Quick Dip: Should I Have Different Goals for Training and Racing?

A short read for the car journey

Category: Goals | Read time: Under 2 minutes

Yes, your goals can differ, but they should connect. Training gives you opportunities to develop your swimming. Racing gives you a chance to put that preparation together.

A training goal should match the purpose of the set. During technique work, you might focus on making a stroke change at a controlled speed. During race-pace work, your goal might be to maintain that change while meeting your target times.

Trying to swim every set as fast as possible can get in the way of what you are there to practise.

Suppose you are working on your breaststroke pullout. In training, you can concentrate on the timing of the arm recovery and kick, repeat it and use feedback to make adjustments. As it becomes more reliable, you practise connecting it smoothly to your swimming at race speed.

Your race goal brings that practice into the whole swim. You might aim to carry out those familiar pullouts consistently while following your pacing plan. Keep your focus simple enough to remember during the race.

You can also have a Performance goal, such as improving your time, or an Outcome goal, such as making a final. Process goals still matter in competition because they describe how you intend to swim.

Afterwards, use what happened to guide your next training focus. A skill that worked early in the race but became rushed later gives you something specific to develop.

Plan the connection: Use the Bluefins Goal Setting worksheet to link what you want to achieve with what you will practise.

Created by Basingstoke Bluefins Coaching Team