Age Group Advice - PASSION?

I'd make sure he has FUN at it for now. Learn to do the strokes well, and efficiently, looking good. Lots of body changes going on, staying coordinate is a challenge. Rewards work to a point. Make sure you trust the coach to apply the right amount of pressure and encouragement, and in 8 y.o. terms. I've been working with my kids to get them to be more challenge-oriented. Something simple at first, they accomplish it, they get rewarded and excited, then the next challenge is ratcheted up a bit. If they don't bite, patience. Once they get motivated by feeling good about their accomplishments, they might go in any direction possible, even if it's not swimming. Every kid is different. It might have worked for us, so far, and we're looking at contributions to future car payments, etc. in exchange for serious, forward-thinking achievements at school, scouting, etc. that we think they will respond to. Otherwise, they get to sweat out their own financials on discretionary purchases. My 2 cents, DV

You should put pressure on him. He will try harder and start getting better then he might develope a love for the sport because he is good at it. Don't pressure him to much though, just enough to where it is positive. What are his top times right now?

I agree with Stud in that there is nothing wrong with coaching your kids.I hesitate to disagree, but unless you okay it with the real coach it is often not a good idea to coach your kids. Be engaged in their swimming, yes. Ask the coach what you can do to help your kids, yes. But second guessing the coach or providing coaching that may be different from the real coach is not good for the swimmers. As someone who has swum and coached for most of my life, it was difficult to not provide personal coaching to my kids, without first asking permission from the coach. But I have learned to always ask my kids what did the coach say about your swim, instead of breaking down their race and critiquing their pace, tempo, starts turns, technique, etc. I’ve also put away the stop watch, so I no longer review splits with my kids; I ask what the coach said about your pacing. I leave all of this up to the coach, however I do ask the coach what I can to help and I always make sure my kids know they are lucky because they have one of the best coaches in the world. I am very much engaged in my children’s swimming and their life in general, but I do not provide unsolicited coaching. And this seems to be working. My son has gone from a novice to an Olympic trials qualifier in 6 years and my daughter has gone from novice to decent middle of the pack swimmer, having fun and making friends. And I couldn’t be prouder of both of them.

Triathlon is three sports, not one. And, Fort, I have no doubt your kids are faster, stronger, and smarter that just about everyone's elses. Well, prior to the fun in the pool and the Hawaiian breaststroke, you were speaking of actually coaching your kids. And I have no doubt that your aim is to make your kids the fastest and strongest swimmers possible, Geek. And, after all the coaching from daddy and David Marsh, maybe they will be. My aim is to have well-adjusted active kids doing well in all areas of life (academic, athletic and social), whether they're swimming, dancing in the Nutcracker, playing rec soccer or taking guitar lessons. For the record, my youngest doesn't show much competitive fire or prowess at the moment. But, since I practice what I preach, I'm not sweating it. I do hope they end up smart so they can grow up to spar with the lofty likes of you on their own sports forums. Crew and cross country are further exceptions to your 8-12 rule.

Hey my little Mia Hamm is on the travel squad! ;) Outrageous braggart!!

Well, prior to the fun in the pool and the Hawaiian breaststroke, you were speaking of actually coaching your kids. Fun and coaching aren't mutually exclusive.

Fun and coaching aren't mutually exclusive. Perhaps not at a very young age. When they're older, good luck with that. I could recount many anedotal incidences of parental coaching backfiring, but you dislike the anecdotal so intensely, I won't bother.

No don't put pressure on him. He is only 8. Put pressure on him and he will learn to dislike it. If he is having fun, then that is the most important thing. The other stuff will come. Kids have different personalities and some show their passion in different ways than others. Some take a while to grow and mature, but you need to let him be a kid and let him have fun. 8 is too young to worry about this stuff. With my kids my 19 year old probably had the most passion for swimming between 10-14. My 14 year old is happy go lucky and still just swims for the fun of being with friends and physical exercise. Her passion is art and music, which showed up early, by age 5 or 6.

I'm not sure why any parent would put their kid in a program that wasn't fun, regardless of age. If my kids and I enjoy working out together, not sure why you are so opposed, but hey, whatever. It seems to work fine for me and Stud.

I didn't say it shouldn't be fun, although no way is serious competitive swimming a non-stop laugh a minute fun fest. I said "good luck with that" because, once kids are older, you can't cloak coaching under the guise of fun. Family workouts are lovely. I often kick the ball around in the backyard with my youngest and race her around the house and whatnot.