Tips for the 400IM,200 butterfly, and 200 breast?

Megan, since you are a novice swimmer, you should try to avoid those kinds of events. The 400 IM, 200 Fly, and 500 Free are among the hardest events for any experienced swimmer, not to mention beginners. If you have control over the events you swim, you should try to do 100's and 200's. One of the above-mentioned events per meet is a good idea, but I wouldn't recommend doing more. For the fly events, 100% of coaches would tell you to breathe every other stroke. Breathing every stroke forces your chest up and your hips down, making you drag yourself through the water. If you find yourself out of air, breathe 2 up 1 down, but never every stroke. When diving, imagine that there is a hula hoop floating in the water, about 2 yards from the deck. You need to fit clean through that hula hoop, but remember not to go too deep! Also, when you dive, look up at the other side of the pool for a split second once off the block, but put your head down into a streamline by the time you hit the water. You should not be looking up when you hit the water. For breakfast the morning before, you should have something light, but not too heavy. Eggs with light cheese and toast is my favorite pre-meet breakfast. You should pack healthy snacks for the meet, like granola bars or trail mix. Make sure, however, that you give yourself at least 45 min. to digest any heavy snacks before your next event. A couple tips: 1. Make sure you check in at the desk when you get to the meet. If you can't find the check-in desk, ask anyone on your team! Check in typically closes 45-30 min. before the scheduled start of the meet, and you don't want to be excluded from the meet because of something small like that. 2. Usually at the check-in, they have sharpies so that you can write your event numbers on your hand-that's always a really good idea. Make sure you know your Heat/Lane assignment before your event (it's always posted!). 3. If by any chance you miss your event, talk to the starter immediately. The starter or referee can try to find you a spot in another heat, and he/she will take into account the fact that you are a novice swimmer. One last thing: You should really talk to coach about this. Yahoo Answers can give you some tips, but your coach is really a much better resource. Most coaches appreciate it when swimmers come to them for advice and tips, because it shows that you want to do well in your upcoming meet.

Butterfly: breath, stroke, stroke, breath, stroke, breath repeat. breathing then 2 strokes then breath then 1 stroke then breath again. thats the fastest easiest way to breath during fly. i have been swimming for over 20 years and its always worked for me. diving: when you dive dont just lean into the water, try to jump out away from the block. same thing for back stroke starts, jump out away from the blocks and arch your back so u penetrate the water instead of landing on it. avoid anything greasy the night before the meet, then the morning of the meet eat lots of carbs and a little bit of natural sugars. i like to eat a blueberry muffin and a couple bowls of cereal (im a big eater) before i go in to warm up. dont be nervous im sure you will do fine and swimming isnt a competition against other people primarily. its a race to improve your own time so think of it that way. for your breast stroke i really cant help because my breast is so bad it gets me dq'd because my kick is so illegal. just get on the block, hit the water and go like hell.

in 400 IM, it depends what your best stroke is cuz my best stroke is fly so i like to sprint the fly and relax a little on back and go faster at breast and then sprint free. but since your a beginner you should probably just dont try to save your energy in the fly part cuz i tried that it doesnt work, it just makes you even more tired. and relax a little on back and kinda catch ur breath. and in breast you'll probs be really tired by then but you should start picking up your pace and then in free just go all out. in 200 fly, its not as hard as you think. i did my first one a month ago, when you finish only your arms are tired. but i recomend breathing every other stroke cuz it makes swimming fly easier cuz then your arms wont hav to push against the water as much and you'll go farther with your head down. for the first 50 just get a pace going, then the next 50 try keeping that pace, for the 3rd 50 try speeding up a little and the last 50 you should just use all the energy you have left. and in 200 breast, if you're not that good at it then you should probably just try to do your best. im 13 too and ive been usa swimming for like 5 years and ymca swimming for like 3 so i hav a lot of experience and i like to sprint my 200s so thats wat i do on 200 breast. i hav a 2:54. on diving try jumping up more. going deep is kinda better than belly flopping. so if you cant jump up then try jumping at a lower incine and its probably gonna get you farther and you should probably just get a good dinner i dont really what to eat cuz i never really give what i eat any thought. and im not sure about breakfast either. but during the meet, you should bring some granola bars oranges, maybe bananas. basically healthy stuff. maybe pasta. before your event jump up and down loosen up a bit and stretch out your arms and legs and talk to a friend and your coach. see if your racing a friend or something cuz i always feel better when i have a friend to fail with:) goood luckkk:)