I need some advice on how to handle a situation with my daughter. She is 12 years-old and swims year round competitively. She's very good but not elite, at least at this point. We had a situation today at a meet where she was in tears after a race. Her coach has become sort of fixated on one swimmer in their group's success (a swimmer who happens to be my daughter's closest friend). I'm sure most of you know the deal. I totally get it. The thing that bothers me about what my daughter told me, however, is that he gives this girl advice right before races but does not do the same for others. After the race he told my daughter to go cool down and then come to him to get after-race advice, but instead he went to have a 20 minute conversation with the girl's mom.
I understand that the more talented swimmers will get more attention, but I think coaches at this age should also be cognizant of giving all their swimmers some confidence and a sense that the coach takes interest in their success too. Am I off base with this? My son is a bottom tier swimmer whose coach gives him a few words of advice before races. Nobody is asking for undeserved praise or rewards, but a simple acknowledgement that the coach cares about your performance too would be nice.
At meets, a coach should talk with his swimmers before & after each race.
The swimmer should walk up to the coach about 15 or 20 minutes before and immediately after each race.
The talk should be inspiring, encouraging with a few simple things to help her.
Coaches should keep conversations short sweet and to the point to be fair to the team.
He should avoid getting into long conversations during the meet while swimmers are racing or needing to talk with him before or after their races.
The coach does not need to track down each swimmer. At meets, coaches usually stay around the same spot to observe races & talk with swimmers.
Bring the situation to his attention in a simple straight forward manner and look for improvement in the future.
Here's what we observed.
Here's what we'd like to see.
We hope this is a reasonable request.
Definately this.
I tried to speak to every swimmer after a race and many times had to chase down swimmers (typically teenage boys :-) ) to give them post race comments.
At meets, a coach should talk with his swimmers before & after each race.
The swimmer should walk up to the coach about 15 or 20 minutes before and immediately after each race.
The talk should be inspiring, encouraging with a few simple things to help her.
Coaches should keep conversations short sweet and to the point to be fair to the team.
He should avoid getting into long conversations during the meet while swimmers are racing or needing to talk with him before or after their races.
The coach does not need to track down each swimmer. At meets, coaches usually stay around the same spot to observe races & talk with swimmers.
Bring the situation to his attention in a simple straight forward manner and look for improvement in the future.
Here's what we observed.
Here's what we'd like to see.
We hope this is a reasonable request.
Definately this.
I tried to speak to every swimmer after a race and many times had to chase down swimmers (typically teenage boys :-) ) to give them post race comments.
