A question from a swim parent

RE: A question from a swim parent

swimshark — Sat, 02 Jul 2011 08:16:05 GMT

As a coach, I applaud you because you did exactly what you needed to do!!!! I'm just glad that it looks like it will turn out to be a positive experience for both your son and his coach!!!!! Great Job!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I agree. Well, not as a coach but as a fellow swimmer. Since you are close to here, any chance you will be heading down to MD for Jr Champs this month?

RE: A question from a swim parent

magick17 — Sat, 02 Jul 2011 06:48:04 GMT

*~UPDATE~* We definately made the best choice. We opted to talk to the coach but not us our son, the swimmer and her and because of his age(to make him comfortable)we were there also. She came to our home on her own time and sat and listened and was prepared for 90 minutes. Like I said before he is 12 and is frustrated. Communications is key and every point was discussed and she even hit points that he didn't mention but frustrated him. She identified particular senior swimmers with similar personality traits as my sons and relayed back their stories and frustrations and sometimes their demands. And that its ok, freak out and they will work it out together. I'm just so impressed with our coach. I would have NEVER expected that from someone. She asked for the materials from his camp and took them home with her and watched his video. On her own time at our home..wow He staying with his team and now knows that he can talk to her (head coach) anytime and discuss what he needs..and also his age group coach. He's on the verge(13 soon) of juniors/senior group where she will be his full time coach.(I hope he remains a AG just a little longer though, but thats not up to me..) She helped him find his voice. He's really at ease because he can continue to do what he loves...swim. Once again, thank you...i couldn't ask the other parents what to do..because they always seemed shocked and say--oh well my little susie would never say, or do that...they are perfect.(((Vomit))) But I knew I could turn to swimmers!!! Thanks

RE: A question from a swim parent

pwolf66 — Sat, 02 Jul 2011 04:54:11 GMT

RE: A question from a swim parent

ande — Thu, 30 Jun 2011 01:05:54 GMT

What do I do change teams???? maybe, ask your son what his swimming goals are if he wants to train and be a great swimmer, put him in the best program that is convenient for your family Would it hurt to drop a year around club and he would just swim middle school?? Maybe, maybe not, but if he wants to be a good swimmer it's important to train hard between 12 & 18 those are critical years Does he have other interests and talents? Or find him another USA-s team? maybe

RE: A question from a swim parent

orca1946 — Wed, 29 Jun 2011 06:50:10 GMT

You are welcome !!! :) We all need help with our kids at many times in their/our life times no matter how old they get ! :cake:

RE: A question from a swim parent

swimshark — Tue, 28 Jun 2011 07:53:19 GMT

Thank you all for responding.. you have no idea how valuable your input was. Last night I had a talk with my son and pretty much offered a USA-s team change(I had emailed a friend for details on her team) or just quit. He was not happy with either decision...he just wanted heard by his coachs about what's bothering him and wants to add input for training and changes but was so sure that the head coach wasn't going to listen. I told him he had to give her a chance similar to what he needs from her. She does not directly coach him anymore but write the sets and we are a small team(40) and she's very important to her swimmers. He asked me to speak on his behalf but I will but he also needs to find his voice and trust in the coach. Our team offers 2 outdoor swims(one has low attendence and is coached by a young kid who in his second year of college, someone for my son to look up to). I approached him and gave him a quick run down of my sons current state of mind. He agreed with him and said he feels the same way with his swimming sometimes and said he'd talk to him as a fellow swimmer. Then head coach came in and I gave her a brief description of whats going on and immediately said she wanted to meet with him and us(parents). She's flexible in scheduling and wants to meet away from the pool. This kid just loves swimming(competing, training, etc.)..everything about it. He never slacks off in practice and was highly recognized a second year at his camp for his drive and desire(which was attended by swimmers ages 12-17). He may not practice 5 days a week all year. And he has had results....they just need to talk. Thank you again..really I didn't know what to do and your knowledge and experience is priceless... Sounds like it was a good talk with your son. I hope the talk with the coach goes just as well.

