Does anyone else have a child who competes at a high level in a sport? I'd like a general moaning thread!!

[isthisanacidtest]

Like today. She was supposed to be tidying up and hoovering but disappeared off to train all day and hasn't come home yet.

She is dedicated. I'm very proud of her. But ....

the early starts

the mountains of food

the constant kit to wash

the running here there and everywhere

the whole family getting put on hold to the god of sport

Sometimes it just gets a bit depressing and hard work. For me, not her! She loves it

The ASA seem hell bent on making things as difficult and inaccessible as possible.

What are the latest ASA changes?

We have to deal with SASA, latest one is to make all nationals and district level meets age on 31st December rather than age on last day if competition - bit tough on anyone with a birthday late in the year.

Yes - that is one of them.
They are also changing some of the competition rules/entry requirements.
I would have to go on the website to check, but they are also making it more difficult and expensive for coaches to qualify, but at the same time demanding more coaches, with more qualifications to accompany swimmers to assessments.

Basically it is getting harder and harder for small clubs run by volunteers to actually participate. I think eventually, if you want to compete, you will have to be able to afford to join a big club that pays its coaches. So you will have to be quite rich.

The age change thing will be really tough on some swimmers as they will in effect miss an age group. DD turns 10 in Sept. but will need to have achieved an 11yr time by the end of Dec. for Counties in January!

Maybe they are trying to push standards higher by only the elite qualifying but it will force out of the sport a lot of swimmers who in effect make up the bulk of gala entries!

But you need masses of swimmers coming into the sport at the bottom levels so that you can get the odd one or two elite swimmers that emerge at the top levels.

I also get the feeling that SASA just wants super clubs rather than the assortment of small, medium and large clubs that exist at the moment. It's an expensive enough sport as it is - I reckon we spend around £4k a year as it is.

Grateful that ds' club has just been recognised for the quality of training they provide and that the fact it is a small club is a non issue. They do get some fabulous results with half the training schedule of some of the bigger clubs. I guess it really depends on the sport.

Today ds annouched he has big ambitions for GB level qualification. He is only just the standard for regionals. So basically we are about to start some serious hard work and trying to encourage him to increase fitness outside of his specific sport because it is tested at the trials. Something tells me there could be tears probably mine and tempers probably ds' over the next few months. At least he has a few years before his self imposed deadline. But still, I want to just shake him and say just enjoy yourself. you don't have to be the best of the best. It is just some fun.

Ds does tennis and swimming at county level. He does two other sports but is going to have to drop them soon as he has tennis and swimming two and three times a week.

DD is away for a week and DH and I don't know what to do with all this time on our hands. Her stinking dance shoes have been aired on the washing line, the car hasn't run out of petrol, no books have been read (while sitting in the car waiting), etc, etc.

Oh what have I let myself in for in the future. DS is only 8 , this summer he has raced once a week ( typically an 80 min drive each way) and trained once a week. Distances vary as some training is done from home.

He has had a good season and is 3rd. Ranked in the region with the two lads ahead of him both in national top 10 ranking. When. He raced outside our region he wiped the floor with the boy who is 13th nationally. I think we have a very fast group of boys round here.

Currently we find time for dance class weekly, and either cricket or swimming weekly and cubs. But something will have to give in a year or two if he keeps on doing well in races and starts going to national series events.

my 8yr old dd competes in martial arts and has her first competition abroad next month. Due to her age I will be travelling with her and dh will need to take time off to look after other dd. I had to renew both our passports too, so will be expensive. She is so passionate about it and trains so hard I can't say no.

Depressed Mom my 16 year old DS now swims 6 times a week, which was cut down from 9 two hourly sessions a week when we moved club. Add in land training / gym sessions and he's training for a couple of hours every day.

ds is one of the best for his age in the country for his sport. He's only six but trains 7 hours a week plus competitions. He also does two other sports once and twice a week respectively at a much lower level (I think this slice of variety is important at his age!)
It's crazy and if it continues as he gets older there will be many more hours If he keeps enjoying it and wants to make it to the top (at the moment he really does and is stupidly keen and dedicated for his age!)

Would LOVE to know how this level of training panned out. (As I'm increasing DS level and quality of coach for his sport atm)

?