swim team

Question
Dear Liam,
1. What is the best body size (height and weight) for a 12 year old swimmer?

2. What skills do you need to have to be on a school swim team?

Thanks in advance! ~Carly

Answer
Hi Carly...

1.  Most of all great swimmers are slender (some tall) with broad shoulders and thin legs.  They look like a basketball player in the sense that they don't want to be too overdeveloped but yet have the capacity to hold enough muscle to propel them through sprint type events.  Most of the kids that make good swimmers I notice will be taller with stronger upper bodies.

2.  Swimming is especially a sport of technique.  Muscles, Endurance and Flexibility are big partners in this but you need to be able to feel the water.  If you feel that you will have enough discipline to practice practice practice and feel that you have some aptitude towards athletics in both mental and physical, you should do great!

I hope that this helps...

Thanks,
LM