Prize to the worst swim parent goes to?

[Anonymous]

1) the parent who signs up to time for every single session and every meet, keeping other parents from getting to time and watch their own kids

2) the parent who says “it’s too far to drive home” and stays and watches their kid swim the entire two hour practice

3) the parent of the fastest kid on the team who bullies the other parents and thinks the coach is only there for their child

4) the parent who does all of the above

5) the parent not mentioned in this list for some other crazy sport parent behavior (enlighten us!)



To the other awesome parents there to cheer on their kids and support them, soldier on and act like mature adults, a toast to you!

[Anonymous]

I agree with some of the latter.
WRT #1, DC has a meet this weekend and I see one parent has done this who is from the host team. I'm assuming either a. the parent has multiple kids and wants to watch them all swim. Or b, the team has a service point requirement and this parent is knocking them all out in one day.

WRT #2, that used to be me when DC's pool was 15min away and a 45min practice. It was easier to hang out in the stands and read a book or get some work done than to make two round-trips. Pre-covid we'd try to carpool so that no one had to stay, and different families handled drop off and pick up. Posters in other threads have talked about taking their kids to pools 30min away. No way would I make 2 1hr roundtrips.

[Anonymous]

Are the other parents unable to speak or figure out how to sign up to time? Is the coach unable to limit the number of times a parent volunteers or handle the bullying parents? IOW, where are the other adults when all this is happening?

As for #2, pls see the multiple-page thread re parents who stay for practice.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:1) the parent who signs up to time for every single session and every meet, keeping other parents from getting to time and watch their own kids

2) the parent who says “it’s too far to drive home” and stays and watches their kid swim the entire two hour practice

3) the parent of the fastest kid on the team who bullies the other parents and thinks the coach is only there for their child

4) the parent who does all of the above

5) the parent not mentioned in this list for some other crazy sport parent behavior (enlighten us!)



To the other awesome parents there to cheer on their kids and support them, soldier on and act like mature adults, a toast to you!

I can tell you have a young kid if you think any of these things (except #3 I suppose) constitutes a crazy swim parent.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:1) the parent who signs up to time for every single session and every meet, keeping other parents from getting to time and watch their own kids

2) the parent who says “it’s too far to drive home” and stays and watches their kid swim the entire two hour practice

3) the parent of the fastest kid on the team who bullies the other parents and thinks the coach is only there for their child

4) the parent who does all of the above

5) the parent not mentioned in this list for some other crazy sport parent behavior (enlighten us!)



To the other awesome parents there to cheer on their kids and support them, soldier on and act like mature adults, a toast to you!

Do your part and become a trained official. You will be begged to volunteer weekly at meets your kid isn't even swimming at. These threads are enlightening. I am shocked at how many people actually want to go to swim meets.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:1) the parent who signs up to time for every single session and every meet, keeping other parents from getting to time and watch their own kids

2) the parent who says “it’s too far to drive home” and stays and watches their kid swim the entire two hour practice

3) the parent of the fastest kid on the team who bullies the other parents and thinks the coach is only there for their child

4) the parent who does all of the above

5) the parent not mentioned in this list for some other crazy sport parent behavior (enlighten us!)



To the other awesome parents there to cheer on their kids and support them, soldier on and act like mature adults, a toast to you!

I kind of fit number 2, but I love that time because I can go on a peaceful walk by the pool or sit in the care and enjoy the quiet while reading a book

[Anonymous]

#2 when my DS was swimming at the St James and we live by Tysons, yes, I am going to park my butt and watch the 1 1/2 practice. I'm not dealing with the traffic on 495.

[Anonymous]

1) if 1 bothers you, then when your team hosts, ask the coaches to allow one slot per family. For us, our team has volunteer requirements for every meet so we have to work the meet, including timing more than one session sometimes.

2) so?

