From the beginning of the season, I think the mental aspect is so important. Now is when you really have to have focus and get them to the point where they understand how important it is for them to be already racing mentally before they even get to the blocks. It's essential to their swims and essential to their performance. Without a doubt, being mentally prepared is essential for every swim. |
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Chas Grimm
Greenwood Swimming |
 | This time of the year especially, I think it's all mental because we've been doing the hardest part of our training. We're not going to start tapering off until sectional time, so it all comes from within them now. They're all swimming tired. They're all swimming fatigued, so they're the ones that have to get up, get their head on, if they're going to do anything. This time of the year it's 90 percent mental and 10 percent physical. Instead of being a half a second off a time, they can be five seconds off a time, if they come in and don't get up for a race. |
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Dennis Davis
Mooresville Swimming |
 | That’s really the secret weapon in swimming – the mental aspect. We don’t wait until the end of the season, we’re working on that throughout, trying to help the kids not only in swimming, but we use that as a base to apply in their daily lives in school and their relationships with their families and the community. To us the mental aspect in swimming is 90 percent. I only see the kids for 16 weeks, so we try to make them as mentally prepared and strong as possible and give them a step up when they graduate from high school to succeed and become good community people. |
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