When you know what your coach is telling your swimmer you are better able to lend emotional support to your child and you are better able to support the coach.
After an event I first asked my swimmers, "How did you like your swim?" After listening to them, accepting their feelings, and in most cases, empathizing with their feelings, I proceeded to analyze the swim. In some situations, when a swimmers displayed excessive anger or crying after a swim I asked them to warm down first, or to sit quietly in private for a few moments before talking about the swim.
I always told age group swimmers that there are three things they can do in a race. They can do a best time. They can swim the race technically correct with proper pace and good start, turn, and stroke mechanics. And they can win the race. "Win the race" refers to beating whoever they are close to in the heat. Sometimes it means winning the heat, sometimes it means winning the event, sometimes it means out touching the swimmer in the next lane for seventh place. If a swimmer is successful at one of the three objectives I told them they did a good job. If they were successful at two of the three, that's was an excellent job. If they were successful at all three, then they were the best they could be at that point.
News for Swim Parents
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