Quick Dip: Why Should I Warm Up Before I Get in the Pool?

A short read for the car journey

Category: Pre-Pool  | Read time: Under 2 minutes

Before training, you may have been sitting at school, travelling in the car or waiting beside the pool. A pre-pool warm-up helps your body and mind change from resting to being ready to swim.

The movements gradually raise your body temperature and prepare the muscles and joints you will use in the water. They can also help you focus on the session ahead.

Swimming asks your body to move in different ways. Your shoulders need to move freely, your legs need to kick and your whole body needs to hold a strong position in the water. A good pre-pool warm-up prepares these movements before the session begins.

The aim is not to become tired or to complete every movement as fast as possible. Your warm-up should build gradually and each movement should be controlled. Listen to your coach and concentrate on performing the movements correctly.

Your coach may change the warm-up depending on the session ahead. A warm-up before a skills session may not be exactly the same as one used before sprinting or racing.

Completing your pre-pool warm-up properly also helps you build a useful habit. Over time, you can learn which movements help you feel prepared and take more responsibility for getting ready.

A pre-pool warm-up is the first part of your swimming session, not something extra before it.

Ask your coach: How should I feel when I finish my pre-pool warm-up?

Created by Basingstoke Bluefins Coaching Team