Flexibility is an important part of artistic swimming. Most skills require a large range of motion in the body’s joints. However, it's important to find a balance between flexibility and strength to perform skills optimally and help prevent injuries. A combination of flexibility and ballet sessions allows swimmers to learn different passive, dynamic and active exercises to increase flexibility, while increasing strength so swimmers can safely demonstrate flexibility in the water.
Artistic swimmers require full body strength to perform their routines. A dryland strength and conditioning program allows our swimmers to gain overall strength improvements, work on weaknesses and help prevent injuries. It also provides swimmers with weight-baring activities, which is important in the healthy development of athletes' muscles and bones.
Athletes must be both mentally and physically fit to be successful. Our athletes work with sports psychologists who coach them in using mental skills and techniques to help prepare them for optimal performances. From visualization to confidence building to pre-competition routines, they give our athletes tools that help them be successful in practice, competition and life.
An athlete can train their hardest but proper nutrition to fuel their bodies for practice and competition is key for optimal performance. Our athletes receive guidance from a registered dietician to help them learn what types of foods, snacks, drinks and meal plans will be best for them in training and competition.
Our athletes receive stroke improvement sessions from a local speed swimming coach at the beginning of each year. This gives our athletes a chance to learn, improve on, and try out new strokes and skills that their coaches can use throughout the year!
Although many people forget about it, recovery time and techniques are just as important as training. Massage is a great way to help rejuvenate muscle function, improve range of motion, and help prevent and treat injuries.
We highly recommend that our athletes see a sports medicine doctor, chiropractor, masseuse, or physiotherapist that specializes in working with athletes if they require further recovery techniques or help with an injury.