Poolside chat - new year, new racing!

[Glittertwins]

Hope this works, am rubbish at this!

@Glittertwins @Hellocatshome thanks - yeah he still gets to do some galas - not all the ones the squad can enter. He's mainly panicking because he wants to 'go to the olympics' (I'm aware that's a big ask - but being encouraging) and this is going to hold him back

I would ask one of the coaches to have a talk to him about "the journey" no ones potential to compete at the Olympics is decided at 9.

@Hellocatshome thank you! Will pass that on! All new here as no idea about swimming

Our old coach (who had coached Commonwealth swimmers) used to say that there are no champions at 10.

Some 10 year olds can be at the top of the tree and fall away within a couple of years. Others come to it later (there was a well known Scottish swimmer that didn’t start swimming competitively until about age 15 but I can’t for the life of me remember who it was).

Me neither.

We removed performance from our name and someone said it's because SE didn't want it used anymore.

Not sure how true that is. People spout all types of crap!!! 😂

We are just "National" now and either 1 or 2 depending on if your British qualifier or aiming for nationals.

Completely agree with this.

My ds didn't start club swimming until 12yo. He didn't move to a club with squad type structure (as in the parallel structure) until he was 17.

So far it doesn't seem to have held him back!

There were a couple of swimmers who were absolutely smashing it from the ages of 9-11 here. Now they are older, one is barely winning golds at county champs and has never made medals of any colour at regionals whereas there are a couple who won virtually nothing at counties at that age who are winning at regionals and getting medals at summer nationals.

Interesting! Maybe I should pull him out for a few years then - do swimmers who start 'early' and are 'good' early ever stay good?

At age 9 he needs to be enjoying the training, making friends with other swimmers and having fun at the galas he enters. Remind him that whilst medals are nice, it’s PBs that are important and a better marker of progress. And to work on all strokes and distances - he might find that as he grows his favourite / best strokes / distances change.

You don't need to pull him out, just let him enjoy the fitness and social side where he is. Kids also develop at different rates too.

Agree with the others, I wouldn’t pull him out, just encourage him to have fun, enjoy training and not get hung up on times, especially comparing against others. Definitely try everything, and focus on swimming well rather than fast - in the long run good technique will pay off.

Why would you do that? Surely the objective is to have fun, learn skills, make friends. If the only objective is making the Olympics you and he are coming at it from the wrong angle. Its a long game that isn't won or lost at 9.

It’s very unlikely he’s going to the Olympics. Swimming is a very very competitive sport.

Swimming is an odd sport in terms of expectations, no one who plays football expects to play for England, people expect to play at all levels.

The reality of swimming is that it’s about improving yourself, enjoying it, making friends. Just like other sports. The amount of training is variable too - it isn’t all training 10+ hours a week. Not everyone takes swimming seriously just like any other sport - some on here do because they want to but my two girls definitely don’t.

He just needs to enjoy it, set himself achievable goals and let it develop in the way that works for him. Maybe in 10 years he will be at Loughborough uni doing 20 hours a week, or maybe he’ll just in the end swim for fun.

Yes definitely worth looking at some literature about process goals rather than outcome goals. Swimming very much focussed on this. They will have peaks and troughs as they grow, as school work gets heavy, exam periods require more educational focus etc.

Even now at 20 - last season (when he was 19) my ds really struggled with fly which was always his no2 stroke. I think as he had another growth spurt - as in upper body outwards rather than upwards he found it hard to swim it and had to adjust his stroke to his new body shape. He hasn't even got a time for that season so is racing it again next weekend to see where he's at and will work on it again. But his aim is to just get back to where he was a few years ago as that's more realistic than aiming to PB. It's always a process.

Thanks all - I mean I was being a bit flippant about pulling him out! I just don't really understand how you're meant to know what to do - yes do things for enjoyment and fitness but how do you know how much to push them/listen to coaches

Nobody should be pushing coaches at the age of 9 though.

And the coaches will remind them to listen to them. Please leave that side to them.

Yeah I agree - let coaches coach.

If you mean the coaches are pushing for joining squad you need to have a discussion with them about what you can and can't manage with regards time.

There may be a compromise but remaining swimming for fun isn't an issue at this age. Also there are ways of entering licensed galas without a club but it's becoming harder due to safeguarding - which of course should always be paramount.

At young ages ‘pushing them’ is about encouraging them to try events in different strokes and at different distances, building up to longer ones from starting with 50s - that’s more important in the long term than speed at 9. They get loads of medals that way too 🤣

How much you listen to coaches I would say depends on whether your aims align with theirs. Some coaches are mad, like any occupation. If what they are saying sounds sensible then go with it, if it doesn’t then question.

Different clubs also are hugely different, as the discussion here often shows in terms of hours etc. Sone clubs make you swim certain events, others let the swimmers choose. Some clubs average swimmers get into the arena league team others you have to be pretty much national level.

I meant pushing my son - not the coaches!

Yes sorry - I meant pushing my son. In terms of the coach they said he should join the squad if he wants to be a good swimming - so should I listen to that

I think if the coach had said that your son should join the squad then that’s a positive, but you need to look at the logistics as it is a commitment, especially as they get older and training hours increase.

At aged 9, mine were doing 1 morning and 2 afternoon / evening sessions, but it will vary by club.

Please don't push your son, let him enjoy it without pressure

I'm not going to go mad! I'm just trying to work out how to balance the advice of coaches - who say my son should be doing squad swimming with the fact I don't know anything. There's a difference between say forcing him to swim twice a day everyday and applying light pressure to regularly attend training - that's all I'm asking. Are the coaches generally going to get it right with 9 year olds or should I wait until he's older to bother with more regular pressurised training! I'm not sure why I'm being painted like some crazy person - I'm asking advice so I understand having never done swimming and having no idea. Thank you to all those who've been helpful

If the coaches seem sensible and those already in the squad seem happy and well adjusted kids then its probably fine to do what then oaches suggest if your family can commit to it.

Why not speak to the parents of some squad swimmers at your club to find out their experiences.