Greetings
OK I am calling on all of you current/former competitors and/or age group coaches and parents. I am the parent of a 13 yo age grouper who is crazy about swimming. In his current season he has gone from a B/A swimmer to a sectional qualifier. He has worked very hard since last September and will swim sectionals in mid March. Here is my question. Should I require that he backs off or stops swimming in the spring and summer just for resting purposes. He is like a young colt that will just keep on swimming if not reigned in. He loves to swim and compete. I worry about burning him out. I want him to still like to swim when he is my age. By the way I have no personal competitive swimming background so all of this is new to me.
Regards
Spudfin
Parents
Former Member
Greetings
Should I require that he backs off or stops swimming in the spring and summer just for resting purposes. He is like a young colt that will just keep on swimming if not reigned in. He loves to swim and compete. I worry about burning him out.
The sense of achievement and high self-esteem which comes through competing is a great gift for any child...especially teenagers. Finding something that we enjoy pursuing...and doing it well is a reward in itself. If he is really enjoying it...burn out is not a likely scenario.
My 2 cents...
As a parent, your role should be in keeping an eye on workload at school and demands from the team. A youngster may not have the ability to time manage. There are big distractions...like friends, TV, the computer...etc. If he really wants to be in that pool...by all means let him...assuming he can maintain a comfortable balance in all other areas. Burn-out tends to come from being overloaded by more than several sources at once. Not necessarily from the pool.
My 12 year old who shows great potential...yet we don't push her when she's tired...or when she needs to focus on special school assignments. Learning how to manage time is a skill which we'd like her to develop on her own...rather than say "get in the car...it's time for practice." Finding the balance to keep everything together is most important.
The swimming career can be perceived as relatively short (until masters came along). That said...this age is an ideal time to make improvements. If he's as motivated and talented as you described...by senior year of high school, he could be a fine recruit for college swimming....and then some. :)
All the best.
Greetings
Should I require that he backs off or stops swimming in the spring and summer just for resting purposes. He is like a young colt that will just keep on swimming if not reigned in. He loves to swim and compete. I worry about burning him out.
The sense of achievement and high self-esteem which comes through competing is a great gift for any child...especially teenagers. Finding something that we enjoy pursuing...and doing it well is a reward in itself. If he is really enjoying it...burn out is not a likely scenario.
My 2 cents...
As a parent, your role should be in keeping an eye on workload at school and demands from the team. A youngster may not have the ability to time manage. There are big distractions...like friends, TV, the computer...etc. If he really wants to be in that pool...by all means let him...assuming he can maintain a comfortable balance in all other areas. Burn-out tends to come from being overloaded by more than several sources at once. Not necessarily from the pool.
My 12 year old who shows great potential...yet we don't push her when she's tired...or when she needs to focus on special school assignments. Learning how to manage time is a skill which we'd like her to develop on her own...rather than say "get in the car...it's time for practice." Finding the balance to keep everything together is most important.
The swimming career can be perceived as relatively short (until masters came along). That said...this age is an ideal time to make improvements. If he's as motivated and talented as you described...by senior year of high school, he could be a fine recruit for college swimming....and then some. :)
All the best.
