So my daughter is 6 and is swimming on the summer team. She is a very good little breaststroker and has a powerful kick. However she uses a modified version of this kick on her backstroke and freestyle, but it seems to affect the freestyle far more.
I have no idea how many times the coaches say and I say, "keep your legs straight"; "kick up and down from your hips"; "touch your big toes with each other", she STILL does this awful wonky breastroke kick action which slows her down and snakes her across the pool!
So I'm now wondering if she's doing something mega-wrong with her pull and feels she needs to compensate on her kick? She turns and looks at the ceiling to breathe, but I thought that was pretty "normal" at that age, but otherwise it looks reasonable. She is also very competitive in the lane, wanting to catch up with whoever is at the front, so I have said that it slows her down when she bends her legs, but she still persists.
Anyway if any of you more experienced in coaching littlies have any tips, I'd very much appreciate it.
Recovering Near-Psycho Swim Parent
One of the very best things about swimming for me (when I was a kid) was that it was MY thing. My parents were supportive but didn't ever try to tell me what to do or be overly involved. They let my swimming be mine.
A funny thing happened to me on the way to the swim meet ... my oldest has been competing in USAS since she was 7 and is now 14. My next 2 daughters are also engaged in swimming. I'm a hyper-competitive person, descended from and with siblings who are proudly Type A. I admit that I got frustrated with my older two kids when they just seemed to, well, not be too "into" the competitive part of the sport. They'd compete, but they didn't seem driven. It bugged me: why weren't they charting their times like I was at their age? Why weren't they obsessing over every page of SwimmingWorld, checking out times from meets around the country? As the Bye Bye Birdie song goes, "Why can't they be like we were ... perfect in every way?"
I needed help.
While it wasn't quite an "Intervention," my wife and daughters slowly wore me down, slowly helped me to see that this swimming thing needed to be their thing, not my thing. Over the last ~12 to 24 months, I think I've mellowed a lot with respect to my kids' swimming and channeled my competitiveness back into my own sport. I'm still not fully recovered, I'll always be a recovering near-psycho swim parent, but I'm way more relaxed, am letting my kids let it be their sport and am trying to have them form a strong swimming relationship with their coaches.
As I've done this, I've been amazed to watch how, paradoxically, they've grown more competitive about the sport. In business-speak, they've taken the R & A from the RACI framework; occasionally, I'm consulted, but mainly informed. It's a joy to watch. It's a treat to see them change, to see them become stronger and more confident.
Of course, I still want to fix that streamline, that wonky left arm on her ... deep breaths, Patrick, yoga full breaths ...
A funny thing happened to me on the way to the swim meet ... my oldest has been competing in USAS since she was 7 and is now 14. My next 2 daughters are also engaged in swimming. I'm a hyper-competitive person, descended from and with siblings who are proudly Type A. I admit that I got frustrated with my older two kids when they just seemed to, well, not be too "into" the competitive part of the sport. They'd compete, but they didn't seem driven. It bugged me: why weren't they charting their times like I was at their age? Why weren't they obsessing over every page of SwimmingWorld, checking out times from meets around the country? As the Bye Bye Birdie song goes, "Why can't they be like we were ... perfect in every way?"
I needed help.
While it wasn't quite an "Intervention," my wife and daughters slowly wore me down, slowly helped me to see that this swimming thing needed to be their thing, not my thing. Over the last ~12 to 24 months, I think I've mellowed a lot with respect to my kids' swimming and channeled my competitiveness back into my own sport. I'm still not fully recovered, I'll always be a recovering near-psycho swim parent, but I'm way more relaxed, am letting my kids let it be their sport and am trying to have them form a strong swimming relationship with their coaches.
As I've done this, I've been amazed to watch how, paradoxically, they've grown more competitive about the sport. In business-speak, they've taken the R & A from the RACI framework; occasionally, I'm consulted, but mainly informed. It's a joy to watch. It's a treat to see them change, to see them become stronger and more confident.
Of course, I still want to fix that streamline, that wonky left arm on her ... deep breaths, Patrick, yoga full breaths ...
What a great post.:applaud:
A funny thing happened to me on the way to the swim meet ... my oldest has been competing in USAS since she was 7 and is now 14. My next 2 daughters are also engaged in swimming. I'm a hyper-competitive person, descended from and with siblings who are proudly Type A. I admit that I got frustrated with my older two kids when they just seemed to, well, not be too "into" the competitive part of the sport. They'd compete, but they didn't seem driven. It bugged me: why weren't they charting their times like I was at their age? Why weren't they obsessing over every page of SwimmingWorld, checking out times from meets around the country? As the Bye Bye Birdie song goes, "Why can't they be like we were ... perfect in every way?"
