Greetings all!!
A LONG time ago, I was an age group swimmer. Not all that good, really ... basically I was a 5-6-7 finisher from age 8 through high school. (Thus, no one wanted me for anything more serious!!)
My son, now age 8.5, started swimming on a team this summer and seemed to enjoy it. It was at an outdoor pool and it was a pretty laid back program. This month, we started him in a YMCA program that's considerable more organized. He seems to have a lot of natural talent (for his swimming, baseball, skiing, school work) but no PASSION for anything ... yet.
Now, I know that he's young and I definitely don't want to be a pushy parent, but I do have a question.
For those of you who had success swimming post-high school (college level or nationally), when did that spark of PASSION to really do something special ignite? Was it something your parents did ... or, maybe, did not do? Was it a coach? Happen young? Or late?
I want to encourage him but not pressure him. I had little talent, and thus wasn't able to do all that much athletically. But, he seems to have a LOT of natural talent and I don't want to see him pass up opportunities.
Thanks in advance for any thoughts.
Cheers!!
Ken
Wow, interesting responses so far. I have always been against "pushing" kids in sports. I can see signing them up and making them try something if they are the type of kid that never wants to do anything. But pushing kids to excel seems both pushy and probably futile. Most cases of parent "pushing" I've witnessed have been much more about the parent's competitive drive and passion than the kid's. Those are parents you want to hand a suit to and tell THEM to get in the water.
I didn't even start swimming year-round until I was a freshman in high-school and my parents supported me 100% but never ever pushed. I ended up swimming at the National level and in college as well.
I think my passion came from being pretty good and being very competitive by nature. Everyone's different, but I just don't see passion being forced on anyone...
Wow, interesting responses so far. I have always been against "pushing" kids in sports. I can see signing them up and making them try something if they are the type of kid that never wants to do anything. But pushing kids to excel seems both pushy and probably futile. Most cases of parent "pushing" I've witnessed have been much more about the parent's competitive drive and passion than the kid's. Those are parents you want to hand a suit to and tell THEM to get in the water.
I didn't even start swimming year-round until I was a freshman in high-school and my parents supported me 100% but never ever pushed. I ended up swimming at the National level and in college as well.
I think my passion came from being pretty good and being very competitive by nature. Everyone's different, but I just don't see passion being forced on anyone...
