The intensity of swimming is low to moderate to facilitate structural improvements leading toward improved cardiorespiratory fitness. Slower swimming also permits the acquisition and development of skills at lower speeds, before transfer to faster competitive speeds. A limited amount of shorter faster work is recommended, even from the first week of the season, to develop and main- tain neuromuscular patterns. This approach prepares the swimmer for the more intensive training that follows in the early-season and competitive-season phases.