I'm sure you guys can help... I am a masters swimmer. Our son is 17, has been a club swimmer for four years, and swims on his high school team. He swims with the senior 1 group, and his practices are 2 hours 45 minutes on the weekdays and two hours on Saturdays. He is a decent, solid swimmer (state but not sectional cuts in numerous events). He is a junior in high school and is currently taking five AP courses (his decision, not my husband's and mine). His grades are good and he works hard.
Recently, he has been feeling a lot of stress due to his workload in school and swimming. He told me last night that swimming isn't fun any more. He says he thinks he still wants to swim club, possibly at the senior 2 level instead, and still wants to swim high school. He actually isn't sure he even wants to drop to a less demanding group; he isn't really sure what to do. While I think his academic load is part of why he is stressed, I know that constantly staring at a black line for hours is playing a large part as well. Aside from being supportive of him and encouraging him to talk to his coach (who is my coach as well, which could possibly complicate things), is there anything I can do to help? I don't want to be one of "those" parents, but I want to do what is best for my son. Obviously I would like him to stay in the senior 1 group, but I'm not the one swimming there. His coach knows him well, as he has been with this coach for four years. Part of the issue is that our son doesn't want to let his coach down. I know it is his call, and I'm trying to stay as objective as possible.
I'm sure many of you experienced swim burnout as a teenager. Any suggestions you can give are much appreciated.
Kristin
Parents
Former Member
I swam with someone in college who was burned out. She cut way back on practices and just allowed herself a year of not being so intense. Amusingly, she ended up swimming just as fast at the end of the year.
I think your son might benefit from something similar. Sometimes we type-A people need to learn how to not be so intense all the time. I wouldn't be surprised if he still swam fast and had a lot more fun if he allowed himself to relax a little.
Either way, as much as I love swimming, your son's initiative to take 5 AP classes (not to mention his abilities) is awesome. That's going to take him far, no matter what...
Amy, you posted while I was writing my epic one. :) And actually, that's what he has decided to do for now.
Have I mentioned that his coach is awesome? My son has been with him for 4+ years. He is my masters coach, and my daughter just moved to his pre-senior group this year. We feel so fortunate to have him. He is great at motivating the kids, providing interesting and challenging workouts, and recognizing their individual needs. It amazes me how effectively he coaches masters as well, as he is primarily an age group coach. I credit him with my significant time drops over the past couple of years. I'm swimming faster than I ever thought I would.
Yesterday before practice our son met with the coach. This is the coach who has brought him from a 13 year old basically non-swimmer to where he is now. My husband and I watched him change from an awkward strictly academic, non-athletic kid to a confident, self-assured student athlete. It was as if a switch were flipped. I cannot begin to say how much swimming helped his self-confidence. If it weren't for swim, I'm sure he would be just as successful academically, but not nearly as outgoing and confident as he is now. For this reason, his swimming is near and dear to all of our hearts.
His coach "gets" him. He knows how hard our son works, both in practice and in school. He and our son decided that for now at least, he can miss a practice or two every week for homework-related reasons. That way he won't have to play catch-up (and he'll also be able to sleep). I guess this is one of the benefits of our son being with the coach for so long. They are also going to meet later this week to set both short-term and long-term goals. There were some other things said, which definitely seemed to help our son's outlook. I asked him if the solution was workable, and if he thought that he would have enough time for his schoolwork and enough motivation for his swim. For now, at least, he said that he would. It may be that later on he may need to drop back more and consider other options, but we'll play it by ear and hope for the best (whatever that is).
Thanks for the insight, everyone -- it has been invaluable. I swim now, but as an adult-onset athlete I've never had to deal with this situation.
I swam with someone in college who was burned out. She cut way back on practices and just allowed herself a year of not being so intense. Amusingly, she ended up swimming just as fast at the end of the year.
I think your son might benefit from something similar. Sometimes we type-A people need to learn how to not be so intense all the time. I wouldn't be surprised if he still swam fast and had a lot more fun if he allowed himself to relax a little.
Either way, as much as I love swimming, your son's initiative to take 5 AP classes (not to mention his abilities) is awesome. That's going to take him far, no matter what...
Amy, you posted while I was writing my epic one. :) And actually, that's what he has decided to do for now.
Have I mentioned that his coach is awesome? My son has been with him for 4+ years. He is my masters coach, and my daughter just moved to his pre-senior group this year. We feel so fortunate to have him. He is great at motivating the kids, providing interesting and challenging workouts, and recognizing their individual needs. It amazes me how effectively he coaches masters as well, as he is primarily an age group coach. I credit him with my significant time drops over the past couple of years. I'm swimming faster than I ever thought I would.
Yesterday before practice our son met with the coach. This is the coach who has brought him from a 13 year old basically non-swimmer to where he is now. My husband and I watched him change from an awkward strictly academic, non-athletic kid to a confident, self-assured student athlete. It was as if a switch were flipped. I cannot begin to say how much swimming helped his self-confidence. If it weren't for swim, I'm sure he would be just as successful academically, but not nearly as outgoing and confident as he is now. For this reason, his swimming is near and dear to all of our hearts.
His coach "gets" him. He knows how hard our son works, both in practice and in school. He and our son decided that for now at least, he can miss a practice or two every week for homework-related reasons. That way he won't have to play catch-up (and he'll also be able to sleep). I guess this is one of the benefits of our son being with the coach for so long. They are also going to meet later this week to set both short-term and long-term goals. There were some other things said, which definitely seemed to help our son's outlook. I asked him if the solution was workable, and if he thought that he would have enough time for his schoolwork and enough motivation for his swim. For now, at least, he said that he would. It may be that later on he may need to drop back more and consider other options, but we'll play it by ear and hope for the best (whatever that is).
Thanks for the insight, everyone -- it has been invaluable. I swim now, but as an adult-onset athlete I've never had to deal with this situation.
