Maverick Aquatics

Parent Involvement

This is just out from USA swimming.  Parent involvement, done right, is a very positive influence:

Learn Optimal Push (1/1/2007)

Interestingly, there is a positive side to the idea of ‘parental pushing’.  USA Swimming research conducted in 1996 shows that kids say parents can enhance fun in swimming by providing a push.  Be careful, however. Remember that there is a fine line between pushing in a positive way and pushing to the detriment of kids’ enjoyment.  It seems a slight push from parents can enhance subsequent enjoyment and, as kids point out, is often needed. Optimal push shows love, support and caring without applying undue pressure. A parent who encourages a child to attend practice and who is ready, willing and able to drive the child shows that he cares about the child’s interest and successful development. A parent who takes a “hands off approach” hoping to avoid pressuring the child may actually be sending the message “I don’t care about you and your activities!” Be there, be available, be ready, willing and able to help. Sometimes we all need a little push to get us moving, to get us out of bed, into the car and into the pool. We need to know that someone cares. A child who says “do I have to go to swim practice?” may be very happy to have you make the decision by saying “yes.” He may just want to see if you care.

war zone or light-hearted fun?

From the Positive Coaches Alliance newsletter.

Dan Saferstein has written a handy little booklet full of great advice for sports parents called Win or Lose: A Guide to Sports Parenting.  Here is an excerpt:

"Your child will last longer as a competitive athlete, and you will last longer as a sports parent, if you learn to maintain your sense of humor under fire.  The sports families that seem to have the hardest times are the ones who head off to competitions as if they were heading into a war zone.  The father sits at the steering wheel of his SUV like a tank commander; the mother sits like an army medic awaiting casualties; and junior sits in the back seat as if his life were on the line.  It reminds me of a quote from the golfer, Chi Chi Rodriguez.  When asked if he felt under a lot of pressure to make a final putt to win a championship, he replied, 'Pressure isn't about making putts to win golf tournaments.  Pressure is about picking enough cotton to feed your family at the end of the day.'

"Fortunately, most of us aren't relying on our children's athletic performances to put food on the table.  The desperation is only in our minds, which invariably then seeps into the minds of our children.  The good news is that our lightness can also seep into the minds of our children.  They can learn from us to smile in the face of misfortune and look ahead to the next game.  In youth sports, there is always another game, and the most successful athletes learn to let go of their disappointment and start preparing for it.  They learn to laugh with their teammates, laugh with their families, laugh at the crazy and magical world of sports that can leave us feeling like we're on top of the clouds one minute and neck-deep in quicksand the next."

more articles and info about swimming

USA Today ran an excellent article about selfesteem_and_lifes_feedback.htm that John Leonard, the president of the American Swim Coaches Association, responded to.

Another great article covering self-esteem run in USA Today: enough_already_with_kid_gloves.htm

Are your swimmers getting enough carbohydrates? Download no_atkins_for_swimmers.pdf

The CMSA coaches think the same thing about swim camps as we do.  As always, please communicate with Dan and Tonya if this is something you are interested in.

What does a SWIM PARENT do?

Parental Roles as clarified by a USA Swimming rep.

Age-group swimming is a process that develops skills and athleticism.  These charts illustrate ballpark ages when particular qualities and motor skills are learned. Download developmental_charts.doc

A journalist in LA has some good points about youth competition. Download latimes_bringing_back_competition_for_kids_is_a_winner.doc 

Pay attention to the teachable moments in youth sports. Download totally_oblivious_beauty_of_teaching_through_sports.pdf 

Swimming Jargon

Do you know what "taking sides" means?  If your child asks you to take him or her to the "bullpen", do you know what that is?  Are you familiar with the terms "short course" and "long course"? 

Download swimming_jargon.doc to brush up on your swimming jargon.  If there are any words we missed, be sure to let us know!

Top 12 Indications that I Might be a Pressure Parent

12.  When I cheer for my swimmer, I order him or her to go faster.

11.  When I cheer for my swimmer, I tell him or her to beat someone else.

10.  When I watch my swimmer swim, I make disparaging remarks to others about how he or she just doesn't have what it takes.

9.  I don't think my swimmer's motivation level is high, so I offer external rewards to swim better.

8.  I don't think my swimmer has done well unless he or she improves in time.

7.  I often remind my swimmer about how much this sport is costing me to try to motivate him or her to perform.

6.  I think my swimmer should be the best.

5.  I think my swimmer should win all the time.

4.  I coach my swimmer before and after races and tell my swimmer what was wrong after races.

3.  I get more excited and more disappointed about races than my swimmer does.

2.  When I my swimmer does well, I feel good about myself.  When my swimmer does poorly, I blame him or her.

1.  I think my swimmer's performance reflects on me personally.

What is USA Swimming?

