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
What are his top times right now?
Who cares?! 8 year old times are irrelevant and virtually no indicator of future success.
Pushy parents are the worst! All kids, even those who LOVE swimming, hate those kind of parents and gossip about them relentlessly. Stand back and cheer on good effort. Then shut up. Your only worry is getting them to practice on time, buying equipment and cheering some.
Young boys are notorious for finding swimming quite dull. It is compared to ball sports. They're swimming up and down a lane line and it might hurt to go fast. Some very young boys have that early passion, but I think it kicks in more around 11-12 for boys. If it doesn't kick in for swimming, let him find/pick the sport he loves. My boy, now 15, had natural swimming talent, but had NO interest in joining a USA team. He's intensely and passionately into running now.
My daughter, by contrast, was into swimming and racing at a young age and had early success. Her coaches encouraged her, but reminded her that there are "no elite swimmers who are 10." It's not what you do at that age, it's whether you have the temperment and tenacity and passion to stick with swimming over the long haul. You also have to be willing to forgo other sports and give up a big chunk of your social life. Not for everyone, thus swimming is a high burnout sport. If you start pushing now, you could see an early fry. 2x a week in an organized program is plenty for a boy of 8, if that. The emphasis should be on fun IMHO.
Every kid is different though. Some have fire and passion and competitive drive immediately, some develop it when they find their niche, and some just aren't jazzed by sports. Gotta experiment.
What are his top times right now?
Who cares?! 8 year old times are irrelevant and virtually no indicator of future success.
Pushy parents are the worst! All kids, even those who LOVE swimming, hate those kind of parents and gossip about them relentlessly. Stand back and cheer on good effort. Then shut up. Your only worry is getting them to practice on time, buying equipment and cheering some.
Young boys are notorious for finding swimming quite dull. It is compared to ball sports. They're swimming up and down a lane line and it might hurt to go fast. Some very young boys have that early passion, but I think it kicks in more around 11-12 for boys. If it doesn't kick in for swimming, let him find/pick the sport he loves. My boy, now 15, had natural swimming talent, but had NO interest in joining a USA team. He's intensely and passionately into running now.
My daughter, by contrast, was into swimming and racing at a young age and had early success. Her coaches encouraged her, but reminded her that there are "no elite swimmers who are 10." It's not what you do at that age, it's whether you have the temperment and tenacity and passion to stick with swimming over the long haul. You also have to be willing to forgo other sports and give up a big chunk of your social life. Not for everyone, thus swimming is a high burnout sport. If you start pushing now, you could see an early fry. 2x a week in an organized program is plenty for a boy of 8, if that. The emphasis should be on fun IMHO.
Every kid is different though. Some have fire and passion and competitive drive immediately, some develop it when they find their niche, and some just aren't jazzed by sports. Gotta experiment.
