This is a little long winded and I apologize. I am new here. Let me introduce myself first. I am a father of a 6 year old daughter who wanted to join our club's Summer swim team in May of this year. She knew how to swim and play around in the pool, but no structure or real swim stroke technique. Comparatively, she did well and I think it really excited her. After the Summer season, there was a month off before the year round team started. She wanted to join and I had no issues. I told her as long as it was fun for her she can do it as long as she wanted.
Fast forward to her first real swim meet this past weekend. It was more of an extended time trial than an actual meet in my opinion (no medals/ribbons/trophies or acknowledgement of place). This is all new to me. It was a little of a shock to realize that 10&U are all in one age group. I already had the discussion with her that her expectations need to be lower because there are more swimmers, older swimmers, swimmers with more experience, etc. She was one of only about four 6yo swimmers from multiple teams at this meet. The first thing she told me after it was over is that she came in last in everything (she was usually swimming with 8 and 9 year olds in her heat). She was a little discouraged and I explained to her that we discussed it and level set expectation. She was OK with it and continued practicing as always.
Fast forward to me, it is more upsetting to me than to her. She got over coming in near last in all 4 strokes after a lollipop. For me, I have no clue what goals to expect. I have read that the only goals should be:
1. Have fun
2. Learn better stroke technique
3. Try to improve on times over the season
4. Have fun
The competitive side of me (which she never sees) wants her swimming 38 second 50s for each stroke.
Is there any advice anyone can give a conflicted father? What should my goal expectations for her be (her goal is to get wet and swim)?
Parents
Former Member
I think it is best to back off and only chauffeur for practice.
To balance what others said, I am NOT from a swimming family. Over four generations I am the only one who even knows how to swim. I had been competing for 10+ years when my father noticed that IM and medley relay had different order of strokes!
As an outsider, with parents who kept a far distance (not from my life but from my athletics), I can say I had it much easier than kids who had meddlesome swimming parents. I made my mistakes, I learned some bonus life lessons, etc., but it all took place without the need for parental input. Other kids had their noses excessively rubbed in their mistakes, or had to deal with humiliation when their father flipped out to coaches or other parents over something downright trivial.
I think it is best to back off and only chauffeur for practice.
To balance what others said, I am NOT from a swimming family. Over four generations I am the only one who even knows how to swim. I had been competing for 10+ years when my father noticed that IM and medley relay had different order of strokes!
As an outsider, with parents who kept a far distance (not from my life but from my athletics), I can say I had it much easier than kids who had meddlesome swimming parents. I made my mistakes, I learned some bonus life lessons, etc., but it all took place without the need for parental input. Other kids had their noses excessively rubbed in their mistakes, or had to deal with humiliation when their father flipped out to coaches or other parents over something downright trivial.
