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
I am going to say it again , SHE IS NINE YEARS OLD!
I would think that you would be happy just to see her smile after practice or a race.
Maybe I don't expect enough from my children but thier smiles after competing (gymnastics and swimming) is good enough for me.
BTW, I don't know if I have ever met a "out of shape" swimmer. Swimming is a wonderful sport that obviously you can do throughout you life. I do hope that your daughter will continue to participate in swimming no matter what skill level she has or good she gets.
thanks, another one is
OUTLIERS
Talent is Overrated What Really Separates World-Class Performers from Everybody Else
A little off topic, but this thread made me think of a book that Ande recommended in another thread...
I just finished reading it and it was pretty eye opening with regard to how people learn. It deals with kids, coaching, motivation and practice. I highly recommend it - especially to parents of "child prodigies."
good grades are the result of good habits
good grades at a young age establish a trend
it's much easier to continue the trend of getting good grades than go from being a poor student to an excellent one
I kind of think this post was a complete joke. It reminds me of the thread where someone posted thoughts about competitive masters swimmers. The opinions RAC expressed were too generically stupid to actually be real. I mean no one actually believes that their kids grades mean anything at age 9, right?
I think he's gone, which stinks cause this was one of the more amusing threads we've had in a while. I'm officiating a meet this weekend so I'll try to be collecting crazy parent stories, shouldn't be too hard.
I'll try to be collecting crazy parent stories, shouldn't be too hard.
This would be a fun snarky thread to start ... as long as no one posts nasty stories about me when I lapse and channel my inner psycho swim parent that I'm trying hard to repress.
Wow!
Suzanne was telling me that there ended up being more than 90 posts on this. Amazing.
I loved the post about 'Geek working at Target. Classic. As a regular Target customer, "Geek can you get me a discount?" :D
Now, if you'll excuse me I need to mouse around to other sites so I can look up all the stats on the 7-8 girls who might beat my daughter this year!
:bolt:
Love you guys, BTW. You make me laugh.
:bliss:
I know it sounds like a lot of these people seem to be disrespecting you but I do believe it's their way of wanting you to succeed.
I've orchestrated and have been invited to many clinics where coaches like Bob Steele and George Block came to our pool, inspiring everyone. A lot of great coaches who have wealth of knowledge, different perspectives on coaching and training athletes, will come to your pool for a day or two, helping lift your program to a new level. They also inspired the swimmers to reach new levels (awesome). We've had numerous Olympians put on clinics where they let the swimmers train with them, wear their goal medals (many in Josh Davis' case) and talk to coaches. As a coach I've been sent by my program or simply went on my own to watch the NCAA's, Eddie Reese's practices, Mark Schubert's, Urbanchek and on and on (it takes some money and that means your financial help).
My point is; a parent can positively influence their swimmer, coaches, parents, and the entire program by fundraising for a clinic. You'll have fun, learn a lot and almost always get something positive from the experience. Offer to send your coach to a clinic, invite a coach to your place and I know you get the idea but it's something I hope you pursue. I understand where you coming from and good luck to you!
Coach T.
What?! I'm sure my 9 year old will go to Harvard. :bolt:
Hopefully otherwise she'd have to go to a second tier school...Dartmouth for instance...
:bolt:
My nine year old has already announced that she plans to go to Penn. She also refused to join the swim team (maybe she is smart) -- but told me this morning that she loves to swim "because it feels good." So we go together Sunday afternoon and splash but don't train.
You are a baaaaaaaaaad parent!
:bump:
:D
