Pacing Strategy Meaning in Swimming

A pacing strategy involves a mental plan for managing energy during a swimming race. The athlete decides when to swim at a steady speed and when to sprint. Most strategies focus on saving enough power to finish the final lap with maximum effort. Proper planning prevents a swimmer from getting too tired in the middle of the pool. A swimmer decides to hold a moderate speed until the final twenty-five meters. Successful athletes stick to their own plan regardless of what the other competitors do. Coaches help swimmers practice these plans during training to build confidence for the meet. A good pacing strategy often leads to a faster overall finish time than sprinting.