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
Kind of a coincidence that this would come up now. I don't know RAC's situation and don't want to imply that it is the same as what I've seen over the last week. Anyway, this week a young girl around 10 years old has been showing up at our pool with her grandmother. Sunday she swam next to me and seemed pretty strong. After a while she was asking her grandmother if she could stop. Answer was "no". All week she had been coming earlier and earlier. Today, she showed up at 5:30 and swam next to me. We pushed through 4650 yards today and I think she probably did at least 75% of that. I added it up in my head and was thinking 3500 yards is an awful lot for someone that age. After practice, the grandmother starts telling me about her situation. I was sympathetic to a lot of it. She has worked hard and continues to be placed on the B team. It crossed over to awkward when the grandmother made me read a letter she wrote to the team coach. I know the coach... not well... but I assume there are two sides to the story. Anyway, the girl is unattached now and presumably coached by the grandmother (although I'm not 100% sure of that). What had me really concerned was the grandmother told me she was trying to get her to keep up with us. That's hardly fair and I'd have slowed down if I knew.
I wasn't exactly sure what to say. No doubt the grandmother loves her granddaughter and wants the best for her. At the same time I got the sense that the grandmother was motivated by showing the other coach he was wrong for holding her back. I don't doubt the girl wants to be there but I can see burnout coming in a couple years especially if she has to got at it alone for that long. I suggested to keep it fun and not worry about time too much. That was easy to illustrate since my 13 year old son came with me today. He is exicted about swimming 25 yards in 25 seconds. I'm excited for him. It was his goal that he set on his own and he worked hard on his own to get there. He swims 1500-2000 yards and then splashes around and watches us. I told the grandmother if he ever decides to get serious, I have no doubt he will be a very good swimmer. For now, it is fun for him... is just hope it is fun for the little girl also.
Kind of a coincidence that this would come up now. I don't know RAC's situation and don't want to imply that it is the same as what I've seen over the last week. Anyway, this week a young girl around 10 years old has been showing up at our pool with her grandmother. Sunday she swam next to me and seemed pretty strong. After a while she was asking her grandmother if she could stop. Answer was "no". All week she had been coming earlier and earlier. Today, she showed up at 5:30 and swam next to me. We pushed through 4650 yards today and I think she probably did at least 75% of that. I added it up in my head and was thinking 3500 yards is an awful lot for someone that age. After practice, the grandmother starts telling me about her situation. I was sympathetic to a lot of it. She has worked hard and continues to be placed on the B team. It crossed over to awkward when the grandmother made me read a letter she wrote to the team coach. I know the coach... not well... but I assume there are two sides to the story. Anyway, the girl is unattached now and presumably coached by the grandmother (although I'm not 100% sure of that). What had me really concerned was the grandmother told me she was trying to get her to keep up with us. That's hardly fair and I'd have slowed down if I knew.
I wasn't exactly sure what to say. No doubt the grandmother loves her granddaughter and wants the best for her. At the same time I got the sense that the grandmother was motivated by showing the other coach he was wrong for holding her back. I don't doubt the girl wants to be there but I can see burnout coming in a couple years especially if she has to got at it alone for that long. I suggested to keep it fun and not worry about time too much. That was easy to illustrate since my 13 year old son came with me today. He is exicted about swimming 25 yards in 25 seconds. I'm excited for him. It was his goal that he set on his own and he worked hard on his own to get there. He swims 1500-2000 yards and then splashes around and watches us. I told the grandmother if he ever decides to get serious, I have no doubt he will be a very good swimmer. For now, it is fun for him... is just hope it is fun for the little girl also.
