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
Mom and Dad are only in the pool when we take her swimming outside of training, but we're a big sports family. We cross-country ski together every weekend in winter (that's when the swimming has to take a back seat, because my daughter is a phenomenal cross-country skier) Mom and Dad are serious cyclists, and my daughter is sports crazy. We also all skate together and we show up at all her sports, including her soccer matches. She has to give up something soon to make way for the extra swim time.
As for the repeated fun references - that is a given. My daughter only does things she enjoys, and we work hard to protect that. Also, unlike some people, we don't believe that fun and competition, or fun and technique improvement, are mutually exclusive!
I guess I compare the swimming to her skiing where she's had terrific coaches who imparted technique along with enjoyment of the sport. I really don't see why she can't have a lot of fun, along with a bit of technique improvement.
Mom and Dad are only in the pool when we take her swimming outside of training, but we're a big sports family. We cross-country ski together every weekend in winter (that's when the swimming has to take a back seat, because my daughter is a phenomenal cross-country skier) Mom and Dad are serious cyclists, and my daughter is sports crazy. We also all skate together and we show up at all her sports, including her soccer matches. She has to give up something soon to make way for the extra swim time.
As for the repeated fun references - that is a given. My daughter only does things she enjoys, and we work hard to protect that. Also, unlike some people, we don't believe that fun and competition, or fun and technique improvement, are mutually exclusive!
I guess I compare the swimming to her skiing where she's had terrific coaches who imparted technique along with enjoyment of the sport. I really don't see why she can't have a lot of fun, along with a bit of technique improvement.
