Drink lots of fluids. Keep a sports bottle with you filled with fresh water or Gatorade. Sip regulartly throughout your practices and competitions.

Take time to study the famous swimmers of the past. You can learn from their stories, their mistakes, and their advice. Read swimming books and swimmer's biographies.

Before you practice swimming faster, practice perfecting your technique. It is the perfect technique that must work with speed to win the competitions.

Don't forget to "warm down" after swim training. Your body needs to recoup from the intense training you just subjected it to. Swim slow hundred meter laps and take your time. Studies have shown warming down also decreases sudden heart attacks due to over-training.

Give it your all but don't be discouraged if you lose. There will always be someone out there that swims faster or better than you. This is life.

Seek to have perfect form while swimming. This will inevitably bring speed because it improves the efficiency of each stroke.

Remember to relax and have fun. If all you are worried about is your times and your technique then you are no longer enjoying being in the water.

You can purchase items such as swim fins, hand mitts, paddles, and kickboards to make each time you swim a little different. These aids will also allow you to work your muscles differently then swimming alone.

Most swim coaches agree that stretching is one of the most important warm ups for swimmers. Stretch thoroughly before swim lessons and before every meet.