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
Parents
Former Member
Most kids hate this. I'd leave it to the coaches. On the rare occasion when I try to say something in a constructive way, I get the "look."
You have a teen...the "look" is de rigeur. :D You can still give advice...even if they pull faces...just never lead in with a checklist of what they did wrong.
It also depends on the kid. Lucky for me, mine plays soccer, and she has seen me play, and has asked me to help coach so she knows I understand the game. Usually it's minor things and I try to get her to explain what happened or didn't happen then give my input. My son is just too young at 5 to do anything other than go and run around...though he gave me a detailed play by play of his goal Saturday...
:lmao:
Most kids hate this. I'd leave it to the coaches. On the rare occasion when I try to say something in a constructive way, I get the "look."
You have a teen...the "look" is de rigeur. :D You can still give advice...even if they pull faces...just never lead in with a checklist of what they did wrong.
It also depends on the kid. Lucky for me, mine plays soccer, and she has seen me play, and has asked me to help coach so she knows I understand the game. Usually it's minor things and I try to get her to explain what happened or didn't happen then give my input. My son is just too young at 5 to do anything other than go and run around...though he gave me a detailed play by play of his goal Saturday...
:lmao:
