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.
So teach her what you know. It has been done many times before. You are the technique tutor and the coach gives her the practice time she needs for training.
Your daughter is 8. She is incapable of being conflicted, she just wants to have fun with her friends. If she likes to race, you will have to make sure she gets the training to excel, because she certainly does not know what to do. If the coach cannot or will not give her the technique training you think she needs to move on to another level of competition, it is up to you to make sure that she gets it.
It really boils down to the amount of time you are willing to invest in your daughter's swimming. The coach that you have described and your strong feelings about his competency have already determined what you think needs to be done. Now you have to decide whether or not you will do it.
So teach her what you know. It has been done many times before. You are the technique tutor and the coach gives her the practice time she needs for training.
Your daughter is 8. She is incapable of being conflicted, she just wants to have fun with her friends. If she likes to race, you will have to make sure she gets the training to excel, because she certainly does not know what to do. If the coach cannot or will not give her the technique training you think she needs to move on to another level of competition, it is up to you to make sure that she gets it.
It really boils down to the amount of time you are willing to invest in your daughter's swimming. The coach that you have described and your strong feelings about his competency have already determined what you think needs to be done. Now you have to decide whether or not you will do it.
