Hi: I'm new to this forum, but it looks like a great place to get information.
I have an 8 year old girl who was in a VERY relaxed semi-competitive program for a couple of years with volunteer lifeguard coaches. This season she joined a competitive club - we thought this would be a good place for her to get her technique improved while she was still young.
Unfortunately, this club's junior coach has never swum competitively, has only coached one year, and has yet to finish her level 1 certification. None of those 3 is a killer, but together they scare me! Also, the coach seems very reluctant to discuss anything with parents, so we're feeling a little uneasy.
I'm not a pushy crazy parent, and I don't want to interfere with the coach. I do want to help my daughter's technique, however, especially her breastroke. She's clearly got some potential there, and I want to ensure things progress. She's swimming 3 times a week, 90mins each tme.
Any suggestions? Should I get a book (any recommended) and try to work with her myself a little (I'm an ex - very ex - competitive breastroker). Should I video her and seek out a coach who can comment? Should I just butt out, hope and pray? I can't pull her and go elsewhere (and I'm not sure I would, as she likes it there, and that's very important).
She also has a very rigid straightleg freestyle kick that causes her legs to tire very easily - combined with her high head position this complicates things for her freestyle. I want to work on that too, so any suggestions?
Any comments appreciated.
Parents
Former Member
like the other posters, it's important that she's having fun and meeting new friends, and maintaining a positive self image. I've been swimming since I was 6 and don't really remember anything competitve until I was about 11 (when all of a sudden it got serious...and by 12--you get the idea). What i remember from being under 11 is: making friends, having fun, enjoying the support of the older kids, looking forward to swimming, being in awe of the older faster kids, and getting the support of my parents.
The best thing you can do is keep her active, take her to higher level swimming competition if possible, and being around all the great role models that swimming attracts.
And is mom or dad in the pool? or at the tennis court? that helps kids too, seeing mom and dad engaged in sports too.
like the other posters, it's important that she's having fun and meeting new friends, and maintaining a positive self image. I've been swimming since I was 6 and don't really remember anything competitve until I was about 11 (when all of a sudden it got serious...and by 12--you get the idea). What i remember from being under 11 is: making friends, having fun, enjoying the support of the older kids, looking forward to swimming, being in awe of the older faster kids, and getting the support of my parents.
The best thing you can do is keep her active, take her to higher level swimming competition if possible, and being around all the great role models that swimming attracts.
And is mom or dad in the pool? or at the tennis court? that helps kids too, seeing mom and dad engaged in sports too.
