The competitive
swimming and diving program allows the swimmer and diver to experience success
and to learn how to deal with defeat, while becoming healthy and physically fit.
As a parent, our major responsibilities are to provide a stable, loving, and supportive
environment. This positive environment will encourage your child to continue.
Show your interest by ensuring your child's attendance at practices, and by coming
to meets. Get involved in your child's team. Your role as a
volunteer is important to our sport. Remember, there would be no team with
out the help of the parents. With a positive attitude and willingness to
lend a hand, you will also have a great impact on your child's athletic environment.
The 11 Parenting
Commandments
Remember that swimming and diving 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 and diving is every person can strive to do their own personal best.
There is only one question to ask your child, "Did you have fun?"
Your child should not be forced to participate.
Do not undermine the coach by trying to coach your child on the side
or from the balcony. Your job is to support, love and hug your child no
matter what. The coach is responsible for the technical part of the job.
You should not offer advice on technique or race strategy. This will only
serve to confuse your child and prevent that athlete/coach bond from forming.
Have your child ask the coach if they have questions.
When you go to a meet you should cheer and applaud, but never criticize
your child or the coach.
A first time in competition or the first time doing a new dive or an
event can be a stressful situation. It's totally appropriate for your
child to be scared. Don't yell or belittle, just assure the child that
the coach would not have suggested the event or dive if they were not ready
to compete in it.
If you do not have the time or desire to volunteer as an official,
don't criticize those who are doing the best they can.
The bond between an athlete and their coach 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 or diving. If you have feedback for the coach, please schedule a time
and meet with them to discuss it directly and work toward resolving the issue.
The water is not necessarily bluer at the other team's pool. every team
has its own internal problems, even teams that build champions. Often,
the times and performances of swimmers and divers who do switch teams only reflect
the natural progression of their growth and maturity in the sport, and this
development may even be delayed by having to "reacclimate" to new facilities,
teammates, and coaching styles.
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. This does not
make me a failure, in fact, I am very proud of that swim."
There are 225,000 athletes in United States Swimming alone. There
are only 52 spots available for the Olympic swim team every four years.
Your child's odds of becoming an Olympian are 1 in about 4,300. The odds
for a diver are even tougher. Swimming and diving are about much more
than just the Olympics. Ask a coach why he or she coaches. Chances
are, he or she was not an Olympian, but wants to pass the love for the sport
on to others. Swimming and diving teach self discipline and sportsmanship;
they build self esteem and fitness; the team environment provides lifelong friendship,
and much more. Most Olympians will tell you that these intangibles far
outweigh any medal they have won. Swimming and diving programs build good
people, and you should be happy your child wants to participate.
All parents of participants are required to assist the team in some
way. We recognize that all of us lead busy lives, so there is a wide
variety of roles that you can volunteer for -- some are at home on "off hours"
and some are at meets. Whatever your availability, we have a need for
help. This is what keeps the team running smoothly and provides your
child with the support he or she needs to excel. Contact the girls'
or boys' parent representative to arrange to help today!