Evo Swim School

As teenage and adult swimmers begin taking EVO’s Gilbert swimming lessons, they often ask about other training they should or shouldn’t do to improve their endurance and performance. Weight lifting is an integral part of most athletes’ training, but many swimmers hesitate to do it for fear of bulking up and creating drag that reduces their speed. But is this fact or fiction?

We’re busting this myth!

Not only is it ok for swimmers to do strength training, but it’s actually encouraged because of the many benefits it helps achieve:

Increases speed

Contrary to common belief, lifting weights can increase a swimmer’s speed because it helps build the arm, leg, shoulder, and back muscles that propel you through the water faster.

Liberty University assistant swim coach Jessica Barnes explains, “Weight training was absolutely beneficial to my swimming in college [at Penn State]. Before college I had never lifted, only did pull-ups for strength work; therefore, I knew I had a lot of room for improvement in getting stronger and increasing my muscle mass. I put on 15 pounds of muscle over the course of my four years, and as a result of getting stronger outside of the pool, I got faster in the pool.”

Helps prevent injuries

Weight lifting also increases bone density while strengthening tendons, ligaments, and weak areas that are prone to injuries, like a swimmer’s shoulders. USA Swimming suggests several dry land exercises for improving strength and preventing injuries, including:

Rows
Presses
Pull-ups
Deadlifts
Squats
Lunges

Keeps your body in shape during the off-season

Unless your swim team practices year-round, there are going to be weeks on end — perhaps months — when you aren’t swimming as regularly. Although the main season is usually seen as prime training time, what happens during the off-season is equally (if not more) important. Many swimmers take time off, indulge in foods that are normally off limits, and cut back on their training. However, those who keep up with their diet and exercise routine (including weight lifting) not only stay in better shape during the off-season, but also have a faster and easier transition back into the pool.

Swimming World reports several areas that swimmers can focus on improving by doing strength training during off-peak times, including healing injuries, strengthening weak links, improving body composition, and increasing overall athleticism.

Boosts mental health

Weight lifting isn’t just good for the body — it’s good for the mind and soul too. Studies show strength training reduces stress, releases endorphins that make you feel happier, increases your energy, and provides many other mental and emotional benefits.

Based on these facts, it’s safe to say that swimmers should ignore this myth and embrace strength training! For more information on EVO’s Gilbert swimming lessons, as well as tips on how to safely and effectively incorporate weight lifting into your routine, contact us at 480-539-2660.

We recently received some feedback from a current customer with EVO Swim School. We wanted to take this opportunity to share their story of success.

To whom it may concern at EVO,

I thought I would take the time to share an experience our family recently had. It was a scary moment, but ended well, and is a great reminder about the need for pool safety, strong swim skills, and an understanding of what drowning looks like.

I debated it in my head, but I really think this story may be beneficial for others to hear. This summer we had a scary moment in the pool with friends. It was only a moment, but it really reminded me how important swim safety is.

Two families were getting into a pool to swim. I was already in the pool with several kids, my own and friends. Both of my boys are well trained and excellent swimmers for their ages, so I am always close at hand, but seldom worried. My youngest Joshua was about four feet behind me. Suddenly I hear, “He’s drowning me!”

I turned around and it took a few seconds to register the two bobbing children before me. His friend had gotten into the pool, but was not wearing the puddle jumper (flotation device) that he normally does. Of course this friend panicked not being able to swim. And naturally he reached out and grabbed onto my son. It seems it was seconds, maybe 20-30 (?), that the boys struggled and bobbed silently in the water before my son was able to call out. All of this happening while I was directly next to them. I was able to reach the children and pull the non-swimmer child off and both were then safe. Of course they were both terribly upset and their mothers both stunned. We talked about pool safety and how to handle a drowning situation.

Friends, pool safety is serious business. Drowning is silent and quick. Don’t ever assume because your children are strong swimmers that they are safe in the water. There’s really no such thing. Also, please consider that most Swim School’s discourage any use of flotation devices for non-swimming children as they give them a false sense security in water. It only takes one time for a child to enter the water forgetting their customary flotation device to then be in real and immediate danger of drowning.

I’m so thankful for a positive outcome to those few, but potentially lethal, seconds in the pool. I have to tell you I’m thankful for every penny I have ever spent on swim lessons and safety training. I feel the tender mercies of heaven that both little boys were unscathed.

Please take the time to learn about pool safety, teach pool safety to your kids, and practice what to do in a pool emergency.
I highly recommend any swim program that is a member of, and follows, the U.S. Swim School Association guidelines and teaching methods. Our family has chosen EVO Swim School and Rio Salado Swim Team.”

Thank you for being the swim instructors for my family. My son Joshua’s (age 5) strength as a swimmer helped him save himself, and his friend, long enough for a parent to intervene. We love what you do here at EVO Swim School and want to thank everyone for the opportunity to teach our little swimmers how to become strong and safe in the water.

Thank You!

Wendy Morris