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
First, I would take a step back and go to the USA Swimming website and click on the "Parent" tab. Then I would read all the articles I could about the parent's role with the Swimmer, Coach, and Club.
http://www.usaswimming.org
Kids develop at different ages. The sport is rife with anecdotes about "marvel" 8-year-olds who dropped out at a young age, while kids who matured later excelled in the big meets on the world's stage.
Swimming is a magnificent sport for athletes of ALL ages and abilities. Having an excellent experience is not reserved for just the fastest swimmer.
Nancy
Thank you, Thank you, Thank you Nancy. Glad people are getting this! Swimming is far more than the fastest time. Ask this? Who is the child getting the times for and why? Getting them for themselves or because they are pushed both in positive and or negative ways? Jsut because a child is an early bloomer as they are called this has nothing to do with where they will be 5 years from now. More so the sport of swimming is personal to some extent. It is about goal setting not always time chasing. I, like Nancy HIGHLY suggest the articles on the USA Swimming site as suggested and the league that Michael Phelps swam for a s child aslo has some great literature. The important thing is that the kids have fun (number one reason they sate for swimming) so that they stick with it as they get older. Who cares how they are doing if when they are 24 they hate to swim because of how they were pushed when they were younger. You cannot by any means judge how a child will be by looking at where they are now. Afterall, Phelps started late and look at him. Others before him has swam like your son since the begning. Instead of focusing on the times, focus on the character building that comes with swimming as there is far more to gain from that than there is comparing one child to another or inadvertantly pushing you child away from swimming as they get older. Yes, you want to know how they swim so fast and there is not easy answer. Some kids just find the physiology of the water sooner than others and some kids have reached their peak in their great times as they fight the water but truly lack the best technique. My suggestion would be to look on the USA swim site as well as the ASCA site for coaches in your area and if you have that kind of distain for the coach and they are registered then you may should bring it to someones attention. Regarless your emphasis is on your childs time. It all takes time, sometimes even years. You say you dont have the time to coach your child but it very well seems you do. How about taking a step back, gathering thoughts, and not caring about the other 9 year old wonders. Who cares how they do it. How did Phelps do it and why can't locte do it? To each their own as every sport. I also hate it because when you child hits puberty you could be in for another rude awakening. If you want to see a happy loser you should try going to some Master meets. Pretty happy losers I would say, epsecially when we have drink afterwards. Just take time to read some articles like suggested and look around. Someitmes we just need new look on things and some room to breath. Dont overwhelm yourself with things we do not know like how some do great while others "lag". Some things only god knows.
First, I would take a step back and go to the USA Swimming website and click on the "Parent" tab. Then I would read all the articles I could about the parent's role with the Swimmer, Coach, and Club.
http://www.usaswimming.org
Kids develop at different ages. The sport is rife with anecdotes about "marvel" 8-year-olds who dropped out at a young age, while kids who matured later excelled in the big meets on the world's stage.
Swimming is a magnificent sport for athletes of ALL ages and abilities. Having an excellent experience is not reserved for just the fastest swimmer.
Nancy
Thank you, Thank you, Thank you Nancy. Glad people are getting this! Swimming is far more than the fastest time. Ask this? Who is the child getting the times for and why? Getting them for themselves or because they are pushed both in positive and or negative ways? Jsut because a child is an early bloomer as they are called this has nothing to do with where they will be 5 years from now. More so the sport of swimming is personal to some extent. It is about goal setting not always time chasing. I, like Nancy HIGHLY suggest the articles on the USA Swimming site as suggested and the league that Michael Phelps swam for a s child aslo has some great literature. The important thing is that the kids have fun (number one reason they sate for swimming) so that they stick with it as they get older. Who cares how they are doing if when they are 24 they hate to swim because of how they were pushed when they were younger. You cannot by any means judge how a child will be by looking at where they are now. Afterall, Phelps started late and look at him. Others before him has swam like your son since the begning. Instead of focusing on the times, focus on the character building that comes with swimming as there is far more to gain from that than there is comparing one child to another or inadvertantly pushing you child away from swimming as they get older. Yes, you want to know how they swim so fast and there is not easy answer. Some kids just find the physiology of the water sooner than others and some kids have reached their peak in their great times as they fight the water but truly lack the best technique. My suggestion would be to look on the USA swim site as well as the ASCA site for coaches in your area and if you have that kind of distain for the coach and they are registered then you may should bring it to someones attention. Regarless your emphasis is on your childs time. It all takes time, sometimes even years. You say you dont have the time to coach your child but it very well seems you do. How about taking a step back, gathering thoughts, and not caring about the other 9 year old wonders. Who cares how they do it. How did Phelps do it and why can't locte do it? To each their own as every sport. I also hate it because when you child hits puberty you could be in for another rude awakening. If you want to see a happy loser you should try going to some Master meets. Pretty happy losers I would say, epsecially when we have drink afterwards. Just take time to read some articles like suggested and look around. Someitmes we just need new look on things and some room to breath. Dont overwhelm yourself with things we do not know like how some do great while others "lag". Some things only god knows.
