Training and Workout Questions for Athletes How can I help her reach the next level? When you are making the transition, you need to realize that you are participating at a higher level. Improvements are in tenths and hundredths, rather than seconds, due to biological and physiological factors. Throughout your career, it’s important to have a support team. While this support is still needed at this stage, it may have to be a little different than in the past. It is a good time to discuss with your coaches and...

How to Help Your Child Juggle Sports, School, and Life It's early in the school year, and your daughter has already made her junior high school field hockey team and the traveling soccer team. She has practices every afternoon and two games on weekends. You are wondering how she'll ever keep up with her schoolwork, let alone have time for her piano lessons. Balancing sports, schoolwork, and other activities is one of your child's greatest challenges. But it can be done--with the right game plan. Here are some tips. Set...

Sibling Rivalry in Sports: When the Youngest Gets Overlooked Courtesy of Brooks Clark Heather, the first-born, was involved in everything: swimming, tennis, piano. Robby, number two, followed right along, adding baseball and gymnastics and keeping the family minivan in motion every minute of the week. Mary, the third, has been to every one of her siblings' games and meets but has remained the spectator. For two seasons now, her friends have encouraged her to sign up for soccer, but she has said no. Her parents, already feeling overbooked, happily let...

The Road to Nationals-Allison Schmitt The Stats: Name: Allison Schmitt Age: 20 (June 7, 1990) Club: North Baltimore Aquatics Club/University of Georgia Distance to the 2010 ConocoPhillips National Championships: 2,658 miles Training and Travel Snap Shot: Favorite Training Set: 5x100 on 10 minutes, in heats, all-out racing Least Favorite Training Set: No particular set as everything helps in the end Swimming Road Trip Must-Have Item: Phone and some country music Favorite Swimming Road Trip: Rome for World Champs because of the swimming accomplishments and creating memories and bonds with great...

Teaching Good Sportsmanship by Carleton Kendrick Tips for Parents "You don't win silver. You lose gold." That's the sour message of a sneaker advertisement that aired on TV during the Atlanta Olympics. Such omnipresent multimedia messages combined with a "winning is everything" philosophy embraced by increasing numbers of parents and coaches - makes it harder than ever for adults to teach kids that it's not whether you win or lose, but how you play the game that's important. It's not surprising that the rise in bad sportsmanship -- and outrageous...

The Road to Nationals - Peter Vanderkaay Courtesy of Swimnetwork.com The Stats: Name: Peter Vanderkaay Age: 26 (February 12, 1984) Club: Club Wolverine Distance to the 2010 ConocoPhillips National Championships: 2,240 miles Training and Travel Snap Shot: Favorite Training Set: Likes to change it up to keep it interesting and introduce new challenges Least Favorite Training Set: No one in particular Swimming Road Trip Must-Have Item: The essentials – swimsuit, cap, goggles and PowerBars Favorite Swimming Road Trip: First time at summer Nationals in 2001 because after the meet, which...

Are red eyes after swimming a concern? Red or puffy eyes after a long day of swimming in a pool may indicate chlorine sensitivity. Ponds and lakes also may contain bacteria that can inflame the cornea. To prevent red or puffy eyes, have your child wear goggles. To ease discomfort and reduce redness after swimming, rinse your child's eyes with a sterile eyewash or an artificial tears solution.

What does the coach mean when he/she says that you control 80% of your own training? At this stage it is important for the athlete to take full responsibility for your sport. Your coach is just reinforcing this concept. Having a good attitude, developing proper time management, and demonstrating a strong work ethic are important both in and out of the practice and competition. What coach is referring to is what we call “hidden training factors.” You are in control of what you eat, how much sleep you get, your...

Let's Talk about Sportsmanship Talking About Sportsmanship FOR AGES: Six and up THE SCENE Eight-year-old Alissa's soccer team is just about to lose its big game when you see her shove one of her opponents. The referee removes her from the game, and she sits sulking on the sidelines. It's always upsetting to see your child behave like a bad sport. But you can turn these incidents into conversations about good sportsmanship. Give your child some time to cool off and then approach the subject in a neutral way. THE...

Courtesy of Swimnetwork.com ConocoPhillips presents The Road to Nationals, a year-long series in which Swimnetwork will follow National Teamers from January onwards as they look forward to the summer's biggest meet: the 2010 ConocoPhillips National Championships. The Stats: Name: Ariana Kukors Age: 21 (June 1, 1989) Club: Fullerton Aquatics Sport Team (FAST) Distance to the 2010 ConocoPhillips National Championships: 15 miles Training and Travel Snap Shot: Favorite Training Set: In preparation for going out strong in a 400 IM and building confidence, Kukors does three to six rounds of 200-freestyle...