My daughter's first short course season is coming to an end this weekend. I have learned alot. The way that our swim club works is that each year is different and swim parents need to learn to go with the flow. My daughter's club has had some major changes including a new head coach, growing the team to twice its size and also the way the swim squads were structured.
In August we were anxiously awaiting to find out how the new structure would affect us. In July towards the end of long course my daughter achieved an A time. Because of her "A" time she was moved to a squad called "black." That means she swims 6 days a week and the workouts are more challenging. She also had a new female coach who is an accomplished swimmer. Most of the girls on her squad are State Regional and Zone qualifiers. That means they are really fast. This season my daughter achieved her minimum 6 "A" times and will be competing at State.
Towards the end of January she started to feel tired. After cutting back on meets in February she feels strong and is ready to compete at the State meet this weekend. I am so proud of her determination and drive. I've learned to listen to her and when she says she doesn't want to go to a practice or a meet, I don't push it. It's a rare occasion and I have to trust that she knows her body and her limits.
This is what I've learned:
You will not want to blog about swimming after sitting at the pool 10 hours a week, volunteering for 40 hours, riding the ups and downs of your childs emotions through failures and successes and paying all the expenses and fees.
Swim parents will be volunteering alot. Short course season at our swim club requires 40 hours of volunteering. Swim meets happen at 7 am which means parents get up at 5:30 am to get at a meet and ready to volunteer. It is a rare occasion that I actually sit and watch my daughter swim at a meet. I am usually volunteering during the meet and preoccupied with my duties. I also volunteered at several meets that my daughter was not even swimming.
Read the Meet Information. Each meet is different and run by a different club in a different way. To know what to expect parents should always read the meet information thoroughly to avoid surprises.
Swim coaches have their favorites.
Do other things besides swim and talk about swim. Having other outlets and activities other than swimming has kept us sane. My daughter also has non swim team friends that she spends time with and has non swim team fun.
Great friendships are made on swim teams. My daughter has made some close friendships with girls on her squad. She also is friendly with everyone and loves socializing and joking around in the locker room and during practice. She considers herself friends with everyone on her team.
Only one swimmer comes in first. Teaching my daughter that success is not about finishing first but doing their personal best. I really liked that my daughter high fives the swimmer on each side of her at the end of a race. Every swimmer is working just as hard as she is and I like to see her developing that camaraderie.
Don't always be the complainer. Every parent is doing as much as I am. I often feel really overwhelmed and frustrated with the lack of communication of our swim club. I felt like I was constantly complaining. I am learning to thank other volunteers, ask questions and try to offer help.
