Hi everyone, I'm a new swim parent.
My daughter just wrapped up her first season of swimming (8 years old, will be 9 very soon). She has been moved up to the next training group. I'm wondering if it's very common and normal for the training groups to be 18 or more kids with one or maybe two coaches.
Her current training group was the same, often maybe 25 kids with only one coach sometimes. It was a crap shoot most days - kids constantly bumping into each other in crowded lanes. My daughter made some good progress this year but has a LOT of room for technique refinement on each stroke, plus could use work on her dives and turns. So basically everything, lol. My point is - I don't see how she will be able to improve her technique while training in such a large group with basically no individual attention. During most workouts she might get one individual comment from the coach. Is this normal?? Do I need to sit back and relax? Or should I plan to sign her up for some private lessons?
I know in the gymnastics and dance worlds, private lessons are par for the course. It's something most everyone does once they reach the competitive levels. Is swimming the same way? How often should a kid in the 9-10 age group be doing a private lesson?
Hi! I'm a masters coach and do a lot of private lessons at our pool. I have a variety of the swim team kids ask for lessons from beginners to older more advanced trying to fix a bad habit. My own opinion, however, is that for the most part, swim team kids don't need private lessons. If they are in the water several times a week for practice, what we do in a half hour lesson isn't going to stick much when they are training with a group and trying to keep up. That being said, here are three scenarios I am happy to take on when I know the details:
1. The KID is asking for lessons, not the parent. This is usually the case with the older ones I get, and they make the most gains from the lessons because they want to be there and have specific goals.
2. The kid doesn't absorb and make changes based on the coach addressing the whole group. The coach is giving plenty of tips and instructions each practice, and some kids hear it all and do what is asked, and some just don't learn unless they are being directly corrected. That is OK. And if a kid really needs some individual attention, then I am happy to take them on.
3. The swimmer needs a very specific skill worked on and there is a finite timeline on the lessons. "Can we get three lessons with you to work on Joey's (starts/turns/etc.)?" This may be something they just need more time on that doesn't happen at practice.
I hope that helps a little. Sounds like your little one is off to a great start. Just keep it fun for now! If specific things start to appear that they want to work on, then I would revisit the idea of lessons.
Hi! I'm a masters coach and do a lot of private lessons at our pool. I have a variety of the swim team kids ask for lessons from beginners to older more advanced trying to fix a bad habit. My own opinion, however, is that for the most part, swim team kids don't need private lessons. If they are in the water several times a week for practice, what we do in a half hour lesson isn't going to stick much when they are training with a group and trying to keep up. That being said, here are three scenarios I am happy to take on when I know the details:
1. The KID is asking for lessons, not the parent. This is usually the case with the older ones I get, and they make the most gains from the lessons because they want to be there and have specific goals.
2. The kid doesn't absorb and make changes based on the coach addressing the whole group. The coach is giving plenty of tips and instructions each practice, and some kids hear it all and do what is asked, and some just don't learn unless they are being directly corrected. That is OK. And if a kid really needs some individual attention, then I am happy to take them on.
3. The swimmer needs a very specific skill worked on and there is a finite timeline on the lessons. "Can we get three lessons with you to work on Joey's (starts/turns/etc.)?" This may be something they just need more time on that doesn't happen at practice.
I hope that helps a little. Sounds like your little one is off to a great start. Just keep it fun for now! If specific things start to appear that they want to work on, then I would revisit the idea of lessons.
