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
Bip
At eight years of age I would suggest you relax a little and don't be pushy even though you say you are not. Let her get into the feel of swimming with a coach and give this coach a chance. If she moves up to the next rung of coaches too soon that could be worse than having what you think, a bad coach. Not all good coaches have the credentials, but I do know bad coaches that have all the credentials that I would not let a child of mine swim for.
Coach shopping has ruined swimming in Canada. Every one wanted to move to swim for the Johnstons and boy were they burned.
Bip
At eight years of age I would suggest you relax a little and don't be pushy even though you say you are not. Let her get into the feel of swimming with a coach and give this coach a chance. If she moves up to the next rung of coaches too soon that could be worse than having what you think, a bad coach. Not all good coaches have the credentials, but I do know bad coaches that have all the credentials that I would not let a child of mine swim for.
Coach shopping has ruined swimming in Canada. Every one wanted to move to swim for the Johnstons and boy were they burned.
