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
I'll try to keep this on subject and avoid the "my kid is better than your kid" discussion. I agree with Stud in that there is nothing wrong with coaching your kids. It's something you can do together, provided it stays healthy.
Having an 8 year old swimmer and being around them most days, I think, just like adults, they come in all shapes and sizes and needs for swimming. Some need the push, others don't. A good coach can figure this out and step up or back off.
While I agree that you don't have to excel at a sport between 8-12 to become good at it, I also believe if you stink at a sport at that age, you probably won't develop into something more than average. I believe this to be a general principle, with obvious noteworthy exceptions. Many of my friends play/played college or pro sports and none started after the age of 12.
I'll try to keep this on subject and avoid the "my kid is better than your kid" discussion. I agree with Stud in that there is nothing wrong with coaching your kids. It's something you can do together, provided it stays healthy.
Having an 8 year old swimmer and being around them most days, I think, just like adults, they come in all shapes and sizes and needs for swimming. Some need the push, others don't. A good coach can figure this out and step up or back off.
While I agree that you don't have to excel at a sport between 8-12 to become good at it, I also believe if you stink at a sport at that age, you probably won't develop into something more than average. I believe this to be a general principle, with obvious noteworthy exceptions. Many of my friends play/played college or pro sports and none started after the age of 12.
