Greetings Everyone!

A quick note this week on one of the most important topics in swimming... which is... "how hard should I 'push' my child?"

This question has been around since the beginning of Age Group Swimming in the late 1940s. And there is no clear-cut, definite answer, but time has been kind enough to grant us some insights, in no particular order, here they are:

1. USA Swimming Research conducted in 1996 confirms that parents can enhance swimming fun by providing a push.
2. Careful though, as it is a fine line between "just right" and "too hot" (seems like I heard that a long time ago with the story of the Three Bears).
3. A parent has to, and should, remind children (of all ages) of their commitment to attend practice.
4. A parent has to, and should, help the child make the connection between hard work at practice and improvement in performance. This is NOT an easy connection for young people to make.
5. Parents need to emphasize long term rewards and the importance of understanding "delayed gratification" I would add to this that in today's society, this is a hard sell. But all things of true value require our effort, our hard work and our full concentration.
6. We all try to "gradually" increase each child's commitment levels as reflected in number of practices a week, number of minutes per practice and quality of work done during practice, in order to produce improved quality of result. Parental understanding and support of this slow process is critical in the success of their children.
7. Parents need to work hard at the "responsibility" side of swimming. Emphasize to their child the importance of being on time, using their time wisely (and productively) in and out of the pool, honoring their teammates (and themselves) with their own effort, and speaking and acting only to "good effect"....saying and doing things that enhance the ability of people to perform their best and not hinder them by words or deeds that create a negative environment. Coaches work at these things daily, and it is oh-so-much-more-effective, if the same messages are delivered by Mom and Dad.
8. Don't do things "for" your children, but rather, encourage them to think through "the process" and doing things for themselves. Remind them and ask questions about what they will need at practice, at the meets, etc. and encourage them to become self-responsible for everything from water, to caps, goggles, equipment, etc.
9. Remind them that swim team is a learning experience. Not quite school, but not the playground, either, rather a mix of both. But the learning comes first. This is a technique limited sport. They will "stop improving" at the exact point where there limited improvement in skills stops them.
10. Relax and enjoy it. None of us improve at anything in a "straight line". There are always deviations and mis-steps, mistakes, etc. Look at your child's career month by month and season by season, rather than day or week to day or week. Things Take Time.

I'm really pleased with how well our SwimFast teammates are learning and improving. Thanks for the privilege of coaching your children!

All the Best, John Leonard