The Unfortunate Path that
Many Swimmers Follow:
The swimmer’s career often starts with 8/under success
and high parental enthusiasm. The child is encouraged by parents and
others to excel and a big deal is made out of every accomplishment. As
the child changes age groups and moves into the 9/10 group, even the
most successful child may struggle because he or she has a harder
time finding success against 10 year olds. What successes are
achieved may not be as noticeable. Unfortunately, as many as
one-third of the young swimmers and their families do not make it
past this point.
By
the time swimmers are10 or 11 years old they (or their parents) may
realize that twice a week practices or summer only swimming is not
enough to compete with others who are practicing more frequently.
Physical ability and natural coordination can still help athlete to
stay competitive and have success but it is getting harder to stay
on top. More big changes and rude awakenings are lurking in the
future.
The first Big Change: From 10/under to 11 &
12
The second Big Change: From age 12 to
13&14/Senior swimming.
The third Big Change: A focus on college
swimming
Let’s
put these changes into “real” numbers:
Suppose a team has 12 Novice swimmers.
The Role of the Parent in Navigating the Big
Changes:
Sometimes, unfortunately, it is the parents who are
responsible for their child leaving the sport. For
example:
Parents who are former athletes, especially former
swimmers, may have unreasonably high expectations.
Parents believe that they are in charge of the
athlete’s happiness and that only “winning” can bring
happiness.
Parents believe that early success equates with long
term success. The 8/under star will, of course, become an
Olympian.
Parents may not understand the need for technical and
skill development before “swimming
fast.”
Parents must examine their own motives. Form a
philosophy that emphasizes the process, not the outcome. Be the
guides on the “fun path” not the “victory path.” When parents use
these words, their emphasis is misplaced:
We - Beat - Win - Fast - Lost - Try - Only –
My
What Can Parents Do to Reverse the
Trend?
Parents must develop, progress and grow the just as
athletes do. Experience is the key and communication is the mode.
Swimmers already have coaches, friends and teammates. They need a
parent to fill the parental role. “Coaches coach children, parents
raise children. “
Here
are some of the benefits your child will garner if he or she sticks
with swimming:
Life
Lessons: Only
one swimmer can win the race. Does this mean everyone else is a
loser? Of course not! Swimmers need to constantly be reminded that a
top-notch effort on their part will result in personal satisfaction
and a contribution to their team. Most USA Swimming clubs design a
program of competitive training and competition for our younger
swimmers based on long term development. Therefore, we may not
stress early competitive success with a great deal of fanfare.
Remember that swimmers under the age of 12 are very inconsistent
which can be frustrating to a parent or to the swimmers themselves.
Fun and patience are the keys here.
Leadership: In
many cases, our team leaders and successful Senior swimmers were not
outstanding age group swimmers. Those who “stick with it” often
develop into outstanding leaders, having learned patience,
dedication and commitment. Steady progress and understanding the
meaning of various accomplishments will make a motivated, well
adjusted Senior swimmer.
USA
Swimming clubs go to great lengths to provide opportunities for all
swimmers equally, although sometimes it may seem that more emphasis
and time is spent on Senior swimming. An 8/under will swim no more
than 45 minutes two or three times a week, while a Senior swimmer
may be in the water 18 hours per week! Both swimmers are having
their needs met as part of a long term progression. Understanding
the long term benefits and the long term progression will help
parents navigate the waters of a swimmer’s career. If you associate
“time” with “attention”, the longer a swimmer stays with swimming
the more attention he or she will
receive.