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:
Parents
Former Member
How about situations where coaches have an "investment" on the team such as coaching their own sons or daughters? I find that many of those particular kids spend quite a bit of time being taught "on the side" by the parent. I also find that most parents don't know squat about the technical side of swimming and will only do more harm than good but there are also those who have good insight to the sport and might be able to give their kid that "extra attention" that perhaps the coach can't give due to a large volume of kids. I dunno, I think it can go both ways but to assume that simply because you are labled a "swim parent" and you must not know anything about the sport or that you cannot offer anything positive to your kid is kind of premature. I've been to too many swim meets and know too many swimmers (and I'm talking AAA,AA here) who obviously have been side coached by someone other than the head coach. On the other hand I've also witnessed too many beserk parents who are watching at EVERY practice, sending their kids to meets that the team isn't even going to and making them practice more than they should or need. I Personally think parents can offer alot to a kid if they know what they are doing but most don't and they don't have a clue that they are harming their kids.
How about situations where coaches have an "investment" on the team such as coaching their own sons or daughters? I find that many of those particular kids spend quite a bit of time being taught "on the side" by the parent. I also find that most parents don't know squat about the technical side of swimming and will only do more harm than good but there are also those who have good insight to the sport and might be able to give their kid that "extra attention" that perhaps the coach can't give due to a large volume of kids. I dunno, I think it can go both ways but to assume that simply because you are labled a "swim parent" and you must not know anything about the sport or that you cannot offer anything positive to your kid is kind of premature. I've been to too many swim meets and know too many swimmers (and I'm talking AAA,AA here) who obviously have been side coached by someone other than the head coach. On the other hand I've also witnessed too many beserk parents who are watching at EVERY practice, sending their kids to meets that the team isn't even going to and making them practice more than they should or need. I Personally think parents can offer alot to a kid if they know what they are doing but most don't and they don't have a clue that they are harming their kids.