USA Swimming is the National Governing Body for competitive swimming in the United States.  USA Swimming was conceived in 1978 with the passage of the Amateur Sports Act, which specified that all Olympic sports would be administered independently.  Prior to this act, USA Swimming was the Competitive Swimming Committee of the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) located in Indianapolis, Indiana.  USA Swimming Headquarters office was established in Colorado Springs, Colorado, in 1981 and is located at the Olympic Training Center. 

As the National Governing Body for the sport, USA Swimming is responsible for the conduct and administration of swimming in the United States.  In this capacity, USA Swimming formulates the rules, implements the policies and procedures, conducts the national championships, disseminates safety and sports medicine information and selects ahletes to represent the United States in international competition.

Organization

International - The international federation for the aquatic sports is the Federation Internationale de Natation Amateur (FINA).  USA Swimming is affiliated with FINA through United States Aquatic Sports (USAS), made up of the four aquatic sports - swimming, synchronized swimming, diving, and water polo.

National - USA Swimming is a Group A member of the United States Olympic Committee (USOC) and has voting representation in the USOC House of Delegates.

Zone - USA Swimming is divided into four separate zones - central, eastern, southern, and western.  Maverick Aquatics is in the southern zone.  Each zone elects two representatives to the national Board of Directors.

Local - Within the United States, there are 59 Local Swimming Committees (LSCs).  Each LSC is responsible for adminstering USA Swimming activities in a defined geographical area and has its own set of bylaws under which it operates.  A House of Delegates with respresentation of athletes, coaches, members of the Board of Directors and clubs is responsible for managing the business affairs of the LSC.  Maverick Aquatics is in the Southeastern Swimming (SES) LSC.  This LSC includes northwest Florida, Alabama, and parts of Tennessee.

Operation

USA Swimming is a non-profit organization made up of very dedicated volunteers.  Interested individuals donate their time, energy, and expertise at every level from teh national Board of Directors to the local swimming clubs.  There are 50 standing committees.  Staff liaisons, along with these committees, create, implement, and evaluate USA Swiming programs.  The House of Delegates meets annually to determine the rules and regulations for the following year.  Between the yearly meetings of the House of Delegates, an elected USA Swimming Board of Directors is charged with the responsibility of making decisions for USA Swimming.

At least one coach from Maverick Aquatics attends a House of Delegates meeting every year.

Parent Links

USA Swimming's website has an excellent section for parents.  It is recommend reading.

Swim Meet Lessons

At a recent swim meet I heard a parent commenting to his son ten year old, "These meets cost too much for you not to be getting best times and beating __________________." That got me thinking. What should I try to teach my team parents about what they are paying for? I'm sure this is by no means a complete list, but here are lessons to be had on an age-group pool deck:

1. Teamwork: The swimmers is learning how to work with others and work toward a common goal. This is a necessary lesson to overcome a child's natural ego-centric viewpoint.

2. Motivation: The swimmer should (and will if properly done) learn to move from an external locus of motivation, i.e. medals, ribbons, money, food, etc, to an internal locus, i.e. reaching a self-set goal, doing it because he/she wants to or sees the value in it.

3. Goal setting: The child will learn the step by step process of working for and achieving goals; how to set goals realistically and plan' how to break down "in-surmountable tasks" into little, manageable tasks.

4. Competition: The child learns that competition can be healthy and foster improvement.

5. Concentration: The pool deck offers a myriad of distractions. The swimmer will learn skills to sift through those distractions and focus on the tasks at hand.

6. Responsibility: There are many things a swimmer has to be responsible for: reporting to the event in the proper heat and lane, reporting to the coach, remembering the proper suit, cap goggles, being with relays, remembering instructions, and remembering all his items (towel, bag, extra suit, food, money, game boy, etc.)

7. Task building: Aside form goals, swimmers learn race strategy and how training has a direct bearing on that; they learn strokes and are constantly on a progression to build better technique.

8. Cooperation: With other swimmers, meet workers, officials, and coaches. The swimmer also learns how to listen and take instruction from other adults besides his parents and sort through input and make judgments.

9. Follower ship and leadership skills: Age group meets have a unique infrastructure for this. A ten year-old may offer leadership to an eight year-old; whereas the same child may "follow" a twelve year-old. Throughout the growth of a swimmer at meets many opportunities present themselves to build this two-sided skill.

10. Sportsmanship and character: A swimmer is constantly faced with opportunities to race, win, lose, fail, persist, overcome, and succeed.

11. Independence: From reporting to the blocks and the coach by himself to learning to budget money on team trips and making decisions, the child is in a constantly developing continuum of learning to be independent based on the circumstance.

