New swim Dad

RE: New swim Dad

Chris Stevenson — Sat, 13 Nov 2010 05:33:38 GMT

My biggest concern is burn out even if all the swimming is initiated by her. I think heading out right after practice and having her yearn to swim more might be perfect! I think you are right to be concerned. I absolutely disagree with the coaches who say, at 9yo, that there is no such thing as too much if it is initiated by the kid. They are children, parents and coaches are *supposed* to make judgment calls for their sake. I agree with Patrick's sentiments in general, and specifically with the idea that doubles are too much at your daughter's age. I think it is great that your daughter has a passion for the sport and that she obviously "gets" the correlation between hard work and future success. And that she has a huge competitive streak; these are not givens. If she isn't getting enough swim practice for her tastes, diversify: have her try some other sports or activities, there are plenty of good ones out there. As Patrick says, they will be time later for lots (and lots and lots) of swim practice if she sticks with the sport.

RE: New swim Dad

Former Member — Fri, 12 Nov 2010 16:15:20 GMT

I can tell you that our team's philosophy is that, at that age, they should be learning proper technique and doing around 2000 yards per hour practice. Technique is so important at their age. I have always assumed that you stick to 2000 yards per day (or whatever the team implements) to avoid burnout in the kids. Kids can swim 4000 but none of them really want to. I could be completly wrong, so correct away if I am. If this child loves swimming laps upon laps I say GO FOR IT. As a parent all we can do is constantly talk with our child and do our best to understand how they are feeling. If you know your daughter gets genuine enjoyment out of the extra time in the water then no harm is being done (again not an expert on this so I could be wrong). But Geek is SO right. Leave the pool deck. What you MIGHT find is that your daughter is trying to show you how hard she works; That it is not the pool she loves, it is you (HA!). This is easier said then done, you'll figure it out...

RE: New swim Dad

Former Member — Fri, 12 Nov 2010 13:49:07 GMT

Geek your right my #1 problem is trust. As I mentioned before all of this swimming stuff is new to me, and prior to last year when my daughter started on the Rec team the only thing I had heard about youth swimming was a few horror stories about how parents trusted swim coaches and things weren't on the up and up. I know that not all coaches and swim orginazations are like this, but I'm not going to just turn my 9 year old loose and hope for the best. I spent 8 1/2 years in the military and we are new to the area we are now in, with no family and friends from this area, so there is no familiarization with swim teams or coaches only what I've seen and learned since trying to educate myself. I visted a few other teams where the coaches cussed and berated older kids two lanes away from 10 year old and under kids, and the few parents that were there could seem to care less. This is not the enviornement that I wanted for my child and is a main reason we picked the team we did. At the same time just because I liked the way this team operated from my few observations I wasn't going to just turn my 9 year old over. Trust is earned not given when it comes to my kids and if this makes me seem like a helicopter parent, I apologize. As I mentioned in a previous post I know in a year or two I will be more comfortable with the coaches and the trust will be to where I can drop my kid off and be confident that they are ok. I'm sorry that you have had to deal with over bearing parents and that it bothers you so much. I think there is a fine line from over bearing and protective. My daughter wants to swim and swim alot, I want to foster her enthusiasim in a postitive and safe direction, thats my job as a parent. Allen thats a great suggestion! This kid is bonkers for swimming and I'm glad she is. I've always heard how great swimming is for staying in shape and how its easy on the joints (compared to running) as you get older and hope she continues to swim for these reasons, I'll let her decided what other motives she has for swimming and what goals she has. My biggest concern is burn out even if all the swimming is initiated by her. I think heading out right after practice and having her yern to swim more might be perfect!

RE: New swim Dad

Former Member — Fri, 12 Nov 2010 13:32:41 GMT

some helpful information ...read Swim Faster Faster before bedtime... funny :)

RE: New swim Dad

orca1946 — Fri, 12 Nov 2010 12:45:33 GMT

Too much too early might burn her out. She must also learn to lose rather than swim to win & get blown apart when she does not get her way. Don't let her get overuse hurt so young.

RE: New swim Dad

Speedo — Fri, 12 Nov 2010 12:44:57 GMT

Read her Swim Faster Faster for bed time stories. That's hysterical- I love it.

