Why fatigue is great for learning swim skills

We’re usually taught that skills are best learned when we’re completely fresh, with little to no fatigue. While there is certainly value in taking that approach, it doesn’t mean that you should only work on skills when you’re feeling good. 

In fact, working on your skills specifically when you’re tired can actually improve your skills, rather them make them worse.

Working on skills when you’re tired is valuable for several reasons. First, it’s different. You’re going to be feeling different sensations and you’re going to be more fatigued in certain areas. Novelty is a huge driver of learning, and fatigue will definitely create some novelty. 

Second, it’s a challenge. It’s harder to work on skills when you’re tired, and that extra challenge is going to improve learning. 

Third, it’s specific. You have to swim well when you’re tired in races, so you might as well practise it. Let’s check out three different ways to incorporate this strategy into your workouts.

Use stroke counts

One of the simplest ways to incorporate skill work when fatigued is to count your strokes and then aim to keep that number as consistent as possible as you begin to fatigue during a difficult set.

If you’re able to maintain your stroke count, it’s likely that you’re maintaining your skills. And if you’re maintaining your skills as you get more and more tired during a hard set, that means you’re learning! 

Because you’re swimming equally well during challenging sets, when you get some rest it’s going to be even easier to swim a great stroke count, and you might even be able to swim with fewer strokes. It’s simple, easy, and anyone can do it.

Perform skill work during sets

While skill work and drills are typically performed in the beginning of practice, don’t be afraid to include them in the middle of your sets. When you’re beginning to get tired in the middle of sets, it’s the perfect time to really zero in on how you’re executing your skills. 

By including your favourite drills, or drill that target skills that are important to you, it provides you with the opportunity to improve those skills in a really challenging situation. 

And as with stroke counts, the better you can perform the drills when you’re tired, the more effective you’ll be when you’re feeling fresh.

Perform skill work after sets

After a hard set or a hard workout, the last thing you probably want to do is work on your skills. That means it’s probably a great time to do so! Because your body is tired, it’s going to be harder to perform exactly as you’d like. 

And by working through that challenge, you’re going to better at swimming well. It forces you to focus even harder and it forces you to be more disciplined with what you’re doing, which will ultimately lead to faster swimming.

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