USA Swimming - Age Group Training

A very well written article that can be applied to ALL parent's in EVERY sport.

11-13 YEAR OLD SWIMMERS (AGE GROUP III PRACTICE GROUP)
Things they love and appreciate:

• When my parents encourage and support me even after a swim that I did not drop time.
• When my parents tell me to not worry about my event, just go out and have fun.
• How my parents prepare for my meets: Drive me there, take time off to go to meet, bring healthy food.
• When my parents accept that even though I added time, I still tried my best.
• When my parents don’t put pressure on me.
• I like when my parents aren’t among the many parents screaming really loud at the children.
• When I race he tells me to swim my own race and doesn’t tell me what he thinks I need to do.
• I like how my parents encourage me to do well and encourage my swimming.
• I like it when my parents tell me they are proud of me.
• I like when my parents tell me I love you no matter what happens.

Things they don’t like:

• I don’t like it when other parents and my parents compare me to the other swimmers.
• I hate when parents yell at their kids for adding.
• I hate when my parents take things away from me when I add time at a meet.
• I don’t like it when my parents make me cry about my swims.
• I hate when my parents get mad when I add time.
• I dislike when my parents think I didn’t try my best.
• I dislike how my parents tell me things that I did wrong.
• I hate when my parents try to fix my stroke technique and try to tell me how to swim.
• I don’t like when my parents yell “go” too loud and make others look.
• I don’t like when my parents always think I should drop time in every event.
• I don’t like when parents don’t congratulate their kids, only tells them something they did bad.
• I don’t like when my parents give suggestions repeatedly and they are not what my coach wants me to do.

See more of the article at the link below...

USA Swimming - Age Group Training