@Blai
I believe Y teams have year round swimming also.
@Blai
What I did in the off season was be a kid. I had goals to get better sure, but I was never going to be an Olympian. I swam for 8 years too, so I was dedicated; it’s just not that big of a deal if you aren’t on track to be pro.
@Marlow
She is happy with her times. So are we. She just wants to improve. Also, check your knowledge before posting.
You get help for your high expectations. She’s 13 for god sakes. There’s like a few hundred parents like you every year that come on here and ask for information like this. I am so grateful every single day that I was born to people that didn’t push me and push me. Like did you actually say to your 13-year-old, hey I’m going to go online where there’s a bunch of adult strangers and ask about what I should do for you? When I was 13 and my mom told my business to people I was so embarrassed and annoyed.
@Devan
I agree with you. Even how this post started ‘our’ swim season. No, it’s your daughter’s swim season. Parents who say shit like ‘our swim season,’ ‘we feel disappointed about the performance’ are definitely wording it like that around their kids. And their kids hear that and internalize that an activity for THEM to have fun is also something for their parents, and often that’s why they push themselves so hard.
So when this parent is saying ‘no it’s what she wants.’ Yeah, ok. Some kids do really want to dedicate all their time to a sport, but especially with the shared language, it makes me feel like the daughter is feeling pressure.
@Aza
First red flag. Shared language of disappointment while perceiving their child is self-driven. Sounds to me like the child is driven to please their parent.
Second red flag. Limited event selection pigeons the child into one zone without taking the time to allow the child to explore the whole sport.
Third red flag. Any information the parent can receive is good. The parent with limited knowledge and no long term plan is keen to try anything on their child to help the child move faster through the water.
To the OP’s daughter, tell your parent to back off and have a conversation with your coach. Only allow your parent in the room if they promise not to say a single word unless directly spoken to by the coach.
@Devan
Thanks for your response. It’s her idea to improve in a sport she loves. I’m just trying to help. Nice try in making this about me. Call your Mom and Dad and tell them you appreciate the way you were raised. If you don’t have any positive input, please don’t involve yourself.
@Blai
Sorry, but aledba is right. Children are amazingly adept at picking up the subtle clues us parents think we’re hiding. The only thing you need to do is say these six words: ‘I love to watch you swim.’ Once a parent gets involved in the equation, there’s bound to be conflict. Your daughter will be conflicted between following your advice and following her coach(es)’ advice. Let her own her swimming career.
@Dare
Sorry, not sorry. That person is not right. I came to ask for suggestions to help my daughter. That’s it! Suggestions to help. Posts other than that are literally the opposite; unhelpful.
Blai said:
@Dare
Sorry, not sorry. That person is not right. I came to ask for suggestions to help my daughter. That’s it! Suggestions to help. Posts other than that are literally the opposite; unhelpful.
Ask your kid then if they want to swim because you make them or because they want to. It’s great that some kids do want to, but again they don’t want their mom and dad going on the internet to tell their business I bet.
@Blai
Then call an Olympic trainer and keep pushing yourself. I mean, her. Not telling you what you want to hear is called realism. A minor isn’t here asking because that’s inappropriate. So why is her parent doing it? We’re real people who have experience swimming and being 13. So do you. Not everyone is tops at everything. Advice from a stranger is only useful if it fits your narrative.
In terms of training, just general strength training of pull-ups, squats, some pressing movements, and consider Olympic weightlifting later down the line will do the trick.
[deleted]
Abi said:
[deleted]
We’re very proud of her. It’s an impressive feat to swim a district qualifying time. She wants to do better. Was there anything in your comment that could help?
Consider joining a year-round club.
At 13, there are lots of weekend clinics and camps, and with the summer coming, there are day camps and stay-at-college camps. Fun times for a teenager. That will help to see if she loves it, or if it’s too much. If she loves it, she can do more. If she hates that volume of work, then she can follow the path of racing with herself to get faster.
Bodyweight exercises might be good; exercises that protect the shoulder surely are good. Beyond that, let a kid be a kid. Had fun. Losing hurts, but not everyone is Michael Phelps. Let the burn of loss drive her, not pushing too hard.
Is she part of a club team? If not she should join one. Talk to her coach about that and cross-training.
Also, short girls with small wingspans tend to be great for endurance over sprints. What are her 200m and 500m times?
You should be headed into long course season now. Have her continue to swim with her club, or join one if she’s not already.
Join a club team. All of this is taken care of without having to rely on the anonymity of the web.