This time of the season in high school swimming, “taper” is a word heard almost as much as “time” and “water.”
“It’s science and a little bit of psychology and a little bit of art,” Upper Arlington girls coach John Sands said. “You have to work with your athletes and talk to your athletes, see what they’re feeling and what they need.”With the postseason beginning this weekend, some swimmers who hope to peak at sectional meets began tapering as early as late January.
For example, Birnbrich needs to look no further than his junior standout, Emily Brown. The two-time defending Division I state champion in both the 200-yard freestyle and 500 free insists on training full-bore until the week of state. “That includes trimming down the volume , but keeping the intensity at a high level,” Rider said. “During tapering, my coach and I work on trying to perfect the little things within my races. This includes faster starts, faster turns, better underwaters and a smoother stroke.”UA boys coach Mike de Bear likened the effect of season-long training, which for the Golden Bears and many other teams is at its most vigorous from December into mid-January, to pressing a spring.
“The first week, we lift lighter and we’re still in the water for an hour and 45 minutes,” Miller said. “The second week, it’s maybe an hour. By the third week, we’re down to 1,000 to 1,500 yards a day and we’re only in the pool for 30 minutes.With so much on the line, Grandview Heights coach Susan Ferguson added stress reduction to her team’s training regimen a few years ago.
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