Parenting a Successful Athlete
“Your child’s success or lack of success in sports does not indicate what kind of parent you are…But having an athlete that is coachable, respectful, a great teammate, mentally tough, resilient and tries their best IS a direct reflection of your parenting.” – Unknown
In order to make this quote a reality, one of the most critical things is working together. At AquaChamps, we believe parenting is a verb, which requires action. Your swimmer’s success is a direct reflection of you as a parent and us as coaches; this is why it is imperative that we are all working together as a team for your swimmer.
At AquaChamps we value an open, honest dialogue with our parents so that we can all be our best for your children. It is imperative that parents communicate any developmental or behavioral issues that their swimmer is experiencing. If your coaches are aware of the issues, we can implement things in the class to encourage and aid in your swimmer’s growth. Working with you allows your swimmer to experience consistency, which in turn encourages the learning process and strengthens your swimmer.
Many times your coach will find out things that are working in class with your swimmer that we can pass on to you, so that you can implement these same practices at home. For example, one of the most common things we see in the pool is a swimmer that swims with his/her eyes closed, or is constantly trying to wipe the water out of his/her eyes. These swimmers are often used to having their face wiped off while in the bathtub, or they have never had water poured over their head when bathing. Your coaches will recommend that you begin using a cup of water in the bath, while saying “Ready, Set, Go”; and never wipe their face off with a towel until bath time is over. This simple homework trick will open a whole new world to your swimmer and make their class and bath experience more enjoyable for everyone.
If you ever have any questions or concerns about your swimmer’s progress in and out of the water, please communicate with us. The most important part to any TEAM is effective communication. Let AquaChamps be a part of your team; as we work together to build champions in and out of the water!
Related posts:
“Don’t Overthink it!”: Helping an Anxious Swimmer
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