This is my (almost) annual post regarding the role of swim parents. The beginning of every swim season is an exciting time for both swimmers and parents. And every year, I try to make sure that parents know how they can best help their swimmers achieve their goals. And the short answer is fairly easy.… Continue reading 7 Rules (and a Vision) For Becoming a Better Swim Parent – (2019 Version)
Tag: swim parent
6 Rules (and a Vision) For Becoming a Better Swim Parent in a Post-Olympic Year
The Olympics are still fresh in our minds, and a new sports season is starting. This means that untold thousands of eager children are joining sports teams for the first time, with visions of Olympic medals dancing in their heads. And with swimming continuing to be one of the premiere sports in the Olympics, this… Continue reading 6 Rules (and a Vision) For Becoming a Better Swim Parent in a Post-Olympic Year
6 Rules For Becoming a Better Swim Parent
The start of a season is a good time to review some of the basics. And the first one is the role of a swim parent. Before I start, I should point out that most swim parents are actually pretty good when it comes to interacting with their kid’s competitors, officials and coaches, at least… Continue reading 6 Rules For Becoming a Better Swim Parent
Should Swim Practices be Open or Closed to Spectators?
I was following an online forum discussion among swim coaches about whether practices should be open or closed, and I was surprised at the diversity of opinion. It reminded me that coaching is not just about training swimmers, but requires a lot of interpersonal skills supplemented with education and experience. Closed Practices I was a… Continue reading Should Swim Practices be Open or Closed to Spectators?
Is Meet-Free March a Good Idea?
Ontario and a few other provinces have a policy of no swim meets in March, other than possibly provincial championships at the very start of the month. The reasons come from the nature of swimming in Canada. Most teams in Canada train in a short course (25 metre or even 25 yard) pool. This leads… Continue reading Is Meet-Free March a Good Idea?
Our Unhealthy Obsession with Personal Bests
This may sound like heresy, but we in the swimming world have an unhealthy obsession with Personal Bests, or PBs. There. I said it. The problem is simple. The vast majority of swimmers, and virtually all parents, believe that the time is the only measure of a race. And for major meets, they are mainly… Continue reading Our Unhealthy Obsession with Personal Bests
Reflections on a Division 3 Championship
Today I'm going to just reflect on the weekend at Divisions that we just had. No discussion of points, or PBs or individual races. No recitation of endless statistics (that I like so much!). Instead, I'll let my mind wander over scenes and instances that stood out for me. Now bear in mind that I… Continue reading Reflections on a Division 3 Championship
Essential Swimming Links
Every coach has their list of favourite sites for following the world of swimming. In order to get the most enjoyment and satisfaction with the sport, parents and swimmers may want to develop their own lists as well. Below are some of my suggestions to help you keep in touch with the Tritons and the… Continue reading Essential Swimming Links
Update to The Role of a Swimming Parent
I'll still be putting out a new blog post in the next few days, but I really need to provide an update on my last blog. During the past week I've talked to many people about the role of a parent in a child's sporting life. This includes parents of swimming, as well as hockey,… Continue reading Update to The Role of a Swimming Parent
So Your Child is A Swimmer – The Role of a Swimming Parent
Although we have only finished one week of the season, it's never too early to help parents understand the role they can play in helping their swimmer get the most out of the sport. USA Swimming used to have a lengthy list of parent responsibilities on their site. It had about a dozen points on… Continue reading So Your Child is A Swimmer – The Role of a Swimming Parent
Coach Rick - Mighty Tritons Swimming 