Long Course Swim Season Is Here: What Makes 50 Meter Swimming So Different?
For swimmers across the country, long course season has officially arrived. That means it’s time to trade the 25 yard pool for the challenge of the 50 meter pool.
Every year, swimmers make the transition from short course to long course as temperatures rise, outdoor pools reopen, and summer swim meets begin filling the calendar. While the sport stays the same, long course season brings an entirely different experience both physically and mentally.
And if you ask most swimmers? It’s both exciting (to have a bit of a change) and humbling.
What Is Long Course Swimming?
Long course swimming takes place in a 50 meter pool, which is the standard pool length used in the Olympics and international competition.
During the fall and winter months in the United States, most swimmers compete in “short course yards,” or SCY, which takes place in a 25 yard pool. Once summer arrives, many club teams transition into “long course meters,” also known as LCM.
The biggest difference?
Less walls. More swimming.
The Fun (and Challenging) Part of Long Course Season
At first glance, the difference between 25 yards and 50 meters may not sound huge, but swimmers know it changes everything.
Fewer Turns = More Endurance
In short course swimming, swimmers rely heavily on turns and underwater pullouts to gain speed and momentum. In a 50 meter pool, there are far fewer opportunities to push off the wall.
That means swimmers spend much more time actually swimming and maintaining strong technique throughout the race.
Long course swimming quickly teaches athletes:
- endurance
- pacing
- stroke efficiency
- breath control
- mental toughness
Every Stroke Matters
Without constant walls and turns to reset momentum, swimmers have to stay disciplined for much longer stretches.
In long course:
- sloppy technique shows up fast
- pacing mistakes become obvious
- and races can feel very long very quickly
Especially for younger swimmers, learning how to properly pace a 200 or 400 in a 50 meter pool is a major milestone.
Why Swimmers Love Long Course Season
Even though long course is harder physically, many swimmers actually love the challenge.
Long course season often helps swimmers:
- build aerobic strength
- improve race strategy
- sharpen technique
- and prepare for higher-level competition
Since Olympic swimming is competed in long course meters, many athletes also enjoy feeling connected to the same format used at the highest level of the sport.
When Does Long Course Season End?
In the United States, long course season typically runs from late spring through the end of summer.
Most teams begin transitioning into long course around May, with the season usually ending in late July or early August after championship meets conclude.
Major championship meets often include:
- Long Course Junior Olympics
- Sectionals
- Futures Championships
- Senior Zones
- USA Swimming National meets
- and various state or regional championships
Once summer wraps up, swimmers usually transition back into short course yards for the fall and winter season.
Hair Care During Long Course Season
With long course season comes more time outdoors, more chlorine exposure, more sun, and often multiple swim sessions per day.
That means swimmers’ hair goes through even more during the summer months.
At Active COCO, we know firsthand how demanding long course season can be on swimmers and their hair. Between outdoor practices, championship meets, and hours spent in the pool, protecting hair before swimming becomes even more important during the summer.
To all the swimmers heading into long course season:
good luck, have fun, trust your training, and enjoy every lap of it.
Summer swim season is officially here.