RE: A question from a swim parent

taruky — Mon, 27 Jun 2011 09:36:42 GMT

I have a 12 year old son who has been swimming USA-s for 5 years. He loves swimming. He just came home from an intensive swim camp(overnite) that lasted 5 days. He also attended this camp last year. Last year when he returned from camp he was hesitant to return to his team. He loved the training at camp. I brushed it off. This year he's upset about returning to his usa-s team again and quite disgusted. After 5 days of learn new drills and almost revamping mosts of his races he just regrets training with his team. He says he loves the people but hates the sets. He says they have been doing the same drills for the past 5 years. Now as a parent I have observed the coach writing a workout on the white board and then just spacing off but since I'm a new swimmer..i figured..what did I know? What do I do...change teams???? We are saturated here in western pa. He's not a diva but a technically beautiful swimmer. And he loves his sport. Would it hurt to drop a year around club and he would just swim middle school?? Or find him another USA-s team? Thanks for reading and any opinions would be greatly appreciated. Out of curiosity, was this the UVa camp in Charlottesville? The timing of the camp sounds like it. My daughter's friend did it and had an absolute blast. They also videotape underwater and give a lot more personalized feedback.

RE: A question from a swim parent

magick17 — Mon, 27 Jun 2011 09:00:08 GMT

RE: A question from a swim parent

Former Member — Mon, 27 Jun 2011 07:51:53 GMT

Would it hurt to drop a year around club and he would just swim middle school?? From personal experience: I quit swimming just before my 12 birthday for a year. I was a pretty good age-group swimmer, 32.0 in the 50M free at age 10. But then I did not break 30 in the 50 until after I turned 13 (I have a summer birthday, so this was just over 2 years later). The guys who I was competing with 2 years earlier were under 28 by then. And really, I never caught up. So does a year off matter at that age? From personal experience I think the answer is yes.

RE: A question from a swim parent

orca1946 — Mon, 27 Jun 2011 07:23:03 GMT

let us know what he/you decide.

RE: A question from a swim parent

aquageek — Mon, 27 Jun 2011 04:06:25 GMT

This is a good discussion. It seems that 12-14 is the age when kids seem to have misgivings about their primary sport, and probably about just about everything in general. More than a few really solid swimmers, such as yours, have left our club team at this age, just seems to happen. To your questions, would hopping to another team help? Well, that is tough to say for sure but you could probably expect a honeymoon period on another team and then possibly be right back where you are. I like pwb's suggestion to speak to the coach. Any coach who has been around a while should have seen this situation and can hopefully provide guidance. Don't burn your bridges with your current team and don't expect the new team to be nirvana either. Would it hurt him to swim middle school and not year round? Probably his times would suffer but, at 12 and being a boy, I don't see that as a big issue. Swimming will still be there if/when he wants to return. Just hope if he returns he doesn't end up a bitter and angry manboy like Jazz. There are good clubs out there. Hopefully you will find what you are looking for, or some of what you are looking for anyway. Good luck!

RE: A question from a swim parent

orca1946 — Sun, 26 Jun 2011 06:25:29 GMT

This is how swimmers get "burned out" not liking what they do is a large part.

RE: A question from a swim parent

Patrick W. Brundage — Sun, 26 Jun 2011 06:13:48 GMT

I would start by assessing your team's performance in the past few years with other clubs around. LSC Championships, Zones, etc. Certainly some programs go through cyclical issues, but generally speaking good teams are good...year in, year out.Good point. Try also to understand what the team's mission/vision/philosophy is. Not all teams aspire to turn out state-, regional-, national-level champions. It's not bad if they don't aspire to that, but if your kid wants that kind of team, it'd be good to find it if you can. Based on what you said, it sounds like your kid wants to swim more, not less. So I would consider a different program, not dropping club swimming. Maybe meet with his current coach first to discuss their plan for the season and concerns. But I would definitely steer clear of suggesting how the coaches should do their jobs.I agree with all of this.

RE: A question from a swim parent

Former Member — Sat, 25 Jun 2011 16:41:28 GMT

An important question. I appreciate your candor in asking. Would it hurt to drop a year at club? No. He's 12. He should be having fun and enjoying himself. If he's not doing both of these at the club, what's the point? I quit competitive swimming from 13-15, 18-19, and 23-39 ... and I always came back more focused and happy to swim. Even now I don't swim with a team, but have attended a camp and loved it as your son did. As long as he doesn't turn into a couch/internet potato during his break and stays active, what's the harm? Have him try another team or two, or even another sport if he wants ... he's only going to be 12 once. My 2¢

RE: A question from a swim parent

Former Member — Sat, 25 Jun 2011 12:41:34 GMT

Correct me if I'm wrong, but it sounds like the kid loves the sport and he can recognize the difference between good training and garbage. He's been exposed to a higher level of coaching, and he's not satisfied with going back to the mindless drills. Fair enough. The problem is that you would be very lucky to find serious technique-oriented coaching at any other local team. It would probably just be more of the same.

RE: A question from a swim parent

gdanner — Sat, 25 Jun 2011 08:13:51 GMT

Not knowing all the details, it's hard to say with certainty. Who chose the camp that your son attended? I've been to many camps over the years and many times the coaches at home don't use new drills. I would start by assessing your team's performance in the past few years with other clubs around. LSC Championships, Zones, etc. Certainly some programs go through cyclical issues, but generally speaking good teams are good...year in, year out. Based on what you said, it sounds like your kid wants to swim more, not less. So I would consider a different program, not dropping club swimming. Maybe meet with his current coach first to discuss their plan for the season and concerns. But I would definitely steer clear of suggesting how the coaches should do their jobs.

RE: A question from a swim parent

swimshark — Sat, 25 Jun 2011 07:50:26 GMT

I swim with a USA-S teams and have for 5 years. On one team we had 5 coaches in 3 years. There were times when I didn't like going to work out because the workouts were boring. But as an adult, I was able to stay focused. Not easy for a kid. I switched teams 2 years ago and am with the same coach still. He fits my style perfectly. If your son, at such an important age, is not enjoying practice, it's time to move on. Is there a way you can get your son to try out other teams without word getting out too much? I know that at his age, it's a time when a lot of kids decide whether to stick with swimming or not. If he doesn't fit with his coaches, then a new team might be the right answer to keep him going in the sport. Good luck.

RE: A question from a swim parent

Water Rat — Sat, 25 Jun 2011 07:49:44 GMT

I live in W PA too and while we are saturated with teams, I'm sure you know they are not all created equally. That, and of course, the commute can be a killer just crossing from the North side to the South side, etc. Teams have their own personalities, but if he's enjoying his teammates, that is worth a fortune. The greatest technique coaches in the world can't overcome the negative vibe that could come from a group he doesn't gel with. My :2cents:.

RE: A question from a swim parent

Debugger — Sat, 25 Jun 2011 03:42:16 GMT

Any camp of such kind is like a presentation. They present different innovative things, teach to use them. Though swimming in your team it's a different thing it's a daily work which should be done. Camps don't include annual planning but it is necessary to do it in your daily trainings. If your son is a good swimmer mainly it's not desert of the camp but of his coach and his team. He should not mix 2 things: camp is designed to inspire swimmer and teach new things, swimming team and coach are to help in your daily growth. Any team has daily routine and it's kinda boring to do all these sets every day but it's impossible to grow without that. Swimming isn't a kind of sport where results come next day or week or even month. Planning is usually done for half a year. Now the question when it worth to change the team? 1 - when results are not growing for more than 1 year but even in that case it's better to talk to the coach first. 2 if there are serious misunderstandings in the team or between the team and the coach. Without unity in the team there will be no growth.

RE: A question from a swim parent

Patrick W. Brundage — Sat, 25 Jun 2011 01:30:31 GMT

Tough issues for sure. Before changing teams, consider talking with the coach. Changing teams is always an option, but resist the urge to 'team hop' too much. I've seen parents 'chase the dream' always looking for the greener grass and they seem to be on an endless search. No team is ever perfect. Does your kid have friends on the team? Emphasize the social and fun aspects of this. Can he stop for some period and come back to the sport? For sure. He's 12.