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
I think there IS a place for informed parental coaching. That is when the child's coach is inattentive or not very good. It isn't always easy to just change programs either - depending on the pool location, schedule etc.
I like my kids' club coach. But she seems to simply not emphasize streamlining on the start. So I talk about that with my kids. It's mostly a reminder.
Also - video taping is one thing a parent can do that a coach will not do. My boys really like to see video tapes of their races. We look at them together and the boys can coach themselves.
I think there IS a place for informed parental coaching. That is when the child's coach is inattentive or not very good. It isn't always easy to just change programs either - depending on the pool location, schedule etc.
I like my kids' club coach. But she seems to simply not emphasize streamlining on the start. So I talk about that with my kids. It's mostly a reminder.
Also - video taping is one thing a parent can do that a coach will not do. My boys really like to see video tapes of their races. We look at them together and the boys can coach themselves.
