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?
FWIW -
There are lots of ideas and philosophies out there about the best way to swim fast. Every coach has their own philosophy. SO, when I coached and parents asked me about private lessons or camps or clinics, I would tell the same thing every time.
"I am fine with you taking your daughter/son to someone for private lessons/clinics/camps. BUT, don't expect me to change my philosophy to suit the private lesson. I know what I am doing and my track record backs it up. This means that I am going to re-inforce my philosophy in practices. I never told the swimmer the other individual or camp was wrong - I just told them what works for my swimmers."
Very similar to letting your kids go to a different set of parents since they might not like your parenting style. Would you do that??
Just something to consider.
PW
FWIW -
There are lots of ideas and philosophies out there about the best way to swim fast. Every coach has their own philosophy. SO, when I coached and parents asked me about private lessons or camps or clinics, I would tell the same thing every time.
"I am fine with you taking your daughter/son to someone for private lessons/clinics/camps. BUT, don't expect me to change my philosophy to suit the private lesson. I know what I am doing and my track record backs it up. This means that I am going to re-inforce my philosophy in practices. I never told the swimmer the other individual or camp was wrong - I just told them what works for my swimmers."
Very similar to letting your kids go to a different set of parents since they might not like your parenting style. Would you do that??
Just something to consider.
PW
