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
Originally posted by bip
I'm having a lot of difficulty with the suggestion that technique isn't important, or relevant. I'm also having a lot of difficulty with the suggestion that fun and technique are mutually exclusive, or with the suggestion that only a pushy parent would want both. This has nothing to do with my not approving of the coaching "style" of the person.
I know that I did not suggest at any point that technique is not important. I would never say that. I work with kids your daughters age, my age (not really a kid), and teenagers and technique is important at any age! If the coach that is in question is new, she/he is still finding their groove in dealing with the kids and their parents.
Just think of this, how would you feel if there were fifty parents looking over your shoulder constantly at your job and always evaluating your work? I would imagine that this would be pretty tough for any profession. It is hard to be under a microscope every time you set out to do your job and learn in the process. I know that when I first started I was extremely anxious at the fact that there were all eyes and ears on me. This coach should be given a chance to get used to being on "stage" night after night.
Originally posted by bip
I'm having a lot of difficulty with the suggestion that technique isn't important, or relevant. I'm also having a lot of difficulty with the suggestion that fun and technique are mutually exclusive, or with the suggestion that only a pushy parent would want both. This has nothing to do with my not approving of the coaching "style" of the person.
I know that I did not suggest at any point that technique is not important. I would never say that. I work with kids your daughters age, my age (not really a kid), and teenagers and technique is important at any age! If the coach that is in question is new, she/he is still finding their groove in dealing with the kids and their parents.
Just think of this, how would you feel if there were fifty parents looking over your shoulder constantly at your job and always evaluating your work? I would imagine that this would be pretty tough for any profession. It is hard to be under a microscope every time you set out to do your job and learn in the process. I know that when I first started I was extremely anxious at the fact that there were all eyes and ears on me. This coach should be given a chance to get used to being on "stage" night after night.
