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
Last summer, my 8 yr old daughter had just won the 25 free in a summer league meet. (She had been swimming 3 years at this point.) She's just out of the pool, still dripping and I'm compelled to "coach" her how to improve her start. This was a common occurance. In the middle of it, she stops me and asks me "why I had to keep giving her advice and not just be happy for her". I hope I never forget that moment.
I have to really bite my tongue with my 7 yo too, it is so hard when you can see how they can improve something so easily, but all they really need is a big hug! She swam summer league and the fall program to Dec last year, then we had a break. Out of the water she was miserable, she needed some activity and so I took a huge leap and put her in USAS a month ago. I had vowed not to do it, but she is loving it!
Apparently swimming is "awesome" and when I mentioned a leaflet I got about summer sports camps she asked "is there swimming?"
I think I now know she is doing it for her, not for me. I've told myself that if she wants to do something different in Middle school or whenever, so be it. But for now she's getting some great coaching and trying really hard, so its all good. If she stops and starts up again later she's still going to have been taught proper technique (almost) from the start. My only concern now is that her little sister is desperate to swim just like her.......
Last summer, my 8 yr old daughter had just won the 25 free in a summer league meet. (She had been swimming 3 years at this point.) She's just out of the pool, still dripping and I'm compelled to "coach" her how to improve her start. This was a common occurance. In the middle of it, she stops me and asks me "why I had to keep giving her advice and not just be happy for her". I hope I never forget that moment.
I have to really bite my tongue with my 7 yo too, it is so hard when you can see how they can improve something so easily, but all they really need is a big hug! She swam summer league and the fall program to Dec last year, then we had a break. Out of the water she was miserable, she needed some activity and so I took a huge leap and put her in USAS a month ago. I had vowed not to do it, but she is loving it!
Apparently swimming is "awesome" and when I mentioned a leaflet I got about summer sports camps she asked "is there swimming?"
I think I now know she is doing it for her, not for me. I've told myself that if she wants to do something different in Middle school or whenever, so be it. But for now she's getting some great coaching and trying really hard, so its all good. If she stops and starts up again later she's still going to have been taught proper technique (almost) from the start. My only concern now is that her little sister is desperate to swim just like her.......
