CFB Kingston Sharks Swim Club

YOUR ROLE AS PARENTS

Competitive swimming programmes provide many benefits to young athletes. They develop self-discipline, good sportsmanship, and time management skills. Competition allows the swimmer to experience success and to learn how to deal with defeat, while becoming healthy and physically fit.

As a swimmer’s parent, your major responsibility is to provide a stable, loving, and supportive environment. This positive environment will encourage your child to continue. Show your interest by ensuring your child’s attendance at practices, and by coming to meets.

Parents are not participants on their children’s teams, but contribute to the success experienced by the youngsters and their teams. Parents serve as role models and their children often emulate their attitudes. Be aware of this and strive to be positive models. Most importantly, show good sportsmanship at all times toward coaches, officials, opponents, and team mates.

Be enthusiastic and supportive!

Remember that your children are swimmers. Children need to establish their own goals, and make their own progress towards them. Be careful not to impose your own standards and goals.

Do not overburden your children with winning or achieving best times. The most important part of children’s swimming experience is that they learn about themselves, while enjoying the sport. This healthy environment encourages learning and having fun, which will develop a positive self-image within each child.

Let the COACH coach!

The coach is the only one qualified to judge a swimmer’s performance and technique. Your role is to provide support. The best way to help children achieve their goals and reduce the natural fear of failure, is through positive reinforcement. No one likes to make a mistake. If your child does make one, remember that this is a learning experience. Encourage all efforts, and point out the things done well. As long as the best effort was given, you should make the child feel like a winner.

Are YOU a pressure parent?

The following survey has been taken from the Amateur Swimming Association of Great Britain. If you answer “yes” to one or more of these questions, you may be in danger of pressuring your child. It is important to remember that the parent’s role is critical, and should be supportive at all times to ensure that positive experience for your child.

• Do you want your child to win more than he does?
• Do you openly show your disappointment, if she has a poor result?
• Do you feel that you have to ‘psych’ him up right before a competition?
• Do you feel that your child can only enjoy the sport if she win?
• Do you regularly conduct ‘post mortems’ immediately following a competition or training?
• Do you feel that you have to force your children to go to training?
• Do you find yourself wanting to interfere during training or competitions, thinking that you could do better?
• Do you find disliking your child’s opponents?
• Are your child’s goals more important to you than they are to him?
• Do you provide material rewards (e.g. money, toys) for good performances?