Transitioning: Short Course to Long Course

By Coaches Eva Pold and Neily Mathias

Long Course looks like fun and games while watching your favorite swimmers race at the Olympics, but then you get behind the blocks and it looks so….long. This being said, as intimidating as it looks, it is extremely fun & it means San Diego summer has arrived!

Here at NCA we make sure that your swimmer is fully prepared and confident to get up and race down that long course pool, even though we will continue to train in the short course pool.  

Long course is known to expose a swimmer’s stroke weaknesses because without walls a swimmer must maintain the rhythm, stroke length and stroke rate over more than double the distance.  Ultimately, all swimmers will get in better shape, improve technique, build stamina, and grow mental toughness.

Here are some key points in understanding & preparing for the summer long course season:

• Long course is referred to as LCM, long course meters.

• Short course is in yards (SCY), and thus LCM is not “double” a short course pool

• 1 LCM lap=50 meters vs 1 SCY lap=25 yards

• 50 meters = ~55 yards (more than half a football field!)

• LCM has fewer turns and thus has more swimming distance per length

• LCM training focuses more on refining technique for maximum efficiency & endurance

• Great turns & underwater kicks are ESSENTIAL for great LCM swimming.

• 10 yds underwater in a 25 SCY pool means, 15 yds of swimming

• 10 m underwater in a 50 LCM pool means, 40 m of swimming

• Underwater kicking is the fastest part of a race, USE THEM

• Less turns means you need to make sure your turns are being used to their full potential

• This is where endurance is key: if you have 40m in one length to go, you have to know how to pace yourself & control your speed/stroke rate. This is why we practice!

• LCM is a great tool for mental toughness as well – it is not only about physical ability!

• Many swimmers prefer long course, it allows them to “actually swim”, and it is more exciting for spectators!

• Want to know what your swimmers SCY time converts to long course? https://swimswam.com/swimming-times-conversion-tool/