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
With the exception of the Boston Red Sox Logo, FOrtress is right on the money. My 7 year old is in the swimming program with other 7 year olds (very competitive age group team). It SHOULD BE ALL ABOUT FUN. If he wants 2 times a week great. If he wants to blow it off one day, fine by me.
Kids that start young are in grave danger of burning out. Also...don;t let the team pressure you into year round participation! There is a season for everything.
PS--Kurt Grote started swimming at age 15!!!
Here, here! The kids have to want to do it for the right reasons.
My 10 year-old told me after spring clinic that he wasn't sure he wanted to swim this fall. We talked about why (wanted to spend more time hanging out with non-swim friends) and he agreed to swim summer team because the season is short and he only had to race 50s. We let him skip summer practice as desired--just so long as he went 1-2 times per week.
By the end of the season he was talking to me about not being in the "fast heats" and I told him the coaches were not going to put him in the fast heats just because he's a nice kid. He'd have to earn it if he wanted it. The coaches knew he was in danger of giving up swimming, so they weren't pusing him hard, nor were they rewarding him for slacking off.
Fast forward to champs, and he swam his fastest 50 free to date (after only making the "B" cut) and was talking about which practice group he was going to make for winter team. He's swimming now beacuse he wants to, not becuase I'm making him.
Letting them be kids is important. So is teaching them about committment and hard work. Parents have to help them balance these two (at times) opposing forces.
With the exception of the Boston Red Sox Logo, FOrtress is right on the money. My 7 year old is in the swimming program with other 7 year olds (very competitive age group team). It SHOULD BE ALL ABOUT FUN. If he wants 2 times a week great. If he wants to blow it off one day, fine by me.
Kids that start young are in grave danger of burning out. Also...don;t let the team pressure you into year round participation! There is a season for everything.
PS--Kurt Grote started swimming at age 15!!!
Here, here! The kids have to want to do it for the right reasons.
My 10 year-old told me after spring clinic that he wasn't sure he wanted to swim this fall. We talked about why (wanted to spend more time hanging out with non-swim friends) and he agreed to swim summer team because the season is short and he only had to race 50s. We let him skip summer practice as desired--just so long as he went 1-2 times per week.
By the end of the season he was talking to me about not being in the "fast heats" and I told him the coaches were not going to put him in the fast heats just because he's a nice kid. He'd have to earn it if he wanted it. The coaches knew he was in danger of giving up swimming, so they weren't pusing him hard, nor were they rewarding him for slacking off.
Fast forward to champs, and he swam his fastest 50 free to date (after only making the "B" cut) and was talking about which practice group he was going to make for winter team. He's swimming now beacuse he wants to, not becuase I'm making him.
Letting them be kids is important. So is teaching them about committment and hard work. Parents have to help them balance these two (at times) opposing forces.
