I have three kids swimming.
Two girls (8 & 10) and a son 12.
All the kids started together (private lessons) about three years ago. Today they are involved in age-group swimming. The girls are seeing great results (best/fourth in our country), ds is still busy "catching-up". He is incredibly dedicated and ambitious, his dream being to come home with medals...
He does enjoy swimming...but, we can turn it any way we want, he is after measurable performance! Ds is good, and has come a long way. Still, I am wondering whether he will ever excel...
He is athletically built and will likely be tall. These past months he has trained five times per week (2h), and will step it up to 6/7 times per week in the fall. I am wondering whether this "will do", or whether we should gently steer ds towards a sport where he can truly succeed (by his standards!!).
I don't know a thing about swimming, so am in no position to judge this situation. Most of all, I am not a "pool-mom", and my only concern is, that my sun might be chasing a shadow....
Thank you for any insights!
Parents
Former Member
What do his coaches say about this? They are a far better judge of his talent, ability and commitment then we are.
He has had his coach since the beginning of the year. The coach is great...but not particularly talkative...
For him all is well, as ds is developing "just fine". He is encouraging daily training, if possible.
I am so insecure about swimming and the typical development of a swimmer.
If he was passionate about playing the piano, I would have a much better idea about how far he could realistically get with loads of training...the same with studying a language (talent or not!).
Sports in general, and swimming in particular, are not my areas of expertise - and that is fine, as ds has a good coach!
But, still, sometimes I feel like I was cheering on my girls to study Latin, promising them to become Pope one day... It's not going to happen, however much I drive them to practice, cheer on them, and encourage...
I feel it is as much my responsibility as a parent to help and encourage, as it is to be a guide, and in that particular case it might be to encourage other physical activities... I just don't know!!!
But, yes, it is very encouraging, to hear that other swimmers bloomed later!!
It makes me feel much more authentic when encouraging ds to follow his dream...:)
What do his coaches say about this? They are a far better judge of his talent, ability and commitment then we are.
He has had his coach since the beginning of the year. The coach is great...but not particularly talkative...
For him all is well, as ds is developing "just fine". He is encouraging daily training, if possible.
I am so insecure about swimming and the typical development of a swimmer.
If he was passionate about playing the piano, I would have a much better idea about how far he could realistically get with loads of training...the same with studying a language (talent or not!).
Sports in general, and swimming in particular, are not my areas of expertise - and that is fine, as ds has a good coach!
But, still, sometimes I feel like I was cheering on my girls to study Latin, promising them to become Pope one day... It's not going to happen, however much I drive them to practice, cheer on them, and encourage...
I feel it is as much my responsibility as a parent to help and encourage, as it is to be a guide, and in that particular case it might be to encourage other physical activities... I just don't know!!!
But, yes, it is very encouraging, to hear that other swimmers bloomed later!!
It makes me feel much more authentic when encouraging ds to follow his dream...:)
