Mind Training Tips for Swimmers
by Craig Townsend
| #81 - The Most Common Mental Mistake There is one common problem which happens over and over again with countless swimmers all over the world, and even though I don't know you personally, today is the day I am going to make absolutely certain it never happens to you ever again. This problem happens even at the most elite level, as Ian Thorpe mentioned it at the World Championships in Fukuoka Japan. The most common mental mistake is this: Focusing upon your competitors. This happens to even seasoned competitive swimmers who know better than to do this. Focusing upon your competitors means that your mind is not concentrating on your OWN swim - and so all your mental power is in the wrong lane! When this happens it means that your mind is focusing upon an 'uncontrollable' (which means something you have no control over, whatsoever) and this type of thinking never brings you the results you are seeking. The bad news is that you can never exert any real control over another swimmer's race - but the good news is that this also means that your competitors can never exert any control over YOUR race either. So it makes sense to totally take your focus OFF your competitors, completely. Instead put all your mental and physical power into your own swim and your own lane - because anything else is sheer madness. It's much better to let your competitors do all the worrying - about YOU and - let THEM be the ones who are putting all their mental power into the wrong lane. So the first lesson today is - focus upon your own swim, only. If your time is good, then the result takes care of itself, right? OK, so far I have done half my job today, which is to let you know about the number one recurring problem in swimming - but the other half of my goal today is to stop it ever happening again, because this is what happens to even the greatest of swimmers. So now that you know about this mental trap (and I'm sure you already somehow knew this already), you must make this thought so ingrained and automatic that it will never trap you again. The main way to do this is through your daily training, until it becomes habit. Practice mentally being 'the only swimmer in the pool', each and every time you swim. Forget that the other swimmers even exist, and don't allow your consciousness to leave your own lane, not even for a moment. Do this until you find you never feel overly-pressured by other swimmers anymore - and this means you may never need reminding anymore. However, remind yourself with diary notes and constant reminders before and during each meet that your lane if the only one you are going to think about, and that anything else is an uncontrollable. Begin reminding yourself of this one week before the meet begins, right up until the last race of the meet, making a point of this until it becomes your automatic way of thinking. If you are the only swimmer on the block who knows the biggest mental mistake, then this will put you at a distinct advantage! |
The Mind controls the body, and the mind is unlimited. |
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| Craig Townsend (Dip. Clin. Hyp.) is a Clinical Hypnotherapist and Director of It's Mind over Matter in Sydney, Australia. He has worked with National and State level swimmers for over a decade, teaching them various methods of improvement through mental training, and creating a powerful program which has spawned impressive results in swimmers of all levels. His personal audio tape utilizes relaxation, hypnotic suggestion and visualization and has led the way in mental training for swimmers. For more information contact Craig Townsend at the website SwimPsychology.com |