RE: New swim Dad

ande — Fri, 12 Nov 2010 12:29:36 GMT

my question is this bad for her all this swimming? your daughter loves swimming, let her swim who knows how good or great she'll be 2 swimming workouts a day seems a bit much for a 9 year old. Is she interested in any other sports or activities? It's not necessary to be completely committed to swimming at 9. all that matters is "Is she having fun?" keep an eye out for repetitive motion injuries and burn out. from what you wrote, she has a dream and is very driven. See where her drive takes her. your job is: take her to practice, take her to meets, get her the swim stuff she needs, believe in her & encourage her. Read her Swim Faster Faster for bed time stories. Prescreen them. Probably ought to skip "Lug Less Lard" and any others that aren't appropriate for a 9 year old. good luck, Ande

RE: New swim Dad

That Guy — Fri, 12 Nov 2010 12:10:59 GMT

While reading your post I kept thinking about this: YouTube - Women's 400 Free-1988 Olympic Games

RE: New swim Dad

kgernert — Fri, 12 Nov 2010 11:41:59 GMT

We'd never do that but am worried about becoming involved because she constantly asks us to critique her. I try to listen to what the coaches tell her in practice so I can reienforce it but I feel like an idiot because the other dad who stays after with his kid actually makes her work out until she cries! Sometimes I want to trade with him and let him have mine and I'll take his out for ice cream. ATC Just keep on doing what you are doing and be her dad. Let her coach be her coach. Tell your daughter that you support her no matter what - and no matter how well she swims (or doesn't swim) on any particular day. I used to tell my daughter if she had specific questions about her technique to ask her coach to watch her during practice. We had great coaches and they always did. Enjoy watching your daughter and enjoy being her dad! :bliss:

RE: New swim Dad

Patrick W. Brundage — Fri, 12 Nov 2010 09:58:02 GMT

atcmac, Here's a good way to think about swimming and your child's swimming career -- marathons upon marathons upon marathons of training over their years of age group swimming interrupted by (comparatively) miniscule sprints of performance at meets. I come from a super-engaged swimming family (e.g., my dad and I still swim masters, all my 3 kids swim age group) so I've seen a lot in the 35+ years I've been engaged in this sport. I'd just caution you to try to hold your kid back on the extra yardage and especially on the doubles. There will be plenty of time for that. Make no mistake about it -- while swim racing is generally a sprinty type athletic endeavor, a swimming career is a major endurance event. Help her pace herself.

RE: New swim Dad

Former Member — Fri, 12 Nov 2010 09:04:45 GMT

Awesome video can't wait to show my daughter!! Reading the comments on her stroke was interesting made me think of how everyone said Hank Aaron's swing was wrong, he did pretty well for himself too.

RE: New swim Dad

aquageek — Fri, 12 Nov 2010 09:02:55 GMT

Standing on deck watching your kid's practices - crazy Having your kid swim an extra uncoached 1400 per practice - crazy Standing around with another crazy father comparing kids - crazy I've seen this behavior time and again and 99% of the time the kid is out of swimming in 3-4 years.

