Swimming Before Gymnastics Meet

[AlexsGymmyMom]

Is it bad for gymnasts to go swimming the day or evening before a meet? Some moms are going to stay at a hotel the night before a meet tomorrow and we were talking about it and one of the coaches said they should not swim before a meet because it is bad on the muscles and their body does not have time to recover before the meet? I had never heard this before. What are your thoughts on going swimming the evening before a meet.

 

[MdGymMom01]

Swimming does take a lot out of your body and can make you very tired. When dd cheered we went to a lot of away comps and most of the kids did swim in the hotel pools. If I did let her swim, it was early in the evening before dinner for only like 30-45 minutes. And this was usually just hanging with friends in the pool and not "real swimming". I do know that some kids were up until 9pm still swimming with a 7:00am report time for the cheer comps . And then the kids wondered why they didn't feel their best when they performed . Duh....

 

[bogwoppit]

If we stay at hotels with a pool, for sure we let them swim. That is part of the fun, though as there is always so much to do, and getting to sleep is important, they never stay in for long and they are usually socialising more than swimming.

THough we did stay at a hotel with a water slide and boy it was hard to get them out of there.

They only live once and half the fun of an away meet is the hotel/pool/friend combo. They may remeber those times more than the meets when they are older.

 

[Optionals United]

They only live once and half the fun of an away meet is the hotel/pool/friend combo. They may remeber those times more than the meets when they are older.

ok i totally agree with bog.like a am already excited for our malibu meet in march! i would def let her go swimming not for to long and not late at night, also if they arent realyy "swimming" i think it would be alrihgt. even if the just wanted to jump in the jacuzzi for 10 minuts!

 

[AlexsGymmyMom]

That is my same thought! How can you stay in a hotel with a pool and NOT let them swim! The coaches seemed shocked that they would even think about letting them swim. And they probably won't be doing any real swimming just hanging out in the pool. Alex won't be going to this one since her foot is hurt but she does have 1 more travel meet in March (hopefully) if she makes it to states. She will probably do some swimming (I know, shocking)!!

 

[gymdog]

We had a no swimming before a meet rule. I would be worried about my hands too but there is also muscle relaxation thing. I never went swimming before a meet, and I wouldn't do it. But they're just kids and I guess you have to make your own choice.

 

[Tumblequeensmom]

I had heard this "rumor" as well... I honestly thought it was kind of an "urban legend" thing to be honest. But then I asked Katy's coaches at both her gyms about it, because both of her gyms had a "no swimming rule." Both clubs enforce this rule because, as I was told, the swimming (whether or not they're truly swimming or just playing around in the water for hours) overly relaxes their muscles. Now my thought was... "and that's a bad thing?" Well, actualy according to them, yes, it is. It was explained to me in physiological terms several years ago and then Katy and I just accepted it and promptly forgot EXACTLY why. Since none of the team girls would go to the pool, we had other things to do instead as a group... so it really wasn't a problem.

Anyway, just passing on what I was told from both of DD's clubs!

 

[Deleted member D3987]

actually, it is all urban legend. the greatest risk of swimming prior to competition is contracting a water borne virus that can cause ear, nose and throat infections which could compromise the safety of the athlete.

obviously, the concerns are less for less difficult gymnastics but keep in mind that difficulty is in the eye of each athlete.


p.s. before someone brings up more false info, there is no scientific research or evidence that has shown that swimming before any other athletic activity compromises performance. remember the "old" one about engaging in a certain something before boxing??...

 

[momofchalksters]

We have only had one away meet so far and we did let the girls in the pool the evening before. They weren't in for long and they weren't swimming laps or anything. Really just being wild and crazy kids having fun. Their coaches were poolside and it was no problem. All the girls did great the next day at the meet

 

[tabgymnast926]

Well my old coach said that not to go into a hot tube but he didn't say anything about swimming.

 

[bogwoppit]

hot tube

 

[Deleted member D3987]

out of the mouth's of babe's. what more can you say, bog.

 

[Ingwe]

Our gym has a strict rule of no swimming before a meet. I've always thought it was strange but we follow the rules.

 

[AlexsGymmyMom]

Thanks for answering my question Dunno. I have a hard time understanding how cold water could relax your muscles. I kept thinking.... isn't competitive swimming a sport? It seems they are very strong and practice many hours a week (swimming) without a problem.

 

[gymluvr33]

How would relaxing your muscles be a bad thing? Don't we stretch to do the same thing (to a point)? Thanks in advance

 

[justanothergymmom]

My girls' gym has same policy so that the girls don't end up with tired or sore muscles (It is the same reason that they don't do a full practice the day before a meet. They just go in, run routines and leave.) My daughter also said that soaking in the pool softens her palms too much...

 

[Tumblequeensmom]

How would relaxing your muscles be a bad thing? Don't we stretch to do the same thing (to a point)? Thanks in advance

I never understood it either, and when the owner of the gym tried to explain it, I couldn't follow her logic... so that's that!

AND after all, according to Dunno, it's just one of those things that everyone believes without there being any real science behind it! I guess next time we're all somewhere with a pool, we'll ALL be jumping into it!

 

[tabgymnast926]

Whoops I really need spell check

 

[bogwoppit]

out of the mouth's of babe's. what more can you say, bog.

I thought maybe it was like youtube for adult films!!!

 

[gymnastbeth]

My gym has this as a "rule" but it's not enforced. They always told us it was because we would rip easier if we went swimming, because the skin on our palms would be soft... In the summer I've found that I do get rips more, because I swim ALL the time, so that's the reason I always go swimming after, as opposed to before the meet.