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
RAC40, so it seems you had two questions. Heather gave a great reply from her perspective as a coach and a teacher (and swimmer, of course) and you should definitely respect her expertise. For what it is worth, here is mine as a lifelong swimmer, and a parent of a swimmer about your daughter's age.
First question: why are some kids so fast?
Innate talent. Differences in rates of physical development. That "inner competitive fire" that some kids have.
I think your motivation in asking this question is basically, what can I do to make my daughter more like one of those kids? The answer is really, not much beyond providing her with opportunity and encouragement.
Second question: what should I do with my daughter?
-- find a team environment that your daughter enjoys.
-- find a coach who is a good technician and also "gets" how to work with kids. Besides being a concerned father, you are a paying customer and you have a right to ask questions when seeking the right program. But once you find it (echoing Heather), back off. Don't constantly second-guess and give it time to work. Especially do not question the coaches' knowledge/authority in front of your daughter.
-- praise your daughter for her successes and encourage her in a positive way to work hard to overcome any setbacks.
You asked about private lessons. They can help, but be very careful. On the one hand, learning the proper technique is one of the most important things for your daughter right now. You don't want her to unlearn bad habits later on; it is much easier to learn proper technique at 9 than at 15. You should be happier if your daughter loses but shows beautifully efficient strokes, than if she wins as a "thrasher." Strength and conditioning will come naturally with time and training; proper technique will not.
The big advantage of private lessons is that they are one-on-one, of course. Even the best coach has his/her attention divided among all the swimmers. The caveat is that proper technique requires reinforcement, and there are different -- sometimes conflicting -- ways of doing this. You need to find a person whose style "meshes" with your daughter's coach. I would recommend going up and asking the coaches about this (in a way that doesn't put them on the defensive, of course). There may be current or former swimmers from that program who give private lessons, for example.
But private lessons are a supplement, no replacement for working with a coached program. And you wouldn't want that, anyway; one of the benefits of competitive swimming is (or should be) the team environment.
Good luck.
RAC40, so it seems you had two questions. Heather gave a great reply from her perspective as a coach and a teacher (and swimmer, of course) and you should definitely respect her expertise. For what it is worth, here is mine as a lifelong swimmer, and a parent of a swimmer about your daughter's age.
First question: why are some kids so fast?
Innate talent. Differences in rates of physical development. That "inner competitive fire" that some kids have.
I think your motivation in asking this question is basically, what can I do to make my daughter more like one of those kids? The answer is really, not much beyond providing her with opportunity and encouragement.
Second question: what should I do with my daughter?
-- find a team environment that your daughter enjoys.
-- find a coach who is a good technician and also "gets" how to work with kids. Besides being a concerned father, you are a paying customer and you have a right to ask questions when seeking the right program. But once you find it (echoing Heather), back off. Don't constantly second-guess and give it time to work. Especially do not question the coaches' knowledge/authority in front of your daughter.
-- praise your daughter for her successes and encourage her in a positive way to work hard to overcome any setbacks.
You asked about private lessons. They can help, but be very careful. On the one hand, learning the proper technique is one of the most important things for your daughter right now. You don't want her to unlearn bad habits later on; it is much easier to learn proper technique at 9 than at 15. You should be happier if your daughter loses but shows beautifully efficient strokes, than if she wins as a "thrasher." Strength and conditioning will come naturally with time and training; proper technique will not.
The big advantage of private lessons is that they are one-on-one, of course. Even the best coach has his/her attention divided among all the swimmers. The caveat is that proper technique requires reinforcement, and there are different -- sometimes conflicting -- ways of doing this. You need to find a person whose style "meshes" with your daughter's coach. I would recommend going up and asking the coaches about this (in a way that doesn't put them on the defensive, of course). There may be current or former swimmers from that program who give private lessons, for example.
But private lessons are a supplement, no replacement for working with a coached program. And you wouldn't want that, anyway; one of the benefits of competitive swimming is (or should be) the team environment.
Good luck.
