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
Fortunately, the experiences of competitive swimming families, including most of my friends with teenage kids, here in Charlotte are much different. If you aren't having fun doing a sport, what is the point? Grueling, hard, difficult, definitely but also fun. I'm glad the fun police haven't busted the programs we have here on felony charges of assault with a dreadful swim team.
I wasn't referring to running around the backyard as a way that families can enjoy fitness together, although I guess that's fine. There are competitive family triathlons, bike events, family running races, swim events, etc, weekly here we do together, same as most cities.
That's what I said: "fun" but also "grueling, hard and difficult" at times. So it appears we're in agreement and there is no difference between area teams. A kid cannot continue in a sport if it is not also fun. But presumably, unless you have a teflon kid or the mini-geeks are the best of the best of the best, there will inevitably be some disappointments or setbacks or injuries. For example, meets are fun. But becoming very ill before or during a big, long-anticipated meet or race is not fun. Though the adversity may reap other valuable life lessons.
Thanks for the attempted education on workouts. I've done plenty of family aquathlons, road races, turkey trots and fun runs. The little one just did her third one mile fun run. We're already planning the annual family turkey trot. Family or competitive fun is not the exclusive domain of Charlotte natives. Although brick walls may be.
Fortunately, the experiences of competitive swimming families, including most of my friends with teenage kids, here in Charlotte are much different. If you aren't having fun doing a sport, what is the point? Grueling, hard, difficult, definitely but also fun. I'm glad the fun police haven't busted the programs we have here on felony charges of assault with a dreadful swim team.
I wasn't referring to running around the backyard as a way that families can enjoy fitness together, although I guess that's fine. There are competitive family triathlons, bike events, family running races, swim events, etc, weekly here we do together, same as most cities.
That's what I said: "fun" but also "grueling, hard and difficult" at times. So it appears we're in agreement and there is no difference between area teams. A kid cannot continue in a sport if it is not also fun. But presumably, unless you have a teflon kid or the mini-geeks are the best of the best of the best, there will inevitably be some disappointments or setbacks or injuries. For example, meets are fun. But becoming very ill before or during a big, long-anticipated meet or race is not fun. Though the adversity may reap other valuable life lessons.
Thanks for the attempted education on workouts. I've done plenty of family aquathlons, road races, turkey trots and fun runs. The little one just did her third one mile fun run. We're already planning the annual family turkey trot. Family or competitive fun is not the exclusive domain of Charlotte natives. Although brick walls may be.
