Double sessions in swimming

Any serious swimmer has done what's known as a "double session" (colloquially known as "doubles"). As its name implies, there would be two practices on the same day, one in the morning, and the other in the afternoon. This provides twice the opportunities to recover and improve, as well as keeps the swimmer in better shape.

In varsity swim teams, the morning practice will usually be very early, probably something like 6am (so wake-up is 5am!!). This is necessary because the swimmers have to get to class after swimming for one-and-a-half hours. They then return to the pool after school to swim two more hours.

Is it worth it? In my opinion, no, except for the top swimmers.

For the rest of people, it is a true waste of time. They are becoming more fatigued for no real benefit. A person going through practices without much effort will not improve through doubles. Most people are not going to drop enough time to make a certain cut, since extra training is not the best way (and definitely not the easiest) to become faster. Waking up so early also does not help their recovery, and makes them less functional during the day. Sickness occurs all over the place because of the reduced rest, which impedes progress throughout the season even more, not to mention generating a great inconvenience in their nonathletic lives.

As students, their attention is also distracted for another hour due to swimming; a 2-2.5 hour practice daily is sufficient for non-elite athletes, so that extra hour that could be spent doing a lot of other useful activities is thrown away for very little improvement. Unlike those extremely good swimmers who qualify for Nationals or NCAA Div. I, the rest of the population is not paid to do their work, so they shouldn't have to be forced to follow such a difficult schedule. While they should commit to 10-15 hours a week of training, anything extra is not very necessary.

Coaches of high schools and universities want to get the best results possible, so they will do whatever they can to improve the team's performance just a tiny bit, even if it means a ton of extra hours. However, while that's a good attitude, they have to realize that these swimmers are mostly doing it for their enjoyment, not for a career. The top swimmers should be able to train in their rigorous ways without forcing all the others to suffer the same; the very best and most motivated will be present even if it's optional, much like how people can choose how hard to work in practice. These two cases are analogous, so there's no reason to believe that the honor system will carry on even if morning practices are not "required".