How do you all feel about parents side coaching kids (10 to 18 years old)?
Is there any time in which you feel side coaching is justified?
I'd love to hear from those of you who are parents of swimmers and admit to have done this before. Where do you draw the line? Do you keep it hidden from your kids coach? Do you agree that most of the best youth swimmers have been side coached to some extent?
Interesting question.:cheerleader:
I used to coach with a club team in Oregon a few years back, and we discouraged this "side coaching" by the parents. You want to try to maintain the attention of the swimmer with you, the coach, rather than the swimmer always going back to the mom/dad for advice. They need to get directive from one main source, rather than multiple conflicting sources, though both sources may have the same intent. We had "talks" with those over-eager parents that were in a way - overstepping the boundaries, and it seemed to work. We told them to give all the praise they wanted to, for the good and the bad. Encouragement is great, just be proud that your swimmer did their best, and let them know it...let the coach be the "bad guy". :) :2cents:
I used to coach with a club team in Oregon a few years back, and we discouraged this "side coaching" by the parents. You want to try to maintain the attention of the swimmer with you, the coach, rather than the swimmer always going back to the mom/dad for advice. They need to get directive from one main source, rather than multiple conflicting sources, though both sources may have the same intent. We had "talks" with those over-eager parents that were in a way - overstepping the boundaries, and it seemed to work. We told them to give all the praise they wanted to, for the good and the bad. Encouragement is great, just be proud that your swimmer did their best, and let them know it...let the coach be the "bad guy". :) :2cents:
