The YMCA’s competitive swim team has been in existence since 1956. Over the years the team has provided a steady diet of structure, exercise and life lessons to hundreds if not thousands of local boys and girls. The sport of swimming is unique in that young athletes compete in an individual sport in a team environment. There are many physical, social and psychological benefits to participating in competitive swimming. At the Chambersburg YMCA swimmers ages 5 – 18 who are already members of the Y can register as  members of the Charger Swim Team. The new season begins on 9/15/08. Please contact Coach Chance at extension 105 for further information.

The Many Benefits of Joining a Competitive Swim Team

Physical Development:

Swimming provides aerobic endurance and is the most beneficial form of cardiovascular exercise. It is the best sport for overall muscular development. It enhances natural flexibility, develops coordination, and it is the most injury free sport for children. It is also the only lifetime sport you can carry into old age.

Mental Development:

Learning proper technique engages the thinking process as new skills are learned. Swimmers must develop and plan movement sequences. They learn that greater progress results from using their creative talents and exploring new ideas. Structured programs of physical activity develop a stronger self-image. The commitment of time required for competitive swimming teaches time management skills. Swim team members learn about self-discipline and sportsmanship. Swimmers learn that excellence can be continually sought. Charger swimmers are taught respect, responsibility, caring and honesty.

Emotional Development:

The nature of the sport dictates that swimming is a self-achievement activity: the responsibility of the performance ultimately lies with the individual in any given lane in a race. That individual, over time, will have many experiences positive and negative, encouraging and discouraging. Learning how to handle the success and failure and self-achieving responsibility develops self-confidence. Through perseverance,
swimmers learn courage, dedication, commitment and how to overcome adversity. Swimmers learn to handle pressure and stress, sometimes self-imposed, sometimes by others. Through experiences in swimming, swimmers learn attitudes and habit that will remain with them throughout their lives. Most swimmers learn to be “can do” people.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, September 9th, 2008 at 10:23 am and is filed under Aquatics.