Thou shalt not
impose your ambitions on thy child.
Remember that swimming is your
child's activity. Improvements and progress occur at different rates for
each individual. Don't judge your child's progress based on the performance
of other athletes and don't push them based on what you think they should be
doing. The nice thing about swimming is every person can strive to do their
personal best.
Thou shalt be
supportive no matter what.
There is only one question to ask your child
"Did you have fun?" If meets and practices are not fun, your child should
not be forced to participate.
Thou shalt not
coach your child.
You have taken your child to a professional coach, do
not undermine that coach by trying to coach your child on the side. Your job
is to support, love and hug your child no matter what. The coach is
responsible for the technical part of the job. You should not offer advice
on technique or race strategy. That is not your area. This will only serve
to confuse your child and prevent that swimmer/ coach bond from forming.
Thou shalt only
have positive things to say at a swimming meet.
If you are going to show
up at a swimming meet, you should cheer and applaud, but never criticize
your child or the coach.
Thou shalt
acknowledge thy child's fears.
At a first swimming meet any race can be
cause a stressful situation. It is totally appropriate for your child to be
scared. Don't yell or belittle, just assure your child that the coach would
not have suggested the event if your child was not ready to compete in it.
Thou shalt not
criticize the officials.
If you do not have the time or the desire to
volunteer as an official, don't criticize those who are doing the best they
can.
Honor thy
child's coach.
The bond between coach and swimmer is a special one, and
one that contributes to your child's success as well as fun. Do not
criticize the coach in the presence of your child, it will only serve to
hurt your child's swimming.
Thou shalt not
jump from team to team.
The water isn't necessarily bluer at the other
team's pool. Every team has its own internal problems, even teams that build
champions. Children who switch from team to team are often ostracized for a
long, long time by the teammates they leave behind. Often times swimmers who
do switch teams never do better than they did before they sought the bluer
water.
Thy child shalt
have goals besides winning.
Giving an honest effort regardless of what
the outcome is, is much more important than winning. One Olympian said, "My
goal was to set a world record. Well, I did that, but someone else did it
too, just a little faster than I did. I achieved my goal and I lost. This
does not make me a failure, in fact, I am very proud of that swim."
Thou shalt not
expect thy child to become an Olympian.
There are over 300,000 athletes
who swim. There are only 52 spots available for the Olympic Team every four
years. Your child's odds of becoming an Olympian are 1 in about 5,000.
Swimming is much more than just the Olympics. Ask your coach why they coach.
Chances are, he was not an Olympian, but still got enough out of swimming
that they want to pass that love for the sport on to others. Swimming
teaches self discipline and sportsmanship; it builds self esteem and
fitness; it provides lifelong friendships and much more. Most Olympians will
tell you that these intangibles far outweigh any medal they may have won.
Swimming builds good people and you should be happy that your child wants to
participate.
