Alto Pre-Season: We are Diving In!

Alto Swimmers and Families,

We have enjoyed seeing all of our swimmers back at the pool!

As we begin our new season and build into our first few weeks, I want to provide some information about our pre season / early season goals to help us all make the most of our initial weeks together. 

Whether you're a returning member of our team or a new swimmer eager to jump in, this overview will set team expectations and outline our goals for the upcoming training period.

Daily Routine

We operate as a unified group! Each swimmer and coach works to bring out the best in the team and in themselves. We expect each swimmer to approach practice with enthusiasm, a willingness to learn, and respect for fellow teammates and coaches. This means that each swimmer arrives on time, prepared with the right equipment and a water bottle, ready to greet their coaches. Swimmers, please remember to come say hello to your coach when you get to the pool. Saying hello and goodbye is a part of our daily routine.

Getting Acquainted

In these initial days, we will have the chance to acquaint ourselves with both familiar faces and new teammates. During our pre season, you will meet many Alto coaches - your primary coach and coaches who work with other groups or at the other Alto pools. We want everyone to get a broad introduction to our full coaching staff during these early weeks. If you are meeting someone for the first time, introduce yourself! Remember, we're not just individual swimmers, we're part of a larger team. Knowing your coaches, the name of your training group, and recognizing other groups and coaches fosters a stronger sense of team identity.

Building a Solid Foundation

Our initial focus is on developing and refining our technical skill foundation. It is particularly important for any new swimmers who might be accustomed to a different approach to understand why we begin the season this way. 

While our older and experienced swimmers understand the pre-season build, our younger swimmers might perceive some practices as relatively “easy.” Our returning swimmers can confirm, intensity will increase! It's important to note that our definition of "hard" encompasses various aspects beyond just intensity – it's about honing technique, efficiency, and discipline. By taking care of our technical foundation, we are setting the highest possible short and long term ceiling.

Setting the Stage for Progress

With the slate “wiped clean” during a few weeks away from the pool, we have a chance to reshape habits and movement patterns. The first six weeks are pivotal, allowing us to break old habits and construct newer, improved ones. Across all groups, our approach for this build-up period is consistent. Expect slightly lower-volume sessions with longer rest intervals and a heightened emphasis on kick development. Swimmers should expect “redos” during this part of the season, we keep teaching and re-teaching until we get it right!

Remember, these initial weeks are the foundation upon which we'll build our successes for this season and beyond. Our swimmers’ commitment, coachability, and readiness to make changes will play a key role in their swimming development and our team's achievements.

Here's to a fantastic start to the season! Let's make the most of this time together and pave the way for an incredible journey ahead.

Go Alto!
Coach Richie