12. Time management skills and deadlines: Heats rarely wait for the tardy swimmer. A swimmer must manage his time to gather his equipment, complete their pre-race routines, and step up on the blocks on time. He must learn to be at meets on time for warm-up, at practice on time, and in time for transportation.

13. Self-worth: Swimmers compete against the clock and, ultimately, against themselves. One can win every event but if the swimmer does not improve his times or techniques, or learns how to race better, then it may not be a good meet. Thus, the individual learns his skills better, conditions better, gains greater levels of preparation, and by this gains greater confidence and feels better about himself.

14. Lifelong physical fitness: Swimmers do not need to worry about being able to enjoy their sport into advanced age. Swimming is one of the few sports that affords this opportunity. If one can enjoy the sport as a child, there is little reason not to enjoy swimming into an advanced age.

15. Nutrition and health: Coaches and parents should take swim meets as an opportunity to teach and model proper nutrition and health. I know this isn't done well on a regular basis (if soda consumption is any indication), but a conscientious parent or coach should take this opportunity to teach this.

If all this is not worth paying for because the swimmer did not "lower his time or beat someone" then perhaps the swimmer's parents should find another activity for their child.

10 Commandments

10 COMMANDMENTS FOR SWIMMING PARENTS
by Rose Snyder

1. Thou shalt 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. Don't judge your child's progress based on the performance of other athletes and don't push them based on what you think they should be doing. The nice thing about swimming is every person can strive to do their personal best and benefit from the process of competitive swimming.

2. Thou shalt be supportive no matter what.
There is only one question to ask your child after a practice or a competition - "Did you have fun?" If meets and practices are not fun, your child should not be forced to participate.

3. Thou shalt not coach thy child.
You are involved in one of the few youth sports programs that offer professional coaching, do not undermine the professional coach by trying to coach your child on the side. Your job is to provide unconditional love and support and a safe place to return at the end of the day. Love and hug your child no matter what. Tell them how proud of them you are. The coach is responsible for the technical part of the job.
You should not offer advice on technique or race strategy or any other area that is not yours. And above all, never pay your child for a performance. This will only serve to confuse your child concerning the reasons to strive for excellence and weaken the swimmer/coach bond.

4. Thou shalt only have positive things to say at a swimming meet.
If you are going to show up at a swimming meet, you should be encouraging, but never criticize your child or the coach. Both of them know when mistakes have been made. And remember "yelling at" is not the same as "cheering for". You also may want to consider being positive anytime you are around the pool.

5. Thou shalt 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. Remember your job is to love and support your child through all of the swimming experience. Most of their fears are one's you have given them.

6. Thou shalt not criticize the officials.
If you do not care to devote the time or do not have the desire to volunteer as an official, don't criticize those who are doing the best they can. You too can be trained to be an official in an afternoon.

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 shalt be loyal and supportive of thy team.
It is not wise for parents to take their swimmers and to jump from team to team. The water isn't necessarily bluer in another 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, long time by the teammates they leave behind and are slowly received by new team mates. Often times swimmers who do switch teams never do better than they did before they sought the bluer water.

9. Thy child shalt have goals besides winning.
Most successful swimmers are those who have learned to focus on the process and not the outcome. Giving an honest effort regardless of what the outcome is, 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. Does this make me a failure? No, in fact I am very proud of that swim." What a tremendous outlook to carry on through life.

10. Thou shalt not expect thy child to become an Olympian.
There are 280,000 athletes in USA Swimming. Only 2% of the swimmers listed in the 10 & Under age group make it to the Top 100 in the 17-18 age group and of those only a small percentage will become elite level, world class athletes. There are only 52 spots available for the Olympic Team every four years. Your child's odds of becoming an Olympian is about .0002%.

Q&A

General Questions:

How long is one lap?
-This question is more deceptive than it seems. It can mean either two lengths or one length of the pool. In track, a lap takes one back to the starting point. When a swimmer "laps" another, the swimmer does not get just a length ahead but is more than two lengths ahead. However, one lap is also used in swimmer jargon to mean one length (25 yards in a short course pool, 50 meters in a long course pool). The meaning has to be inferred from the conversation. If you want to avoid confusion, use the word "length."

Questions about swim meets:

How are the swim meets chosen?

The coaches have two criteria they function with when they choose meets: Number of swimmers able to go and what is the highest level competition we can attend. Sometimes these two criteria are contradictory and they have to make choices. 

We will try to attend an average of 1-2 meets per month. Due to the season scheduling, some months we won't have any, some months we may have three. Most meets will be in the local area. Meets outside the local area are usually meets where the swimmers must qualify to attend.

