What is Taper in Swimming?
If you’ve been around swimming long enough, you’ve probably heard the term “taper” thrown around before big meets. But what exactly is taper, and why do swimmers need it?
💡 What is taper?
Taper is the period leading up to a championship or major meet where training volume and intensity are reduced to allow the swimmer’s body to fully recover and perform at its peak.
During regular season training, swimmers build endurance and strength through hard practices, high yardage, and challenging sets. This creates fatigue that temporarily slows them down. Taper removes that fatigue layer by layer.
🔑 Why do swimmers taper?
✅ To recover fully
Taper gives muscles, joints, and the nervous system time to repair from weeks or months of hard work.
✅ To maximize speed and power
With rest, muscles regain full strength and explosiveness. Combined with reduced yardage, swimmers feel “snappy” in the water.
✅ To sharpen technique
During taper, swimmers focus on fine-tuning starts, turns, and stroke details rather than building conditioning.
✅ To mentally prepare
Taper also allows swimmers to focus on race strategies, visualization, and building confidence before their big meet.
🏊♂️ What does taper look like?
Every coach designs taper differently, but in general:
Training volume decreases.
Swimmers do fewer yards/meters each day, reducing the overall workload.Intensity remains high but short.
Swimmers still do race-pace or faster work, but with shorter distances and more rest.More rest and sleep are encouraged.
Swimmers should prioritize sleep, nutrition, and hydration to maximize recovery.Feel-good swims are included.
Practices may include short, fast swims with plenty of rest to help swimmers feel light, strong, and confident.
💭 Why do swimmers feel “weird” during taper?
It’s common for swimmers to feel tired, sluggish, or even slower at the start of taper. Their bodies are adjusting and recovering. Trust the process – by the end, swimmers feel energized, powerful, and ready to race fast.
💛 Final thoughts
Taper is one of the most important parts of swim training. It’s where all the hard work comes together for peak performance. Encourage your swimmer to trust their coach, stay focused, and believe in the process. Championship season is their time to shine!