RE: New swim Dad

Former Member — Fri, 12 Nov 2010 07:44:47 GMT

Thank you for the replies. My daughter is a nut, we (my wife and I) both take her to practice and she does the same work out. She loves swimming with the older kids I know it is a sense of pride with her. She is the type of kid I have to tell her to get out of the pool that we have to go home. She does the extra swimming on her own she asked to do it because she wanted to practice races she would be doing at the meets and she never gets a chance during practice because practice is always drills usually broken up into 50s and 100s. They do alot of technique during the practices because like one poster said at this age its all about technique and thats what the coaches have been preaching. When we first started at this team she was getting passed during the *** stroke drills. Of course I give her the speech that shes one of the younger ones in the group and over time she will get better and be at the front of the pack, whats she do asks her coach how she can get better and he says its a stroke that gets better with swimming it over and over and practicing the proper technique. When she first started with the stroke she put out a lot of energy but was just bobbing up and down. It was so cute because when she would start to get passed she would go into hyper speed up and down but not go anywhere. Anyways side tracked, so she started getting into the water as soon as we showed up and would practice *** stroke and emphisizing gliding because this is what her coach told her to do. She did that for about two weeks and really changed her *** stroke and now shes pretty darn good at it. Thats how we originally started doing extra and now its transitioned into this, the 400 IM and the 1000 Free. Listen when its your own kid you ask yourself is this normal trust me. There are no other kids on any of the skill groups getting in the pool as much as this kid. Its this way with everything with her shes nine and shes reading little women, what nine year old chooses on thier own to read that, certianly not me give me a Mad Magazine, lol. I'm not like this and my wifes not this way and our other two kids are definatley not like this (the mail man does not seem to have these traits either, I asked, lol). The coaches seem to love it they always point her out to the older groups and tell them how lazy they are compared to her. She seems to be addicted to swimming can you be addicted to swimming? I've sat down and talked to the coaches and like I said they think that the amount swam is fine as long as its being initiated by the child which they know is as they laugh at me. Its not like at the end shes winded or tired I'm telling you if I let her she would keep swimming. She gets a lot of self gratification from the swimming. She gets done with a drill thats suppose to be a sprint and comes up smiling a big grin on her face and says whats next. The other kids are trying to go to the bathroom or asking if they are done yet and mine is drooling and asking whats next, again shes a nut. I guess what I'm asking is does anyoe know kids like this at thier swim teams and was anyone like this when they were a kid? If you do or were got any advice on how to deal with a swimming addict? As far as staying and watching practices shes 9 and I dont care what she does I'm not just dumping my kid and none of the other 9 year old parents do this either. we just sit in the bleachers and bs while the kids practice and the occasional parent will take thier child a pair of googles if thier childs break but I'm not a big fan of just dumping my 9 year old off somewhere. In a few years that will be just fine but not at nine. The coach stands right in front of us and thats when I listen to what hes telling the kids (so I'm informed and not such a swimming novice) shoot he turns around and bs's with us occasionally as well. Its a laid back enviornment which I like as some of the other teams we visted are all bussiness and are all about having complete control over your child. Honestly they felt like russian camps for training a big no fun zone, which my daughter would probablly do well with but not how I think things should be done for nine year olds, JMO. Oh well worlds second longest post, shift worker so get strange hours of free time lol. Thanks again for the replies!

RE: New swim Dad

swimshark — Fri, 12 Nov 2010 07:28:14 GMT

I practice with an age group team (#2 ranked team in USA Swimming SCY) so I see some of the 9 year olds. I can tell you that our team's philosophy is that, at that age, they should be learning proper technique and doing around 2000 yards per hour practice. Technique is so important at their age. If they don't have that foundation now, they could risk injury and won't learn to get faster later on. Is she working on technique a lot? Is she taking good breaks? Is she getting proper nutrition for muscle recovery? To me it seems a bit excessive and something I don't think our coaches would push. If a swimmer wanted to focus on an event, they would work on it during the regular practice, not add on after it was over or before either. As for racing older kids, I did that. I was a 200 breaststroker growing up and not all meets held that event for my age group so I would just do it with the older kids. I think that is fine as long as your daughter is okay with it.

RE: New swim Dad

aquageek — Fri, 12 Nov 2010 04:20:23 GMT

I am not agreeing with Geek,it sounds like you are a good parent. I am sorry I gave the impression the OP was a bad parent. We just have polar opposite views on this topic.

RE: New swim Dad

Allen Stark — Fri, 12 Nov 2010 04:07:22 GMT

I am not agreeing with Geek,it sounds like you are a good parent.That said I think I'd recommend letting her swim the extra swim only once a week.She wants to do more,but distance athletes always want to do more.They are not the best judge of what is good for them.There are countless stories of distance athletes who really improved once they got a coach who understood rest as well as work.I know this doesn't exactly apply to 9 yr olds,but what does apply to 9 year olds is to always leave them wanting a little more so the REALLY look forward to next time.Also,even with perfect technique repetitive stress injuries are an issue even at that age.If she does get tendonitis or impingement syndrome in the next couple of years it will really take the fun out of swimming.

RE: New swim Dad

aquageek — Fri, 12 Nov 2010 03:45:16 GMT

Its a laid back enviornment which I like as some of the other teams we visted are all bussiness and are all about having complete control over your child. Honestly they felt like russian camps for training a big no fun zone, which my daughter would probablly do well with but not how I think things should be done for nine year olds, JMO. So, what you are saying is you don't trust your team and you feel the need to hawk over your kid and coaches to make sure they are abiding by your perceived set of swim team rules. I "dump" my kids every day of the week, drive up, unlock the doors and return 2-3 hours later. In fact, we have 600+ parents who do the exact same thing as me, none Russian even. You know what, they love it. What kid wants their parent on deck looking at them the whole time? What coach wants a parent overlooking their practice the whole time? If you trust your coaches and your team there is no need to be a helicopter parent. Let them swim on their own. It takes a crazy parent to bring me out of self-imposed exile. And, tomorrow is Saturday, the best day of the week.