HEALTH
Health is your ticket to happiness, longevity and swimming success! Swimming is often recommmended for athletes recovering from injuries in other sports, but even swimmers are prone to a few injuries.
But, first, a couple disclaimers:
I am not licensed to give medical advice. If you have any questions or concerns, ask your doctor. And trust them!
Secondly, it is always alright to take time off swimming off to heal. Athletes will be missed but healing is critical to lifelong physical fitness. But let your coaches know - we would rather help than hinder the healing process.
NUTRITION
'GOOD' vs. 'BAD' PAIN
We talk about 'good' vs. 'bad' pain with the swimmers. There are times in swimming, when they will have to push into pain thresholds to do their best. But this is a very specific kind of pain. Most kinds of pain are NOT 'good' and should NOT be pushed.
'BAD' Pain
Joint pain - any pain in a joint!
Acute pain - if you can point to the place that hurts because it's a pinpoint
Sudden onset pain - from 0 to 10 (pain scale) in 60m or less
Pain that doesn't go away with rest
Unexplained pain - if you don't know why it hurts, NOT GOOD.
'GOOD' Pain
Fatigue after a hard swim
Muscle soreness after a hard swim
MUSCLE CRAMPS & 'STITCHES'
How it's Made: Muscle Cramps! ... and what to do about it! (plot spoiler, drink water!)
SWIMMER'S EAR
This an acute pain caused by water lingering in ears. It is a common problem among younger swimmers especially.
Treatment: doctors normally prescribe ear drops and a dry spell. Do what they say. It's alright to miss practice for this!
When it gets better, there are some prevention methods:
'low tech' solution: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wPvYOg7QzPs&ab_channel=SkillsN%27Talents
medium tech solution: ear plugs. https://www.swimoutlet.com/products/tyr-silicone-molded-ear-plugs-24174/?color=blue
No Q-tips! Don't shove anything in your ear that could puncture ear drums. That can result in decrease or loss of hearing for LIFE.
RECOVERY & REST
WOMEN'S ISSUES
At some point through age group swimming, girls will be starting their period. Body exposure in swimming can make this moment a bit more stressful. Yet periods are no problem for swimmers - women just wear tampons (no pads). Nothing else changes. It is more of a brain hurdle than a body hurdle. I recommend attending an open swim or lap swim for a swimmer's first time wearing a tampon in the pool. It is helpful to figure it out, without social anxiety layered on top. And, most importantly, don't let this hold her back!
SHOULDER PAIN
This is a 'stop and fix'. Never push through joint pain of any kind!
COVID
COVID tested positive or exposure
WAVE will be following CDC Covid Guidelines for all exposure and positive Covid tests:
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/your-health/quarantine-isolation.html
COVID vs. Pool Water
There is an encouraging study done in the UK that found that regularly chlorinated pool water 'inactivates' Covid within 30s. This, of course, applies in the water, less so on deck, and we will continue to take care at all times. Toward that end, make sure your swimmers have a couple of clean masks for practice in case one gets wet or dirty.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34619607/
Locker rooms
Locker rooms are open for limited use BUT.... to help limit the number of people in the locker room at a time, we are still asking for athletes to arrive for practice in their suits, and be prepared to throw on clothes after practice to walk out as a group.
Continued Safety Measures
Masks all swimmers are welcome to wear masks. Any criticism of masking will be treated like bullying.
Athletes arrive and leave wearing swimsuits - to keep locker room densities down, athletes should arrive for dryland wearing their swimsuits. They put their bags on deck while swimming.