Swim training group issue
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Anonymous
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Our club team has a policy of keeping kids in the training group that corresponds with their competition age group (10&u, 11-12, etc). Within each age group, there are 3 levels based on times/ability. We’ve run into the issue now where my kid is at the top of their age group and also talented (made high level meets, Zones etc even at young part of age group). There are 3-4 similar swimmers in the group and then there is a huge drop off to where the other swimmers are (this is in the top level training group for age group). The issue is that there is a new coach for this group who seems focused on the younger/slower swimmers and bringing them up, while just letting the fastest few kind of slip through the cracks. They are not being challenged and there is no differentiation within the group (the old coach would put them on faster intervals and sometimes have almost a completely separate, harder practice). My kid’s first short course meet this year did not go very well, probably because they are not being pushed at all the the training is very easy for them. I am also starting to see a bit of a loss of interest, even though swimming has always been a great passion for them.
I don’t know whether to say something, let this play out and hope it gets better, or encourage my kid to talk to the coach. Has anyone been in this situation? Swimmer is undoubtedly ready for the training in the next age group (probably even the top level group for that age group), but has months to go before their birthday. What to do? |
Anonymous
| What are you trying to achieve, long term? |
Anonymous
No idea - I let my kid take the lead on that. But I do want to see them happy, inspired, and enjoying the sport they love. And for them that means working hard, chasing faster swimmers, and seeing time drops in meets that reflect that hard work. |
Anonymous
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It sounds like you need a smaller, more flexible club. The larger clubs are usually more structured because there are so many kids. They don't really have a choice. I know someone whose child is at a small club and gets to train with kids 2-3 years older because the child is talented and can keep up. It only works because the team is small. They can just make these decisions on a case by case basis.
I think people get enamored with the large clubs around here based on name. But they aren't always the best for development of young swimmers. There is no tailoring to the individual and the coaches have too many kids to manage. There is a lot to be said for a small, no-name club where the coaches can really get to know each kid and place them in a practice group that fits their needs. |
Anonymous
| Short course season just started and the coaches know there is a long way to go before March. How old is your swimmer? A lot of kids need time to get back to their swim form, especially if they achieved very fast times last season. My 10 year old had a great long course season and went to zones shortly after his 10th bday. But he added time in almost every event in his first short course meet. The coach told him that even after a month of practice, they are not back to their previous level of conditioning. He is on a smaller team with flexible groups, and he has been practicing with the 11-12 year olds for the past couple of years, so it wasn’t a lack of rigor. They just need time. |
Anonymous
| Did you talk to the coach? Send an email and arrange a time to talk. Ask the coach what he/she is doing to handle the different ability levels on the group. Tell them what you have noticed and listen to see if they have a plan. If there is no improvement, you take it to the next higher level. Swimming is way too expensive to not intervene. |
Anonymous
| Why can't you ask the new coach that you are a bit puzzled that the previous coach pushed your child and the other 2-3 top swimmers harder than the rest of the group but is the new plan that everyone is going to do the same workouts? |
Anonymous
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If you expect the first meet of the year after less than one month of practice to be like the others, I would advise you to look at meet mobile. its full of red in so many events, especially for the faster swimmers.
So I wouldn't judge your coach on that. Ask your kid, are they working hard in practice with this new coach? Showing respect? Ready to start at practice start? Doing the sets properly? If they have made all these fancy meets, then they also are probably old enough to where they should be talking to their coach first, before you get involved. |
Anonymous
| PP again. They can't expect to hit March champs times when they are perfectly tapered and suited, the first meet of the year. Especially if they are swimming at the zones level. |
Anonymous
| The beginning of the season often is focused on technique, but there should be interval differences soon. Depending on your kids age, you or he should ask how the coach plans to manage intervals as the season progresses. I strongly encourage you NOT to try to get your kid pushed to swim with older kids. I’ve seen parents do this at my club and it had seriously bad results (social, mental health, and in the pool). |
Anonymous
I’m PP with the 10 year old who is with older swimmers. I agree that it’s better to keep kids in age groups. We tried to keep our kid with his age group as long as we could. Our compromise is that he doesn’t go to more than 3 practices a week so that he doesn’t burn out. It’s not ideal, and I would rather him be with his own age group, but almost all of the 9/10 year olds at his team are just beginning to compete. |
Anonymous
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Agree sometimes it is not best to push them up. My DC swims “up” at training and says it is not as fun as DC is with the older kids.
Keep your kid where he is and once the season is underway let child advocate for themselves |
Anonymous
| I would talk to the coach. Or wait until the next meet, then talk to the coach. |
Anonymous
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I would talk to the coach since you feel that way. My child is in a similar position but doesn't care as much about dropping time and would rather stay with friends.
If your child is frustrated I would push for a solution - probably moving up to the next group. If she's mature and many seconds ahead it should be a no brainer for the club. |