4 and 5) see 1 and 2 above and 3 below

3) I’d need specific details. From your post, it sounds like you are pouncing in any perceived annoyance. How, specifically,
Did the parent of fastest kid on the team bully the other parents? I’ve never even heard of anything like that, and we’ve got kids who
Go to the Olympic trials.

[Anonymous]

I do get annoyed at that parent that sits with her tween child at.every.single.meet even though spectators are not allowed. This same parent takes the limited seating given to actual swimmers because I have heard the complaints. This swimmer swims one event and ends up NS for the rest.

My kind side suspects the kid (12ish) suffers anxiety of some sort.

My mean side thinks who the hell would put a kid with those kinds of issues in club swim/swim - probably one of the worse sports for having to be out there on your own.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

I do get annoyed at that parent that sits with her tween child at.every.single.meet even though spectators are not allowed. This same parent takes the limited seating given to actual swimmers because I have heard the complaints. This swimmer swims one event and ends up NS for the rest.

My kind side suspects the kid (12ish) suffers anxiety of some sort.

My mean side thinks who the hell would put a kid with those kinds of issues in club swim/swim - probably one of the worse sports for having to be out there on your own.

Shame on the parent taking a seat from an athlete.

And, yes, there are better sports for your child. Group sports can really help a kid with anxiety (soccer, lacrosse, etc) and in the alternative - if you have a kid who loves to swim then choose a non-competitive track.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:1) the parent who signs up to time for every single session and every meet, keeping other parents from getting to time and watch their own kids

2) the parent who says “it’s too far to drive home” and stays and watches their kid swim the entire two hour practice

3) the parent of the fastest kid on the team who bullies the other parents and thinks the coach is only there for their child

4) the parent who does all of the above

5) the parent not mentioned in this list for some other crazy sport parent behavior (enlighten us!)



To the other awesome parents there to cheer on their kids and support them, soldier on and act like mature adults, a toast to you!

I can tell you have a young kid if you think any of these things (except #3 I suppose) constitutes a crazy swim parent.

Curious what is worse…

[Anonymous]

I like watching my kids practice every once in a while.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:1) the parent who signs up to time for every single session and every meet, keeping other parents from getting to time and watch their own kids

2) the parent who says “it’s too far to drive home” and stays and watches their kid swim the entire two hour practice

3) the parent of the fastest kid on the team who bullies the other parents and thinks the coach is only there for their child

4) the parent who does all of the above

5) the parent not mentioned in this list for some other crazy sport parent behavior (enlighten us!)



To the other awesome parents there to cheer on their kids and support them, soldier on and act like mature adults, a toast to you!

I can tell you have a young kid if you think any of these things (except #3 I suppose) constitutes a crazy swim parent.

Curious what is worse…

Seeing a parent slap their kid right there on the deck for winning the heat but not improving their time enough to make the final.

One example among many. People are nuts!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:1) the parent who signs up to time for every single session and every meet, keeping other parents from getting to time and watch their own kids

2) the parent who says “it’s too far to drive home” and stays and watches their kid swim the entire two hour practice

3) the parent of the fastest kid on the team who bullies the other parents and thinks the coach is only there for their child

4) the parent who does all of the above

5) the parent not mentioned in this list for some other crazy sport parent behavior (enlighten us!)



To the other awesome parents there to cheer on their kids and support them, soldier on and act like mature adults, a toast to you!

I can tell you have a young kid if you think any of these things (except #3 I suppose) constitutes a crazy swim parent.

Curious what is worse…

Seeing a parent slap their kid right there on the deck for winning the heat but not improving their time enough to make the final.

One example among many. People are nuts!

Wait. Seriously?

I am in law enforcement and have that confrontational "style" - I think that my very big, very well trained self would have had an altercation with that parent (regardless of parent gender) if I had witnessed that.

[Anonymous]

Who cares. I do my own thing and only talk to other normal parents and avoid the rest.

You want to know how your kid is doing - that’s one of the good things about swimming - times are not subjective.