I needed help.
While it wasn't quite an "Intervention," my wife and daughters slowly wore me down, slowly helped me to see that this swimming thing needed to be their thing, not my thing. Over the last ~12 to 24 months, I think I've mellowed a lot with respect to my kids' swimming and channeled my competitiveness back into my own sport. I'm still not fully recovered, I'll always be a recovering near-psycho swim parent, but I'm way more relaxed, am letting my kids let it be their sport and am trying to have them form a strong swimming relationship with their coaches.
As I've done this, I've been amazed to watch how, paradoxically, they've grown more competitive about the sport. In business-speak, they've taken the R & A from the RACI framework; occasionally, I'm consulted, but mainly informed. It's a joy to watch. It's a treat to see them change, to see them become stronger and more confident.
Of course, I still want to fix that streamline, that wonky left arm on her ... deep breaths, Patrick, yoga full breaths ...
Perfect post. I would love to have you be a parent of one of the kids that I coach. It's really important for the kids to have swimming be their own thing and for them to pick the things they want to work on. The coaches put the info in front of them and the kids get to choose what their focus is. Parents need to support their kids goals and make sure they get unconditional love.
Like pwb, our family spends most of our time in and around pools. Even at the tender age of 11, I have already seen some of my daughters swim pals kids leave the sport due to crazy parents. And many of those kids were terrific swimmers. If you have a good coach, trust him/her. Gently nudge when needed. But, most importantly, just support. Some meets are disastrous, some are jaw dropping spectacular.
Our club sends a lot of kids each year off to swim in college. Without exception the kids who go on to swim at the next level have very relaxed and supportive parents. That doesn't mean we can't harbor private delusions of grandeur, but they should be private.
I have seen parents write time standards in Sharpie on their kids legs at meets. I have seen parents escort their kids to the clerk of course berating them the whole time and then stand at the turn end screaming. Those kids look like they'd rather be anywhere else in the world.
Relax and let it happen. Something will happen, that's for sure, just maybe not what you want.
My son is nine now and my primary concern is that he have fun, and be safe. I didn't learn to swim until I was 26, didn't start competing until 28, and I've got to say, sometimes I think I'm a lot happier swimming than some of the people who are burned out by the time they hit 20--and have already been swimming most of their lives. If I can help him develop a lifelong love for the water, that's all that matters to me. (And unfortunately, he doesn't have his mother's competitive spirit!)
She's 6.
I'm with you, borderline loco. USA Swimming doesn't publish 25 yard time standards. They don't publish 6 year old time standards either. At six, what's the big deal? There's one parent like this on our SL team and no one sits within 5 yards of him, not even his kids.
Don't get me wrong - I'm not having her in training for the 2020 or 2024 olympics (well not unless in 5 or so years time she wants to.....).
Yeah because in 5 years she will be 11 so pretty much at that point her entire swimming career needs to be mapped out.
Mostly having fun with you, I think your heart is in the right place...
I know it'll click eventually, but we'd love her to get the A regional qualifying time in her 25yd free in the next 3 weeks (she already has made the back, br and fly :D ) as far as I know only 1 girl in our region has made it, and DD has been coming 3rd or 4th in the meets, so isn't far off.
She's 6.
OK better go and channel my competitive spirit into my own swimming.:bolt:
Good idea. As a coach, it's pretty easy to spot parents who are living/competing vicariously through their kids. And it's not pleasant to be around or to deal with.
One of the very best things about swimming for me (when I was a kid) was that it was MY thing. My parents were supportive but didn't ever try to tell me what to do or be overly involved. They let my swimming be mine.
Don't get me wrong - I'm not having her in training for the 2020 or 2024 olympics (well not unless in 5 or so years time she wants to.....). We're doing the summer swimming and this year they have introduced a 6 & under age in free and back (but not *** or fly). So when she races - which she loves doing, she swims with the 8 yr olds on *** and fly, but with 5, but mainly 6 year olds on free and back.
Anyway its kind of frustrating to watch her try so hard on free but get slowed down by the wonky legs (and to know she's the fastest 6 yr old breaststroker, but doesn't have 6u age group for it!). Still, she came swimming with me this morning and there was some improvement :)
I'm still wondering though if they might lower the 6u A qualifying time for the free, being as I think only 1 girl has achieved it - It'll be a lonely race for her at regionals!
OK better go and channel my competitive spirit into my own swimming.:bolt:
