To not want to raise an Olympian?

[LeytonPolo]

DS2 is almost seven, he's been on his local swim team, a summer only team since he was five. He usually comes in first or second but they're more fun races than actually competitive and the pool of competition isn't that wide iyswim.

We've been approached by a coach that works for another swim team, who saw DS swim recently and want's him to come to a trial they're having for their junior team.

The swim team is in the next town over, it's a 30 min drive, it's much bigger and much more competitive, coach said kids under 10 are expected to do training outside the pool as well as two 2 hour sessions during the week in the pool for under 8's and the amount of sessions would grow depending on the child once they turned 8.

It's also year round with only a few weeks off here and their instead of just for the summer.

Coach kept naming Olympian swimmers that had trained there at one point or another as children, I know nothing about the olympics, so this really didn't mean anything to me but it's clear that it's a very serious team who expect kids to pull their weight.

DS wants to go to the trial, DH is more excited then he is, but it honestly seems like a lot of effort & pressure for swimming.

We have 2 teens, we both work full time, I can't even imagine where we'll find the time to make sure DS trains outside the pool or what that would even entail.

I don't want to go the trial and waste everyone's time if we're just going to turn it down but I really don't think a small shot at the olympics is worth it.

And yes, if he's still excelling by secondary school then that is the time to take it further. Not at primary. How many of these hothoused youngsters really make it? I'm guessing 1%? Is rather not snatch away my child's primary school years on the off-chance they may one day be an underpaid, struggling athlete even if they do make the Olympics (and the two Olympic athletes I know very well both have full-time jobs alongside their sport)

Dutch I personally encourage my dcs to do something they enjoy (and for that they need a rabge of opportunities, you don't know what you like until you've tried it iyswim) rather than encouraging something just because they are good at it.

Eg dc1 is hyper competetive. In most sports, he would just immersed himself in it and give his best. Should I encourage the orienteering that he loves but isn't great at or the golf I have been told he is sooo good at but doesn't really care about?

Imo there is no reason to encourage a child to do a certain sport just because they seem to be good at it. being good at something doesn't mean you enjoy it for a start.

You're not committing to raising an Olympian, you're committing to taking your son swimming a couple of times a week. If he doesn't like it in a few months and you're finding it difficult to cope he can always jack it in. If he likes it he can keep going. There is a small chance that he ends up being really really good, and then you can make the decision to make more of a commitment at that point. At the moment it's only a couple of times a week, I say let him go if he wants to do it.

I agree with notbad. Swimming is not an early start sport, and boys especially don't hit their stride until 18+. I'd keep him a good club with focus on technique, 2-3 times a week max, for a good few years yet, with other sports too. However you may want to compromise and look for a year round club so his technique and fitness embeds in his muscle memory. If he's still interested at 9 or 10, go for the full load then.

Gymnastics, btw, has no advantage with doping. It just does not happen, even at high level. Which is why the Russian gymnasts are not included in the rio ban.

Btw kite, i was at that club around the same time :)

Google long term athlete development - swimming. The asa has a detailed plannof what certain aged kids should be doing, and it's not hours and hours in the pool + weights at 7!

mammouth our pool opens to the public at seven so to me that isn't early early.

I never said they wouldn't be doing deck training at 8.

Unless you are in National Swimming Championship level the training should be no where near 10 hours a week. A child of seven which the actually op is about - should not be that excessive - even four sessions a week.

Personally I'd turn it down at the moment and wait until he is around 11 and reassess then. Keep going with swimming as he is so he knows the strokes but not the intense training.

I have family members who are ranked nationally for swimming currently and I've seen the intensity and the impact on the rest of the family. It's not something I'd want for my child even with the tiniest chance they might make the Olympics in the distant future.

Eg dc1 is hyper competetive. In most sports, he would just immersed himself in it and give his best. Should I encourage the orienteering that he loves but isn't great at or the golf I have been told he is sooo good at but doesn't really care about?

Which ever one he wants

Imo there is no reason to encourage a child to do a certain sport just because they seem to be good at it. being good at something doesn't mean you enjoy it for a start

I don't think I've said otherwise

There could definitely be Russian gymnasts doping! Look at the size of the deltoids of some of the men. All naturally grown? And many anabolic agents play a significant role in injury recovery. Plus there have been longstanding concerns about girls in the old Eastern Bloc and China having puberty suppressed. So it's possible.

In fact, name an Olympic sport and I can tell you how there could be a doping advantage.

I just don't understand parents who dont want to find what their kids are good at singing, dancing, drawing, cooking, sports ect ..

Well precisely.

Which is why leaping at the first "opportunity" to specialise at 7 years old is so ridiculous.

Figuring out and honing your talents and learning how to be a happy and well-adjusted adult in the world is hindered by leaping to serious training at the first hobby someone suggests you do seriously is such a ridiculous way to carry on.

Swimming clubs are actively looking for young menbers.

This scouting is not altruistic.

It is for the club's benefit.

Not your child's.

At 7 my kids still need me to protect them from people seeming to offer them the world when all they really have are expensive and time consuming swimming lessons.

YY DoinIt

Thanks Mammoth. I will certainly encourage DS1 into sport because he is naturally quite adept and it will boost his confidence no end to feel that he is good at something (plus I suspect that DS2 will run rings around him academically so am future-proofing their relationship a bit). However I can just see myself standing at gatherings with other parents talking earnestly about county teams and WhateverCity 2028 while I think 'It's just fucking running' maybe I should start practising my polite nodding now! Don't want to get slated for lack of parental keenness.....

It's 4 hours a week people!

4 hours out of 168. 2%.

No it's 6 hours a week if you include the 30 min commute there and back and they're expected to do training outside of these hours and the training sessions increase from the age of 8. With only a couple of weeks break in the year.

Many responders on this thread are responding as if the families lives have already been taken over. They haven't remotely. You address that if and when it happens.
ATM all it is is some exercise for a child. Still plenty of time to do other things.
The op has used the words Olympian because that's was the coaches sales tactic. But that's nonsense, at this stage.

LOL

I love the calculation that counts zero time for sleep!

Yes, if he doesn't sleep, eat, go to school, play with friends, have other hobbies, visit family, go to after school clubs, travel to all the above then arethere you are absolutely correct.

The op's child already gets exercise by swimming each week

At least we're getting somewhere if we're calling this a sales pitch, rather than an "opportunity".

I have a dd working at elite level in gymnastics - she's 10 and trains 22 hours a week over 5 days.(not to mention the hours conditioning she does at home every day!) Theres a good chance that she will be trailing for internationals next year all being well.

Life is organised round her training and competing - gym is an hour from home and I also have 3 other DC who fit their activities round this.

It's hard work making sure everyone is where they need to be and at times it's unfair on the others if they miss out on things cos I physically can't be in 2 places at once.

She was scouted aged 5 and has been on the development program ever since. Tbh if I'd known the commitment required when we started on this path I would have seriously considered saying no. However dd is 100% committed, it's all driven by her and she's miserable if she can't get to training. The day she complains about going in is the day we stop.

It is a lifestyle choice having a child who is very good at their sport and you do need to consider the impact on the rest of the family but I also think that we have an obligation as parents to give our DC the opportunity to realise their potential.

"In fact, name an Olympic sport and I can tell you how there could be a doping advantage."

Oooh, ooh, me! Shooting.

I saw it on the list of sports that the Russians have been cheating at and have been wondering about it. I guess it's something to do with calming nerves but I don't actually know.

Ok. So, During a school week, there are 5 hours per day leisure time available for a child. (3pm till 8pm ish). That's 25 hours per week. 4 hours activity out of 25 is 16%.
Then of course there's weekends and holidays.
All I'm saying is this is hardly taking over family life, or ficussing entirely on one thing.

I would support my child to do this, give them the opportunity to see if they like it.

Shooting: Beta blockers. Slow the heart rate down. I think a Korean guy got caught for that in a recent Olympics.

Next!

Thanks!

I may be back

3 till 8 pm.

Snack 20 mins
Homework 20 mins
Bath time 20 mins
Reading before bed 20 mins
Spending time with parents/ siblings/chatting about the day 1 hour
Other hobbies 1 hour
Playtime with friends? 3 hours
Tidying your room, looking after pets, learning to be responsible? 1 hour

It's not that it can't be done but to say it can be done easily or without stress or sacrifice is disingenuous.

I think certainly let him swim all year round and not just in the summer since he obviously has a talent. You don't need to get into super-competitive swimming but if he enjoys it then joining some sort of club would be great exercise and social life for him. However, he might get to 10 and decide he's bored of swimming and not swim again!

It's not just about being an olympian. Taking part in competitive sport can really help with university applications, particular for universities like Bath and Loughborough where sport is very important.