Swim Team Coach/Parent Etiquette

[Anonymous]

DC is going on second year of training with a winter swim team. DC worked hard all summer in clinics, camps and summer swim team and has improved substantially. It is still very early in the season but very obvious that DC is not being challenged by the pace and training of her group. She has a substitute coach atm because her regular coach is on personal leave until December. Is it frowned upon to contact the head coach and ask to have DC reassessed and placed in a group that is more challenging to her? Or is it better to keep quiet and wait until they make a move on their own. Would you do anything or leave it alone? If so, what would you say?

[Anonymous]

If she's obviously in the wrong group then you should reach out. Why waste time? But, bear in mind that some teams and coaches respond better to questions than others.

[Anonymous]

It depends on a club. Don’t do it with mega teams - telling your child is not challenged can only make matters worse. They have too many kids to care and maybe just don’t have a spot at the next level yet. You might need just train on a side very hard till next swimming groups reassessment and ask for a meeting to get their feedback directly. Tell at the meeting how much your swimmer wants to be moved up, and how hard she’s ready to work at the next level, try to find out when a spot might become availdble. Don’t write. Also tell your daughter to try be always first in her lane, if practices are easy and she might get noticed when the coach is back.
If still nothing changes in the end of the swim season and your daughter has good times, do tryouts for other teams and see what she’s offered. It’s always helpful to know your child level from someone outside club

[Anonymous]

After the first meet, see how her times compare to those in her group and the group above her. If she’s keeping up with the next group, it will be easy to point to the data to support your position.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It depends on a club. Don’t do it with mega teams - telling your child is not challenged can only make matters worse. They have too many kids to care and maybe just don’t have a spot at the next level yet. You might need just train on a side very hard till next swimming groups reassessment and ask for a meeting to get their feedback directly. Tell at the meeting how much your swimmer wants to be moved up, and how hard she’s ready to work at the next level, try to find out when a spot might become availdble. Don’t write. Also tell your daughter to try be always first in her lane, if practices are easy and she might get noticed when the coach is back.
If still nothing changes in the end of the swim season and your daughter has good times, do tryouts for other teams and see what she’s offered. It’s always helpful to know your child level from someone outside club

I’m not sure how the size of the club relates to others. There are about 250-300 kids total.
Totally understand what you’re saying about making it worse. DC does have an offer to work privately with an accomplished coach outside of her club doing private lessons. She worked with him during the summer and he has offered. Our club has a policy that states that DC needs permission from them to do so. I already know they will create drama over it.

I like the combination of advice of waiting until after the first meet and seeing her times. Also, asking for a meeting as opposed to the email I was going to write. All good ideas.

[Anonymous]

Never tell clubs with whom you work on a side. Don’t ask for permission if it’s a private coach, it’s none of their business. Her best times will be achieved closer to March.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It depends on a club. Don’t do it with mega teams - telling your child is not challenged can only make matters worse. They have too many kids to care and maybe just don’t have a spot at the next level yet. You might need just train on a side very hard till next swimming groups reassessment and ask for a meeting to get their feedback directly. Tell at the meeting how much your swimmer wants to be moved up, and how hard she’s ready to work at the next level, try to find out when a spot might become availdble. Don’t write. Also tell your daughter to try be always first in her lane, if practices are easy and she might get noticed when the coach is back.
If still nothing changes in the end of the swim season and your daughter has good times, do tryouts for other teams and see what she’s offered. It’s always helpful to know your child level from someone outside club

I’m not sure how the size of the club relates to others. There are about 250-300 kids total.
Totally understand what you’re saying about making it worse. DC does have an offer to work privately with an accomplished coach outside of her club doing private lessons. She worked with him during the summer and he has offered. Our club has a policy that states that DC needs permission from them to do so. I already know they will create drama over it.

I like the combination of advice of waiting until after the first meet and seeing her times. Also, asking for a meeting as opposed to the email I was going to write. All good ideas.

This makes no sense. Why do you need permission to do private lessons. Many kids we know are in private lessons. They probably strictly look at times for moving up a level. Find a new club if she is not happy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Never tell clubs with whom you work on a side. Don’t ask for permission if it’s a private coach, it’s none of their business. Her best times will be achieved closer to March.

This, we did ask our coach for a suggestion and they gave us one but you don't need their permission.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:After the first meet, see how her times compare to those in her group and the group above her. If she’s keeping up with the next group, it will be easy to point to the data to support your position.

