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
Parents
Former Member
USA Swimming has received enough feedback from their membership that they have put in a lot of effort to educate parents. Bad situations absolutely can burn out hardworking, talented coaches and cause swimmers to exit the sport prematurely.
I just see so many parallels between this dad and some misdirected parents I've run across in over a decade of doing team administration. I usually get these stories from all angles - coach, swimmer, parent, teammates. The sad thing is that everyone has great intentions and it all starts out so positive but can end so badly.
One case I recall: a very fast and talented girl is on the same team as an even faster girl -- and excels many of the same events. Mom made huge sacrifices to "help" the daughter in every way she can and is always "being there for her." The girl feels like she must be the fastest in order have worth and to earn her mother's approval and make the mom happy. She is a straight-A student and the hardest-working swimmer on the team. Both mom and daughter get frustrated when the talented teammate skips practice or loafs and still blows her doors off at meets. Still - she is fast enough to swim at Sr Nationals as a 14-year-old.
Down the road, the girl is forced to drop out of the sport (but is relieved) and is institutionalized with heart problems and anorexia trying to be thin and fast like her teammate. Between the anorexia and overtraining, she continued to get slower and slower. Relationships between the mom and daughter are horrible but at least the girl is still alive last I heard.
* * *
I don't appreciate being under a microscope every day, all the time; and I am sure most swimmers and coaches feel the same way. Whatever you do, you feel like you're being judged and that your self-worth is on the line. Whether intended or not, that's pressure to perform and absolutely stifling for anything requiring any creativity or risk-taking.
USA Swimming has received enough feedback from their membership that they have put in a lot of effort to educate parents. Bad situations absolutely can burn out hardworking, talented coaches and cause swimmers to exit the sport prematurely.
I just see so many parallels between this dad and some misdirected parents I've run across in over a decade of doing team administration. I usually get these stories from all angles - coach, swimmer, parent, teammates. The sad thing is that everyone has great intentions and it all starts out so positive but can end so badly.
One case I recall: a very fast and talented girl is on the same team as an even faster girl -- and excels many of the same events. Mom made huge sacrifices to "help" the daughter in every way she can and is always "being there for her." The girl feels like she must be the fastest in order have worth and to earn her mother's approval and make the mom happy. She is a straight-A student and the hardest-working swimmer on the team. Both mom and daughter get frustrated when the talented teammate skips practice or loafs and still blows her doors off at meets. Still - she is fast enough to swim at Sr Nationals as a 14-year-old.
Down the road, the girl is forced to drop out of the sport (but is relieved) and is institutionalized with heart problems and anorexia trying to be thin and fast like her teammate. Between the anorexia and overtraining, she continued to get slower and slower. Relationships between the mom and daughter are horrible but at least the girl is still alive last I heard.
* * *
I don't appreciate being under a microscope every day, all the time; and I am sure most swimmers and coaches feel the same way. Whatever you do, you feel like you're being judged and that your self-worth is on the line. Whether intended or not, that's pressure to perform and absolutely stifling for anything requiring any creativity or risk-taking.
