George asked whether age group swimmers are being bullied/pressured into swimming by parents, coaches and friends. Are they? Are parents living out their "unfulfilled dreams" through their young ones, as Geek suggested in another thread? Share your funniest/saddest story about overbearing swim parents or coaches.
Don't feel bad Craig. He will be able to swim when he is 50, doubtful he will be able to play football, so the fact he is in the water, for whatever reason is a good thing.
I know about 10 young boys who are from the ages of 9yrs to 17yrs. Six had dads who swam in college. None of these boys will swim. they all say that swimming is too gay. I don't really know what that means since their dads had something to do with getting them here.
After I was in 11th grade, my fahter never watched me swim ever again. He was a single parent and was very busy. He thought that swimming as a sport was good exercise but boring to watch. He probalby only attended about half of the meets I ever participated. He would sit for hours watching golf.
I know quoting myself does seem odd.
Last night one of these boys actually said that he might start swimming because he needs to strengthen his legs. I almost cried!!!! then he said that it would help him in football.
Since I've gleaned so much swim "gossip" at my last few swim meets, I'd thought I'd share my latest horror story about overbearing swim parents.
Swimmer A and two siblings (B & C) have been swimming for Team X for 5 years. Swimmer A is an outstanding nationally ranked swimmer, setting records in my LMSC. Swimmer C was #1 in the nation last year in an event. Swimmer B is also a talented swimmer, swimming in JOs every year.
Parents of A, B, and C are very controlling. Very involved in their kids practices, times, etc. Lecturing if times don't live up to their notions.
Swimmer A turned 13 and became "distracted," starting loafing at practices, didn't try hard, set a bad example and still expected to do well at meets. Swimmer A had been warned by his coach that this behavior was unacceptable if he wanted to continue to succeed. Instead, his times plateaued or worsened and he did not have a stellar short course year. At the end of the year award banquet for his team, he did not win the Outstanding Swimmer Award in his age goup.
Parents, who hosted the banquet, were enraged. Coach explained that he did not want to give such an award to someone that was not working in practice. Parents were still enraged and demanded an award; coach respectfully declines. Coach had coached Swimmers A, B. and C for 5 years, including private lessons, and obviously was instrumental in their success. Parents do not care. They try to switch all 3 kids to the other head coach on the USS team. The other head coach doesn't want to coach them. So they put all 3 kids on a new team in the middle of the long course season. Swimmers B and C cry at meets because they are not swimming with their long time coach. Swimmers A, B and C, so far, are well off their times and not having good long course seasons.
I hate parents like this, blaming the coach instead of their own son.
(Oh, I know for a fact that Swimmer A's behavior is as described. No hearsay or elaboration on that score.)
Yikes, Fort, sounds like some parents with some hardcore need for parenting 101. Hopefully the kids turn out ok. And hopefully someone will put those parents in their place soon. Apparently they didn't get the message from their original team's coaches.
I'd like to think that when I am in that place in life (parent), I'd still have the stones to be blunt and bring that family back down to earth.
I refer to my earlier post about kids today being overindulged. Sounds like there's that and then some going on with A,B and C's parents.
"No Timmy, two plus two equalling five isn't "wrong" it's just original...here, have a medal because you're all winners!"
Good grief. Bravo to the coach in your story Leslie.
From my 12 years of observations, those parents never see themselves as being a problem. However, when the kids hit the teen years, they will handle the situation. I would say the 13 year old already is.
Now I must work-out and then drive, drive, drive my kid to swim practice, hope it is indoors, it is 49 out!
Since I've gleaned so much swim "gossip" at my last few swim meets, I'd thought I'd share my latest horror story about overbearing swim parents.
Swimmer A and two siblings (B & C) have been swimming for Team X for 5 years. Swimmer A is an outstanding nationally ranked swimmer, setting records in my LMSC. Swimmer C was #1 in the nation last year in an event. Swimmer B is also a talented swimmer, swimming in JOs every year.
Parents of A, B, and C are very controlling. Very involved in their kids practices, times, etc. Lecturing if times don't live up to their notions.
Swimmer A turned 13 and became "distracted," starting loafing at practices, didn't try hard, set a bad example and still expected to do well at meets. Swimmer A had been warned by his coach that this behavior was unacceptable if he wanted to continue to succeed. Instead, his times plateaued or worsened and he did not have a stellar short course year. At the end of the year award banquet for his team, he did not win the Outstanding Swimmer Award in his age goup.
Parents, who hosted the banquet, were enraged. Coach explained that he did not want to give such an award to someone that was not working in practice. Parents were still enraged and demanded an award; coach respectfully declines. Coach had coached Swimmers A, B. and C for 5 years, including private lessons, and obviously was instrumental in their success. Parents do not care. They try to switch all 3 kids to the other head coach on the USS team. The other head coach doesn't want to coach them. So they put all 3 kids on a new team in the middle of the long course season. Swimmers B and C cry at meets because they are not swimming with their long time coach. Swimmers A, B and C, so far, are well off their times and not having good long course seasons.
I hate parents like this, blaming the coach instead of their own son.
(Oh, I know for a fact that Swimmer A's behavior is as described. No hearsay or elaboration on that score.)
Sounds like one of those jokes about kids' games: ref says something like "couldn't believe all the rude, immature, bratty behavior at that game--and the kids were pretty annoying too!"
Doesn't sound like those parents ever grew up. :shakeshead:
Sounds like one of those jokes about kids' games: ref says something like "couldn't believe all the rude, immature, bratty behavior at that game--and the kids were pretty annoying too!"
Doesn't sound like those parents ever grew up. :shakeshead:
Oh no, it sounds like they grew up--and turned into annoying "stage moms"! Clearly, if there is a problem and their kids are not stars it is "our" problem, not the child's. We have some of these in our club too. These are the type of parents who think they can do a better job coaching than the professionals hired by the team.
Oh no, it sounds like they grew up--and turned into annoying "stage moms"! Clearly, if there is a problem and their kids are not stars it is "our" problem, not the child's. We have some of these in our club too. These are the type of parents who think they can do a better job coaching than the professionals hired by the team.
Well, yes, grew up physically, but I was thinking more in terms of behavior. Two words: arrested development. "Give me what I want when I want it or I'll throw a hissy fit." Main difference is that the "what I want" is for kid to be center stage, rather than, say, ice cream for breakfast.