How should my swimmer plan to dress for a swim meet?
-First find out whether the pool is indoors or out, then look at the weather. Most swimmers spend the whole meet in their suit. If it will be cold or wet and windy outside, the swimmer should have plenty of towels, a set of warm-ups, and something to act as a windbreaker. If it is going to be sunny and warm, the swimmer should have sunscreen, possibly a hat, a light colored T-shirt, and something to provide shade. If the meet is indoors, the swimmer should be fine in a sweatshirt or warm-ups, some towels, and maybe a t-shirt.

Is there a team uniform?
-The team "uniform" is considered a suit in team colors (black, purple, gold…combination or single color), a team cap (same colors), and either a team t-shirt, warm-ups, or scrubs. The team uniform should be prescribed by the coach or team captains and items needed should be available from the team or local vendors.  Please see the team uniform order form.

Where do we sit once we get to the pool?
-Usually the swimmers will sit together on the pool deck or in the "rest-area" (gym) provided by the host team. If there are stands the parents will sit, hopefully together, in the stands. If there is no spectator area the team should establish a seating area for everyone somewhere around the pool area.

Where does my swimmer go once we arrive at the pool?
-Find out from the coach where the team is sitting, set bags down, and talk with the coach to find out where the team is warming up and when.

Does the team sit together?
-Yes. If the meet is designed for parents to be in the spectator area, the swimmers will sit by themselves. If not, everyone can sit together and share space.

What is a heat sheet and do I need to buy one?                                                            -A heat sheet is actually several sheets of paper that show the events, heats, and lanes swimmers are assigned to for racing.  Each distance and stroke is an event (i.e. 50 free, 100 IM, 100 back).  Each event then has several heats, or groups of 6 or 8 people (depending on the number of lanes) race at a time.  So if your child is in Event 1,Heat 1, Lane 1, then he or she will be one of 6 or 8 people in the first race of the day. The team should always have a heat sheet that swimmers can refer to, but it is a good idea for individual parents to buy one.

How long can we generally anticipate in between events?
-This varies greatly from meet to meet. Usually the time between events, if swimming successive events, is between 15 and 30 minutes.

Can my swimmer(s) leave the swim meet facility in between events?
-The swimmer should not leave the facility between events. If going to leave between sessions, check with the coach for a timeline.

Does my swimmer need to be available to cheer for other team swimmers?
-Your swimmer is encouraged to cheer for other team swimmers while participating in the session. The swimmer is not obligated to cheer for swimmers in later or earlier sessions unless it is a special case (National meet finals or something of that nature).

Where does my swimmer go when we hear the announcement of her event?
-The swimmer should report to the coach for instructions, then report to the block as directed by the coach.

What does the electronic board tell me?
-That depends on the board. The board may tell you the place, lane, and time of particular swimmers. It may also tell you the heat and event swimming. It may tell you just the time.

Are the times on the board official?
-The times on the "board" are not official. Automatic timing systems do malfunction.  Official times are usually posted somewhere on deck, and official results are available online after the meet.  Please check the official result links on this site.

How long before events can my swimmer eat?
-Usually nothing large during the meet and only snacks no closer then 20 minutes before the race.

Do you suggest smaller snacks throughout the day rather than eating a heavier meal between events?
-Depending on the meal and the swimmer, I would recommend a solid meal about 1-2 hours prior to the session warm-up (do not overeat!). Then, if the swimmer gets hungry during the session, only small snacks.

Does the coach mind parents talking to him during the swim meet, or does he prefer we talk after?
-This is up to the coach. Most coaches don't mind being talked to as long as the parent understands the swimmers and those in the water have priority. If a discussion needs to happen it is best if a time is arranged with the coach.

What kinds of things (if any) are off limits to my swimmer during a swim meet? (movies, game-boys, soda, sugar?)
-I personally don't like game-boys or movies. It has a tendency to really distract the swimmer and LOWER the biorhythms. I would prefer reading, playing cards, talking, etc. Anything with a high amount of sugar in it should be avoided during the meet as it will have adverse consequences on energy levels…high immediately on digestion, low about ½ an hour later. Vegetables and fruits, some crackers, a bagel…usually bland foods are OK.

How much can I generally plan to spend on a swim meet?
-This depends widely on you. I would recommend you do NOT buy swim items (goggles, suits, caps) at the swim meet unless absolutely needed or on sale. You will have meet fees (usually a surcharge and $3.00 per swimmer event), coaching fees, and food. Also you may have travel and room expenses. The food can depend on what, if anything, you bring yourself. Meets can be done very inexpensively or very expensively.

Is there anything we can do to help the coach or team or event administrators?
-Usually there is a need for timers. Parents usually start "working" meets by timing the races. There are opportunities to learn various officiating jobs, computer and record keeping jobs, concessions, etc.

Any questions not covered here?  Please email one of the coaches so that the questions and answers can be posted.