MACS Splash
A Great Article from USA Swimming: TEN COMMANDMENTS OF SWIMMING PARENTS
1. Thou shall 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. Do not judge your child’s progress based on the performance of other athletes, and do not push them based on what you think they should be doing. The nice thing about swimming is that every person can strive to do their personal best.
2. Thou shall 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.
3. Thou shall 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 a swimmer/coach bond from forming.
4. Thou shall 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.
5. Thou shall acknowledge thy child’s fears.
A first swimming meet, 500 free or 200 IM can be 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.
6. Thou shall 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.
7. 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.
8. Thou shall 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 time by the teammates they leave behind. More importantly, swimmers who switch teams rarely do better than they did before they sought the bluer water.
9. Thy child shall have goals besides winning.
Giving an honest effort regardless of the outcome 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.”
10. Thou shall not expect thy child to become an Olympian.
There are 225,000 athletes in United States Swimming. 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 4,300. Swimming is much more than just the Olympics. Ask your coach why he coaches. Chances are he was not an Olympian but still got enough out of swimming that he wants to pass on his love of the sport 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 medals they may have won. Swimming builds good people and you should be happy your child wants to participate.
Correction to the Newsletter
In our list of national qualifiers in our recent newsletter, we missed mentioning that Jeremiah Zgliczynski has qualified for the 1000 and 1650 freestyle and 400 IM. Congratulations Jeremiah!
Two Weeks to Go for Our Tagawa Fundraiser!
MACS is running a super easy fundraiser with Tagawa. Just take the attached pdf with you to Tagawa, and a portion of your purchase will be returned to the team—up to 25%! This fundraiser will run until June 12, so start shopping today. Tagawa is just a short distance from Pier Point and has the state’s best selection of flowers, trees, and other landscaping items, including patio furniture and cut flowers. If you need more cards, there are extras at Pier Point or call Susan Arnold at 303-840-0067.
Tagawa Gardens
7711 S. Parker Road
303-690-4722
www.tagawagardens.com
Summer Practice Schedule Starts the Week of June 6
Remember that during the summer, MACS will practice at Pier Point and Del Mar. Please check out the summer practice schedule on our website at: http://www.macsswim.com/SubTabGeneric.jsp?team=comacs&_stabid_=41595
Save the Date: July 25 is the MACS Picnic
MACS will have their annual picnic at Del Mar on Monday, July 25. Stay tuned for more details this summer.
Save the Date: Placement for the 2011/2012 Season is September 8 at Eaglecrest
Swimmers who will be new to MACS this fall should plan to attend placement night at Eaglecrest on September 8 at 5:30 p.m. More details later this summer.
