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
This thread is a hoot!
Nothing has changed in the 35+ years I've been in the sport. Kids develop at different rates, period. Parents can do a whole lot to just back off. I can't count the number of collegiate swimmers I knew that hung up the goggles their senior year and never came back. That's a lot of yardage to walk away hating something you devoted so much time of an early life.
Chances are there aren't all that many Michael Phelps out there that will continue to develop at his pace.
In Maryland, lacrosse is king and despite my encouragement for my kids to swim, they have gone full force into lax. The situation is the same for kids and parents there too. A 9 year old with great stick skills can quickly be surpassed in short order by his peers. One of 2 things happen. They keep practicing or they get discouraged.
Yes, lax its a team sport and my argument is likely to raise the ire of a few posters, but hopefully you get my point.
Tree
This thread is a hoot!
Nothing has changed in the 35+ years I've been in the sport. Kids develop at different rates, period. Parents can do a whole lot to just back off. I can't count the number of collegiate swimmers I knew that hung up the goggles their senior year and never came back. That's a lot of yardage to walk away hating something you devoted so much time of an early life.
Chances are there aren't all that many Michael Phelps out there that will continue to develop at his pace.
In Maryland, lacrosse is king and despite my encouragement for my kids to swim, they have gone full force into lax. The situation is the same for kids and parents there too. A 9 year old with great stick skills can quickly be surpassed in short order by his peers. One of 2 things happen. They keep practicing or they get discouraged.
Yes, lax its a team sport and my argument is likely to raise the ire of a few posters, but hopefully you get my point.
Tree
