Swimming - really sick of nonfunctional video feeds

[Anonymous]

I really am fascinated by the people who say watching your kids play sports and being interested in what they do is helicoptering. It really shows the huge difference in parenting styles and philosophies.

This weekend I have to drive over an hour to a swim meet. Had I not gotten a volunteer spot, I'd be killing 3hrs in a random part of the state. You can only "take a walk" for so long on a Saturday morning. My child loves to swim and over the past year almost immediately texts me "did you see me!? I dropped X time" and is bummed when all I can do is say that I'm sure they were great.

Pre-covid, if I wasn't volunteering I'd sit in the stands with a book and read other than when cheering for my kid or chatting with other parents I might know. Again, that this is helicoptering is so interesting to me. Do you skip your children's music recitals or awards ceremonies? I mean, let them be proud of themselves and lead your own separate life right?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I really am fascinated by the people who say watching your kids play sports and being interested in what they do is helicoptering. It really shows the huge difference in parenting styles and philosophies.

This weekend I have to drive over an hour to a swim meet. Had I not gotten a volunteer spot, I'd be killing 3hrs in a random part of the state. You can only "take a walk" for so long on a Saturday morning. My child loves to swim and over the past year almost immediately texts me "did you see me!? I dropped X time" and is bummed when all I can do is say that I'm sure they were great.

Pre-covid, if I wasn't volunteering I'd sit in the stands with a book and read other than when cheering for my kid or chatting with other parents I might know. Again, that this is helicoptering is so interesting to me. Do you skip your children's music recitals or awards ceremonies? I mean, let them be proud of themselves and lead your own separate life right?

I agree with you that it’s normal and not helicoptering to want to watch your own kid compete in a sport or activity they love. I think the problem comes with some of the crazy, projecting, competitive parents who sit and watch and comment on every other kid as well. I have seen some truly despicable parent behavior at swim meets, and some really gross discussion of other people’s children, ranking them, questioning why who was placed on what relay or in a particular practice group, etc. It’s really disturbing. So I see why there are people who are enjoying the no spectator rule but I also understand wanting to be there for your own kid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I really am fascinated by the people who say watching your kids play sports and being interested in what they do is helicoptering. It really shows the huge difference in parenting styles and philosophies.

This weekend I have to drive over an hour to a swim meet. Had I not gotten a volunteer spot, I'd be killing 3hrs in a random part of the state. You can only "take a walk" for so long on a Saturday morning. My child loves to swim and over the past year almost immediately texts me "did you see me!? I dropped X time" and is bummed when all I can do is say that I'm sure they were great.

Pre-covid, if I wasn't volunteering I'd sit in the stands with a book and read other than when cheering for my kid or chatting with other parents I might know. Again, that this is helicoptering is so interesting to me. Do you skip your children's music recitals or awards ceremonies? I mean, let them be proud of themselves and lead your own separate life right?

I completely agree. I also had to drive an hour to a meet last week and counting an hour for warm ups, it resulted in 4 hrs to kill (and no, I couldn’t volunteer because I’ve already meet the hours for this year). I can assure you there is nothing wrong with being there and supporting your child at a meet. That is not helicopter parenting. It is done in every other sport - imagine saying some of the horrible things some of the pp have said about swim parents to parents going to watch and support their kids in football, soccer, basketball, etc. It is ridiculous. Especially when some of us are parents to really young swimmers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I really am fascinated by the people who say watching your kids play sports and being interested in what they do is helicoptering. It really shows the huge difference in parenting styles and philosophies.

This weekend I have to drive over an hour to a swim meet. Had I not gotten a volunteer spot, I'd be killing 3hrs in a random part of the state. You can only "take a walk" for so long on a Saturday morning. My child loves to swim and over the past year almost immediately texts me "did you see me!? I dropped X time" and is bummed when all I can do is say that I'm sure they were great.

Pre-covid, if I wasn't volunteering I'd sit in the stands with a book and read other than when cheering for my kid or chatting with other parents I might know. Again, that this is helicoptering is so interesting to me. Do you skip your children's music recitals or awards ceremonies? I mean, let them be proud of themselves and lead your own separate life right?

I completely agree. I also had to drive an hour to a meet last week and counting an hour for warm ups, it resulted in 4 hrs to kill (and no, I couldn’t volunteer because I’ve already meet the hours for this year). I can assure you there is nothing wrong with being there and supporting your child at a meet. That is not helicopter parenting. It is done in every other sport - imagine saying some of the horrible things some of the pp have said about swim parents to parents going to watch and support their kids in football, soccer, basketball, etc. It is ridiculous. Especially when some of us are parents to really young swimmers.

never knew there is a club that does this. Is this only during Covid? or is it because everyone wants to volunteer regardless?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I really am fascinated by the people who say watching your kids play sports and being interested in what they do is helicoptering. It really shows the huge difference in parenting styles and philosophies.

This weekend I have to drive over an hour to a swim meet. Had I not gotten a volunteer spot, I'd be killing 3hrs in a random part of the state. You can only "take a walk" for so long on a Saturday morning. My child loves to swim and over the past year almost immediately texts me "did you see me!? I dropped X time" and is bummed when all I can do is say that I'm sure they were great.

Pre-covid, if I wasn't volunteering I'd sit in the stands with a book and read other than when cheering for my kid or chatting with other parents I might know. Again, that this is helicoptering is so interesting to me. Do you skip your children's music recitals or awards ceremonies? I mean, let them be proud of themselves and lead your own separate life right?

I completely agree. I also had to drive an hour to a meet last week and counting an hour for warm ups, it resulted in 4 hrs to kill (and no, I couldn’t volunteer because I’ve already meet the hours for this year). I can assure you there is nothing wrong with being there and supporting your child at a meet. That is not helicopter parenting. It is done in every other sport - imagine saying some of the horrible things some of the pp have said about swim parents to parents going to watch and support their kids in football, soccer, basketball, etc. It is ridiculous. Especially when some of us are parents to really young swimmers.

never knew there is a club that does this. Is this only during Covid? or is it because everyone wants to volunteer regardless?

This is a Covid era policy. Because there has been high demand for volunteer spots with most meets not allowing spectators, they are now telling families who have already met their hours requirement for the season that they can’t volunteer until the day before the meet when there are spots that need to be filled.

[Anonymous]

The video quality is not super great, but the announcer for the first two sessions of the PAC Cherry Blossoms meet has been top notch, so much fun to listen to. He is amazing and I hope he announces the rest of the sessions as well, although I can imagine how exhausted he would be. Kudos to him though, he’s so good

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The video quality is not super great, but the announcer for the first two sessions of the PAC Cherry Blossoms meet has been top notch, so much fun to listen to. He is amazing and I hope he announces the rest of the sessions as well, although I can imagine how exhausted he would be. Kudos to him though, he’s so good

What a nice post! Last summer we were at a meet- can't remember for the life of me where- but they had an AWESOME announcer, not just a "read out the names" type. He was incredible and it made it so much more fun.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The video quality is not super great, but the announcer for the first two sessions of the PAC Cherry Blossoms meet has been top notch, so much fun to listen to. He is amazing and I hope he announces the rest of the sessions as well, although I can imagine how exhausted he would be. Kudos to him though, he’s so good

+1. My kid is swimming at this meet. The video is pretty blurry but the announcer is wonderfully enthusiastic and goes beyond just reading events, heats, and names.