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
Former Member
I think an 8-9 year old should experience a variety of sports. My three kids all swam summer league (mostly to make them drown proof), and two of them continued on to year round programs (around 10-12 yrs. old). I agree that pressure on an 8 yr. old is a bad thing. I will say though a child that age is just about old enough to understand that they joined a team, and being part of team involves some basic commitment. So I would not let my child just blow off practice anytime they wanted to.
I would be very wary of the team and coaching. If you see any sign of pounding yardage with kids that age - change teams. Swimming does have burnout and I would aim for the child to stay somewhat relaxe about swimming until middle school or so. If they really like the sport - that is the time for them to make a bigger commitment to it.
I would also make some effort over time to help them appreciate the uniqueness of swimming. Kids will get pressure from their non-swimming friends to play basketball or football, etc. and some kids have difficulty with being in a slightly less common sport. Take 'em to a championship meet in your area. Watch swimming with the upcoming Olympics. Etc.....
What are his top times right now?
Who cares?! 8 year old times are irrelevant and virtually no indicator of future success.
Pushy parents are the worst! All kids, even those who LOVE swimming, hate those kind of parents and gossip about them relentlessly. Stand back and cheer on good effort. Then shut up. Your only worry is getting them to practice on time, buying equipment and cheering some.
Young boys are notorious for finding swimming quite dull. It is compared to ball sports. They're swimming up and down a lane line and it might hurt to go fast. Some very young boys have that early passion, but I think it kicks in more around 11-12 for boys. If it doesn't kick in for swimming, let him find/pick the sport he loves. My boy, now 15, had natural swimming talent, but had NO interest in joining a USA team. He's intensely and passionately into running now.
My daughter, by contrast, was into swimming and racing at a young age and had early success. Her coaches encouraged her, but reminded her that there are "no elite swimmers who are 10." It's not what you do at that age, it's whether you have the temperment and tenacity and passion to stick with swimming over the long haul. You also have to be willing to forgo other sports and give up a big chunk of your social life. Not for everyone, thus swimming is a high burnout sport. If you start pushing now, you could see an early fry. 2x a week in an organized program is plenty for a boy of 8, if that. The emphasis should be on fun IMHO.
Every kid is different though. Some have fire and passion and competitive drive immediately, some develop it when they find their niche, and some just aren't jazzed by sports. Gotta experiment.
Who cares?! 8 year old times are irrelevant and virtually no indicator of future success...
2x a week in an organized program is plenty for a boy of 8, if that. The emphasis should be on fun IMHO...
too bad more parents haven't figured this out! pushy mini teamer parents make me sick (and it takes a lot of restraint to not get really really mouthy with them when i'm coaching!)
our mini teamers are encouraged to try and make 2 practices a week. definitely not any more than that. if they only make 1 a week, oh well! fun should definitely be the name of the game at that age!
Talk about things they can work on doing right after (but only if you know what you're talking about).
Most kids hate this. I'd leave it to the coaches. On the rare occasion when I try to say something in a constructive way, I get the "look."
Mollie: Mini-Fort only swam 2x a week through age 10. As you know, no adverse effect. It's just not worth overtraining when young.
Fortress, you know times at that age definatly matters :agree:, just kidding, but it does matter a little. Also I know times at that age times don't predict the future, I was just curious to see what they were.
Doesn't matter, IMHO. Times can change quickly at that age.
If good times at that age are achieved with virtually no effort, it may indicate some natural talent (or maybe just natural athleticism) that may continue to grow with time and proper coaching. If they reflect the fact that you're in the water on a daily basis, not so much. Plus, I've seen it time and time again. Someone with success as a youth because of pool time (or whatever) plateaus and doesn't improve much in their teens while other hit their stride. Very dependent on the individual swimmer.
Right now, I see a lot of 12-13 year olds struggling with the commitment required by swimming. Most simply want to play other sports, and are frustrated by the fact that, if they really train for swimming, they just can't. I seem to see it more in boys, but my daughter is chaffing a bit right now. Swimming is a tough sport for kids.
Stud: You keep right on giving advice. I'm keeping my trap shut.
I agree. It's one thing to give your kid a few tips in rec soccer, as Rich has done, explaining off side rules, reminding them to use their left foot, etc.
Hey my little Mia Hamm is on the travel squad! ;)
Our coach is another dad, but he's great with the kids, and is as professional as any paid coach.. We don't have much "coaching" shouting at our games. He pulls them off explains and then sends them back on.
It's a good thing to help them practice away from the game, but another to bellow contiually from the sidelines at little Suzy. I say little at games beyond giving my "hustle" siglnal.
Some pressure can be positive. The point at that age is to have fun but If you tell them to beat the kid next to them and try to get a time, that is encouraging.
I don't know. There was a dad on one team I coached that used to tell his daughter constantly that she needed to beat her best friend. He was really obnoxious. He would be obviously irritated if she didn't win. It was just so very obvious that HE was the one that needed to be in the water racing.
I think just being there for your kid 100% goes a really long way. Unconditional love and support are what kids need from parents. The coach can be the one to apply a little "pressure" or motivation if needed, IMHO.
be proud of him
encourage him
he's gotta want it
let the coach coach
get him to practice on time
make sure swimming is what he wants to do
he's only eight
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 think just being there for your kid 100% goes a really long way. Unconditional love and support are what kids need from parents. The coach can be the one to apply a little "pressure" or motivation if needed, IMHO.
amy, you've hit the nail on the head! especially at age 8, the parents need to back off and let the coaches apply the appropriate amount of pressure. which, for most kids, is basically none. we're the trained ones, not the parents, at least when it comes to the coaching aspect!
fort, our lower level 9-10s are encouraged for 2 days a week, just like the minis. the mid-level kids are encouraged to make it 3 days a week if possible, but again, if they don't, it's not the end of the world. our top level 9-10s, i think, are required 3 days, but most make it more. but a lot of these kids love swimming and don't want to mess around with other sports. (quite a few have realized that they're not quite cooridinated enough to make the same kind of progress out of the water!)
