AS the swimming contingent goes into camp this week in preparation for the Region Five Games billed for Bulawayo in Zimbabwe next month, a lot is expected of them as they wrap up the year 2014 on the international calendar.

The Zambia Amateur Swimming Union (ZASU) has put in place a strong team that pits Tilka Paljk, Alexandros Axiotis, Ralph Goveia and Nakawele Sakala among others.

These swimmers have undoubtedly gained massive experience after competing in a number of international competitions so far.

The explosive talent they have shown over the last few years has put a huge amount of pressure on their young shoulders as past performances, like during the 2013 Barcelona championships, the 2012 Zone Six Games, the 2014 Botswana Africa Youth games, are now just a memory.

However, heading into next month’s Games, self confidence will be key as these youngsters seek to triumph in the Zimbabwean waters.

In the sports world, self-confidence is a mark of a champion and a secret ingredient that all great athletes seem to possess, regardless of what level they compete at.

But psychologically, self-confidence is a positive mental attitude that keeps an athlete working hard regardless of how many times they may fail or how many obstacles get thrown in their paths. Embracing this positive mental attitude can give the swimmers the courage and focus to defeat stronger opponents.

On one hand, self-confidence can motivate them to attempt and accomplish the impossible while to the contrary, lacking self-confidence can lead a team to consistently perform way below their potential.

Indeed self-confidence is what our swimmers need to possess as they look forward to shrug off the brutal competitiveness and dominance that countries like South Africa enjoy on the continent.

Therefore, as the swimmers get into camp at the Olympic Youth Development Centre (OYDC) to shape up for the Zimbabwe Games, they need to start building a solid foundation of self-confidence.

Here are some of the steps they need to take in order to improve their level of confidence from time to time in the swimming context.

Step One: There is no substitute for hard work. Self-confidence comes out of a solid base of physical training. If one does their homework and train well, they will have a right to feel confident.

Athletes, who work hard in training, do everything in their power to achieve the best knowing that they have prepared more than their competitors.

Step Two: Before one dives into the pool, it would be important for them to remember how much they have prepared. This is important because on account of fear factor, most athletes tend to forget how well they have trained ahead of an event. Remembering how one has prepared for the competition strengthens their resolve to go all out and aim for the best.

Step Three: The major setback in an athlete’s levels of confidence is when they compare themselves with the opponents’ skill level, experience and training habits among others.

Comparisons may erode one’s confidence that results in a swimmer losing the race even before they get into the pool.

The most ideal technique is to focus on oneself and what their targets are in the race. It would be prudent for team Zambia not to be derailed by some of the big names in the competition because the teams that emerge victorious have always been confident beforehand.

Step Four: Swimmers need to focus on what they can control when competing. Factors such as the environment, officiating, people’s expectations and pool conditions of which the swimmers have no control over may sabotage the confidence levels but remaining focused on putting up an outstanding performance, may offer some relief.

Step Five: Positivity creates a lion-hearten will to win in all athletes. Being negative may not just lower an individual swimmer’s confidence; it would subdue the confidence of team members as well.

Members of the team must endeavor to make the best out of every challenge. If the pool conditions are foul, a team member must instead dwell on how that would affect the opponents more than them.

Step Six: The fruit of hard work is reward, and this has to ring in the mind of every member of the team. The swimmers must ensure that every effort put in during preparations count. Possessing a winning mentality builds an athlete’s confidence to the extent of recording actual victories.

Step Seven: Every team member must be a coach of themselves, learning from past mistakes and ensuring that each failure is seen as a stepping stone to a better performance ahead.

The Region Five Games are vital for the swimming starlets to wrap up the year 2014 on a high but given their undoubted talent and desire to deliver for the country, they will definitely aim for success.

Most athletes base their self-confidence on how often they compete but truth be told, they hold remarkable power to succeed in their minds. For instance, having a positive mind before setting out on a mission to represent the country in a competition is the greatest ingredient an athlete could ever have to deliver positive results for the country.

The Chipolopolo applied the same principle during the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) staged in Gabon and Equatorial Guinea at which they were crowned Kings of the continent in the feat where they were labeled underdogs.

If the soccer team used self-confidence to attain glory, the swimmers can also do the same.

ZASU is one of a few national sports associations if not the only one to have contributed a huge number of medals to the country from various international competitions.

With this in mind, the swimming contingent has no reason to get back home from the Zimbabwe trip empty handed, but as has been the case every time, they remain among the sports disciplines in which Zambia’s hope for medals rests.

It is, therefore, important for each one of the swimmers to build a strong sense of self-confidence as they shape up for this outing.

For now, I can only wish them the best of preparations.

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