Hey everyone, wasn't sure were to put this questions so I decided to place it here. I also wanted to get some opinions from knowlageable swimmers like yourselves so I hope you don't mind me asking this.
Here's the story..
My daughter is 9 years old and has been competing for about 8 months but taking swimming lessons since the age of 3. She's extremely descent for her age (about 35 seconds 50 free, 43 seconds 50 fly, 45 seconds 50 back and 43 seconds 50 ***) just to give you an idea. I decided to pull her off the current team as I feel he was not improving enough as her coach did very little technique training and put her in private lessons with someone I think can really help her learn the little things to make her faster.
Anyways, here is the other thing.
During her swim meets I noticed another 9 year old girl who is swimming with times such as 32 seconds 50 free, 32 seconds 50 fly, 38 seconds 50 *** ect and could not believe it. Keep in mind this girl JUST turned 9!
My question is this,
How is it that a 9 year old child can swim times as fast as many of the top 11, 12 or 13 year olds? Is this a freak of nature? Is it just good coaching? Physical strength? or what.
I did not think it was possible for kids this age to swim so fast. Is there any hope for my daughter to "catch up" to kids like this?
I would like to know everyones opinion on youth marvels like this. I believe this kids has gotten as fast as she will get but that's my own personal opinion. She is sort of short and perhaps as she matures other kids will eventually get taller and stronger and catch up to her times?
If you were in my shoes what would YOU do with your daughter to help her attain these kinds of times?
Thanks
I was really hoping comments would not be directed so much as "how I parent" but instead my actual question as to what allows 9 year old kids to swim so fast. One problem I deal with ona constant basis are coaches and "people" who don't know me or my child and "assuming" I must be a bad parent because I am involved in my child swimming. I believe many times that is such a misunderstood myth and that's too bad.
I have been working with my daughter since age 3 everything from helping her in her workouts to attending meets and giving advice. As far as coaches go I have learned over the last 6 years it is VERY difficult to find a good coach in this sport depending on where you live. Her last coach was horrible as I said before he NEVER took the time to show the kids proper technique to improve and most of the time sat on his butt doing nothing but making them swim yardage after yardage.. My daughter came back to the team after a 21/2 month layoff from the team and during that time I was training her myself (coach didn't know that though) and she dropped 33 plus seconds total time and won the award for the most time dropped for our entire team. Needless to say she never dropped anywhere NEAR that much time under his training.
Problem is I cannot do this all the time and I don't want to. I am her father not her coach but I am there if need be. I disagree about private lessons though..
If one can find a good teacher who is skilled enough to teach her the things that are keeping her from going faster why not do it? This is where swim teams differ from private instruction. On a swim team it is difficult for the coach to spend that much time per child where as in a private setting the child can learn in a much more subtle environment without the pressures of competing.
My child loves swimming, basically born in the water and she is improving and with proper training she can do the "little" things that are keeping her getting better. I agree that parents need to stay out of it but it is also the parents responsibility to guide them and look out for their best interest since they are too young to make those decissions themselves.
I am not one of those blind parents who easily shell out 190.00 per month to a swim team and expect nothing. We live in a world were people think nothing of taking advantage of us and that includes swim coaches as well. Not all but some.
I also disagree with the comment "Put fun first". Though I agree fun is an important aspect of a swim team it is not the only important factor. Anything of value in life takes hard work and dedication. Any successful swimmer would be fibbing if they told you that they never had to deal with pressure, strict commitment or a hard work ethic. And many of them had parents who were heavily involved in their sport.
The fact is that any child who only swims just to have fun most likely will never go that far with it That's just the way it is.
So before anyone wants to preach to me about me being a bad father keep in mind that if it was not for me my child would not be the success that she is now. I simply want her to improve beyond what she is now and I think I have made all the right decissions so far.
Now, getting back to my original question which was what makes a 9 year old swimmer so fast I'd the like comments directed torwards that and not my qualifications as a parent.
Thanks.
.
I was really hoping comments would not be directed so much as "how I parent" but instead my actual question as to what allows 9 year old kids to swim so fast. One problem I deal with ona constant basis are coaches and "people" who don't know me or my child and "assuming" I must be a bad parent because I am involved in my child swimming. I believe many times that is such a misunderstood myth and that's too bad.
I have been working with my daughter since age 3 everything from helping her in her workouts to attending meets and giving advice. As far as coaches go I have learned over the last 6 years it is VERY difficult to find a good coach in this sport depending on where you live. Her last coach was horrible as I said before he NEVER took the time to show the kids proper technique to improve and most of the time sat on his butt doing nothing but making them swim yardage after yardage.. My daughter came back to the team after a 21/2 month layoff from the team and during that time I was training her myself (coach didn't know that though) and she dropped 33 plus seconds total time and won the award for the most time dropped for our entire team. Needless to say she never dropped anywhere NEAR that much time under his training.
Problem is I cannot do this all the time and I don't want to. I am her father not her coach but I am there if need be. I disagree about private lessons though..
If one can find a good teacher who is skilled enough to teach her the things that are keeping her from going faster why not do it? This is where swim teams differ from private instruction. On a swim team it is difficult for the coach to spend that much time per child where as in a private setting the child can learn in a much more subtle environment without the pressures of competing.
My child loves swimming, basically born in the water and she is improving and with proper training she can do the "little" things that are keeping her getting better. I agree that parents need to stay out of it but it is also the parents responsibility to guide them and look out for their best interest since they are too young to make those decissions themselves.
I am not one of those blind parents who easily shell out 190.00 per month to a swim team and expect nothing. We live in a world were people think nothing of taking advantage of us and that includes swim coaches as well. Not all but some.
I also disagree with the comment "Put fun first". Though I agree fun is an important aspect of a swim team it is not the only important factor. Anything of value in life takes hard work and dedication. Any successful swimmer would be fibbing if they told you that they never had to deal with pressure, strict commitment or a hard work ethic. And many of them had parents who were heavily involved in their sport.
The fact is that any child who only swims just to have fun most likely will never go that far with it That's just the way it is.
So before anyone wants to preach to me about me being a bad father keep in mind that if it was not for me my child would not be the success that she is now. I simply want her to improve beyond what she is now and I think I have made all the right decissions so far.
Now, getting back to my original question which was what makes a 9 year old swimmer so fast I'd the like comments directed torwards that and not my qualifications as a parent.
Thanks.
.