Did not refer to other swimmers times. But you can ask what are the time expectations for the next group, and what else your child can do to get there. If she’s already there based on your data but coaches say “not ready, blah-blah” it means they have no spots or spots are already distributed for couple years ahead. Don’t buy into it, and start looking for placement at her skills level elsewhere. It might take up for a year to switch with a “promotion”

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It depends on a club. Don’t do it with mega teams - telling your child is not challenged can only make matters worse. They have too many kids to care and maybe just don’t have a spot at the next level yet. You might need just train on a side very hard till next swimming groups reassessment and ask for a meeting to get their feedback directly. Tell at the meeting how much your swimmer wants to be moved up, and how hard she’s ready to work at the next level, try to find out when a spot might become availdble. Don’t write. Also tell your daughter to try be always first in her lane, if practices are easy and she might get noticed when the coach is back.
If still nothing changes in the end of the swim season and your daughter has good times, do tryouts for other teams and see what she’s offered. It’s always helpful to know your child level from someone outside club

I’m not sure how the size of the club relates to others. There are about 250-300 kids total.
Totally understand what you’re saying about making it worse. DC does have an offer to work privately with an accomplished coach outside of her club doing private lessons. She worked with him during the summer and he has offered. Our club has a policy that states that DC needs permission from them to do so. I already know they will create drama over it.

I like the combination of advice of waiting until after the first meet and seeing her times. Also, asking for a meeting as opposed to the email I was going to write. All good ideas.

This makes no sense. Why do you need permission to do private lessons. Many kids we know are in private lessons. They probably strictly look at times for moving up a level. Find a new club if she is not happy.

I don’t think our club strictly looks at times. DC beat many kids in races all last year that were a level above her.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Never tell clubs with whom you work on a side. Don’t ask for permission if it’s a private coach, it’s none of their business. Her best times will be achieved closer to March.

This, we did ask our coach for a suggestion and they gave us one but you don't need their permission.

Our parent code of conduct states: To obtain consent from the Head Coach prior to enrolling my child/swimmer in any additional competitive swim training during the **** ***** Club season.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It depends on a club. Don’t do it with mega teams - telling your child is not challenged can only make matters worse. They have too many kids to care and maybe just don’t have a spot at the next level yet. You might need just train on a side very hard till next swimming groups reassessment and ask for a meeting to get their feedback directly. Tell at the meeting how much your swimmer wants to be moved up, and how hard she’s ready to work at the next level, try to find out when a spot might become availdble. Don’t write. Also tell your daughter to try be always first in her lane, if practices are easy and she might get noticed when the coach is back.
If still nothing changes in the end of the swim season and your daughter has good times, do tryouts for other teams and see what she’s offered. It’s always helpful to know your child level from someone outside club

I’m not sure how the size of the club relates to others. There are about 250-300 kids total.
Totally understand what you’re saying about making it worse. DC does have an offer to work privately with an accomplished coach outside of her club doing private lessons. She worked with him during the summer and he has offered. Our club has a policy that states that DC needs permission from them to do so. I already know they will create drama over it.

I like the combination of advice of waiting until after the first meet and seeing her times. Also, asking for a meeting as opposed to the email I was going to write. All good ideas.

This makes no sense. Why do you need permission to do private lessons. Many kids we know are in private lessons. They probably strictly look at times for moving up a level. Find a new club if she is not happy.

I don’t think our club strictly looks at times. DC beat many kids in races all last year that were a level above her.

A level above her isn't her level - how about her level? If you aren't happy with the club, find a new one. If she's good it should not be an issue transfering.

[Anonymous]

Which clinics and camps did you do? We did one and loved it but looking for more.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Which clinics and camps did you do? We did one and loved it but looking for more.

DC did private lessons with a coach from out of town. Did the Nike camp at Stanford during a summer vacation. Did the technique training camp within her club and was on the summer swim team at our country club. There are a bunch of great camps listed on the Fitter and Faster website.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Never tell clubs with whom you work on a side. Don’t ask for permission if it’s a private coach, it’s none of their business. Her best times will be achieved closer to March.

This, we did ask our coach for a suggestion and they gave us one but you don't need their permission.

Our parent code of conduct states: To obtain consent from the Head Coach prior to enrolling my child/swimmer in any additional competitive swim training during the **** ***** Club season.

Its gross overreaching because club wants you to take lessons from their coaches on a side. Its only prohibited by USA Swimming to compete on 2 teams at the same time but not train by yourself during your free time with an adult supervising the minor under 12 yo. Coaches train their own children outside clubs all the time. Our former club had the same clause, and every single fast swimmer had a parent-former swimmer or a private coach on a side. A mega club wouldn’t care anyway unless you make a silly step to ask for a permission.