Racing to Improve, Not Just to Qualify

Julio Zarate
6 days ago
3 min read

Nearly every Local Swimming Committee (LSC) across the country offers what are commonly called “last chance” or “qualifier” meets. The purpose is straightforward: swimmers attend these meets in hopes of earning a qualifying time for a larger, more competitive championship meet.

On the surface, that sounds reasonable. But over time, the way we frame these meets—and the expectations we attach to them—can have a much bigger impact on swimmers than we realize.

The meet itself is neither good nor bad. What matters is the mindset we bring into it.

The Pressure of “Qualifying”

When the primary goal of a meet becomes qualifying for the next one, pressure ramps up quickly.

For swimmers, the internal dialogue often becomes:

“If I don’t make the cut, this meet was a failure.”
“This is my last shot—everything depends on this swim.”

That pressure can create two common outcomes, both problematic:

The swimmer swims well but doesn’t qualify. Even with a strong performance, it’s easy for the swimmer to feel disappointed or defeated. Progress gets overshadowed by a single number on the scoreboard.
The swimmer qualifies, but at a cost. When a swimmer has to emotionally and physically empty the tank just to scrape under a cut, they may arrive at the next, more competitive meet mentally drained or physically flat.

In both cases, the season’s momentum can be affected—not because the swimmer isn’t capable, but because the meaning of the meet was framed too narrowly.

A Different Way to Measure Success

Instead of viewing qualifier meets as pass/fail checkpoints, we encourage a shift in perspective.

Every meet—qualifier or not—should be approached as:

A chance to swim your best for this moment in the season
An opportunity to execute the skills practiced in training
A way to measure personal progression, not just results

Success doesn’t live solely in whether a qualifying time is achieved. It lives in:

Honest effort
Skill execution under pressure
Racing with intention
Being present and connected to the moment
Learning how to manage nerves, expectations, and energy

Those are the traits that build great swimmers over time.

What the Best Swimmers Focus On

Even at the highest level—Olympic Trials—the focus isn’t actually on making the Olympic Team. So, at the ultimate “last chance/qualifier”—the best, want to win, want to qualify, but know that is not in their control.

The focus is on performing at your absolute best.

Making the team is a possible outcome, not the goal itself. The goal is execution, presence, and expressing the work you’ve put in through training.

That same principle applies at every level of the sport.

We don’t swim to “qualify.”We swim to express ourselves physically and honestly, in an attempt to be better than we were before.

When swimmers focus on execution rather than outcome, they:

Race freer
Learn more from each swim
Recover better emotionally
Build confidence that lasts beyond one meet

The Role of Parents in This Mindset

For parents, this shift can be just as important.

Language matters. Questions matter. Reactions matter.

Instead of:

“Did you qualify?”
“Did you make your cut?”

Try:

“How did that race feel?”
“Did you do what you set out to do?”
“What did you learn from that swim?”

This doesn’t lower standards. It actually raises them—because it reinforces accountability to effort, preparation, and growth, not just to a time standard.

A Meet Is Just a Meet

A “last chance” or “qualifier” meet isn’t special. It isn’t dangerous. And it isn’t defining.

It’s simply another opportunity to:

Practice racing
Test preparation
Learn about yourself under pressure
Continue building toward long-term goals

What makes the difference is our approach, intention, and why.

When we keep the focus on training, development, and progression—not just the next qualifying time—we support healthier athletes, stronger performances, and more meaningful seasons.

Let’s zoom out.The big picture matters more than the next cut.