Q: When is my child ready for competition? A: That is a difficult question, as research on athlete development provides no clear-cut answer. In an article by Passer (1988) addressing this question, he reviewed several areas of development in attempting to provide guidelines on determining readiness for competition: - Motivational readiness: Because competition is a social comparison process, the young athlete is motivated to compete when he or she possesses a social comparison orientation. Research suggests that around the age of 5-7 kids have the desire for and ability to...

Benefits of Swimming Sep 3, 2010 Swimming is a fun, healthy and low impact form of resistance exercise that works your entire body while providing support at the same time. It exercises the body and relaxes the mind without limiting an overweight individual, a pregnant woman or a person suffering from an injury as it won’t place any added stress on the body. How to get started Anyone can benefit from swimming as it is suitable for people of all ages and fitness levels. Here are some of the options...

The 2012 United States Olympic Trials-Swimming will once again be held at the Qwest Center in Omaha, Nebraska. The 2008 Trials set a new standard for swimming excitement and 2012 promises to bring even more poolside thrills to America's Heartland. Check back often for updates as we draw closer to naming the team that will represent the United States in the pool at the London Olympic Games. When: June 25th-July 2nd 2012 Where: Qwest Center Omaha 455 North 10th Street Omaha, NE 68102 2012 Time Standards pdf USA Swimming Olympic...

Have a fun and safe Labor Day weekend! Labor Day Practice Update: Monday, September 6, 2011.There will be NO 3:45 p.m. groups or 5 p.m. groups. Coach Dave’s & Jimmy’s practice will be 7:30 am to 9:30 a.m. Coach Terrell’s & Dolores’s practice will be 8:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. Monday, September 6, 2011.There will be NO 3:45 p.m. groups or 5 p.m. groups.

Communicating with teenagers can be challenging, to say the least. Although most teens seem quite adept at communicating with other teenagers, talking to parents can be a somewhat different experience. For parents of teenagers, learning a little about teens can help make communication less frustrating and allow open discussions about important issues affecting the family. Using these tips should help parents to effectively talk with their teens. 1. Listen. Many times parents are not really listening when teens try to talk. Parents have so many tasks that keep them busy,...

Q: Should boys and girls be trained differently? A: During the early years of competitive swimming, children of both genders are predominantly pre-pubescent. This stage allows for some flexibility in grouping the young athletes. At this point, young boys and girls can train together with relative ease. Girls tend to move through biological development more rapidly than boys of similar chronological age (approximately 2-2.5 years earlier). This may cause initial differences within the training groups. Further, elements such as aerobic capacity (ability to use oxygen to make energy) and muscle...

Keeping Kids Healthy During Back-to-School Season It's that time of the year when schoolkids lament the end of the summer and parents enjoy their child's return to the classroom. However, keeping those kids in the classroom rather than at home sick is easier said than done -- especially since the common cold and other illnesses can spread quickly in a school setting. "Anytime you put people together in any type of crowded conditions, including schools, you see an increase in infectious diseases," said Vincent Fischetti, head of the bacterial pathogenesis...

Q: My son comes home every night and says, "Tommy doesn't help cover the pool or pick-up boarads." What do I say to him? A: First of all, be sure to commend your son for helping out and explain why that’s important. Praise him for helping without being asked. In this case you might encourage him to talk to Tommy and ask him to help the coach and the group by pitching in. This will begin to teach your son to deal directly with a problem and the person he...

Muscles Trained: Core Importance to Swimmers: By incorporating dynamic flexibility with core strengthening, this demanding drill can help with both flip turns and improving your streamline position. Execution: Sit on an exercise mat while balancing on your rear end. With your feet held just off the ground and arms wrapped around your shins, brace your core as you quickly extend into a streamline position. When your arms and legs are as straight as possible, pause for a split second before quickly curling back up to the starting position. Shoot for...

Q: My daughter is influenced by the senior athletes. How do I encourage her to have the appropriate role models? A: That’s a tough one. We suggest you begin by complimenting or simply pointing out the behavior of athletes you want her to emulate. Focus on such things as a good work ethic, sportsmanship, a good attitude, and other values held by your family. There have been many heroes and role models throughout the history of swimming, e.g. Tracy Caulkins, Mary T. Meagher, Pablo Morales, Jeff Rouse, etc. Encourage your...