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
Why is your 9 year old fast? Because she is fast. Why care beyond that from a parental standpoint?
Now it sounds like your actual problem is that you local team has very inexperienced coaches working with the little kids and you would really like her to have working with a stroke technician at this age. Seems like a valid concern and your approach of mixing private lessons and regular practices is a decent compromise.
A local team here has a million groups and you are placed in the appropriate group based on skill level. What they have that it doesn't sound like your group has is a elite little kid group that is coached by one of the senior coaches. Maybe you should look for a team that offers such a group.
The problem with such a group is, what if your daughter likes being the fastest swimmer in the group she trains with now. If that is part of the fun for her, you are going to take that away when you put her in a group with other top level age group swimmers. The other problem is that such groups aren't fun, they are lots of time, lots of yardage type groups.
Why is your 9 year old fast? Because she is fast. Why care beyond that from a parental standpoint?
Now it sounds like your actual problem is that you local team has very inexperienced coaches working with the little kids and you would really like her to have working with a stroke technician at this age. Seems like a valid concern and your approach of mixing private lessons and regular practices is a decent compromise.
A local team here has a million groups and you are placed in the appropriate group based on skill level. What they have that it doesn't sound like your group has is a elite little kid group that is coached by one of the senior coaches. Maybe you should look for a team that offers such a group.
The problem with such a group is, what if your daughter likes being the fastest swimmer in the group she trains with now. If that is part of the fun for her, you are going to take that away when you put her in a group with other top level age group swimmers. The other problem is that such groups aren't fun, they are lots of time, lots of yardage type groups.
