Long Course Season

April was the start of "Long Course" season for swimmers.  That means the swim meets are held in 50 meter pools.  This also marks the one year anniversary that my daughter has been swimming competitively on a USA Swimming sanctioned swim team.  I am started to feel seasoned.

We started the long course season with a swim workshop so that my daughter could get some technique insight from a different perspective.  This is her third swim camp.  Here is a run down of all three swim camps she has attended since joining a competitive swim club.

Fitter and Faster Swim Tour Presented by Swim Outlet with Olympians Jimmy Feigen and Megan Romano.  This was a one day workshop held in May 2015 focusing on backstroke and freestyle and my first experience with a swim clinic for my daughter.  It was very organized with tents that were clearly marked and several stations for us to move through to get into the clinic.  One of the first stations was meeting the clinic leaders and Olympians Jimmy Feigen and Megan Romano.  There was an opportunity for my daughter to take a photo with Jimmy and his silver medal.  My daughter said the medal was really heavy.  We went into a dryland room and watched a video on each of the strokes and technique.  Then the kids moved to the pool to practice what they had learned.  After the clinic all the participants were allowed to race Jimmy and Megan.  That was alot of fun.  The clinic ended with a Q&A.  I learned about the tattoos that Olympic swimmers get with the Olympic rings.  I really enjoyed listening to what they had to say.  Jimmy Feigen talked alot about failure and having interests and socializing outside of the pool for life balance.   My daughter really liked meeting the Olympic swimmers as role models and listening intently to their advice and opinions.  I paid a total of $139.84 including online fees for a one day workshop.  My daughter received posters and a free t-shirt and other swim swag.  I paid for a professional photo that was autographed by the olympians that was an additional $20.00.  I enjoyed this clinic as a parent.  I enjoyed talking to other parents, learning alot of skills and interacting with the coaches from the other swim club.  All of the coaches were there from the host swim team and Fitter and Faster management team was very organized.  

4-Day Swim Clinic with an Olympian Chloe Sutton.  This clinic was held in December 2015.  Over winter break the swim team usually has a break from swimming to allow for holidays.  I was glad that this clinic took place so that my daughter could again get some help for her technique during short course season.  This clinic focused on all four strokes including starts and turns. I was unable to observe this clinic every day as I was working.  It started at 7 am and ended at 11 am.  This clinic was also very crowded and Chloe was the only person who was teaching and running the clinic.  My daughter talked about Chloe teaching yoga during their dryland portion of the clinic every morning.  All the participants received a free photo autographed and personalized by Chloe.  They received a free tshirt.  Chloe also signed my daughter's team swim cap and team sweats that she cherishes to this day.  This clinic was $295.00.

Peak Performance Swim Camp hosted by Olympic Coach Nick Baker.  Who is Nick Baker?  He is most notably known for coaching Lisa Flood at the 1992 Olympics.  This clinic was 2 days.  Nick Baker has written a few books and I have read one of them.  The swimming triangle talks alot about Nick Baker's coaching philosophy and he has a very holistic approach.  I liked that the clinic's dryland included a mental technique portion and a professional yoga teacher come each day and teach a yoga session.  There were alot of skills that were discussed and practiced in each session block. I learned that there are over 100 different skills that can be worked on in swimming.   There was a coach assigned to each lane.  There was a video analysis and then discussion with the lane group of how to improve what the video showed.  The lunches were catered.  There is also a Peak Refresher video that is accessible online for a year after the clinic to review what was learned.  I think this camp was well rounded.  It may have been too advanced for my 9 year old daughter.  An Olympic swim coach is professional and his camp reflected that.  This clinic was $425.

My hindsight is that there is value in swim camps and workshops.  I cannot predict when my daughter is going to "get" something.  Her swim coach may be giving her advice on how to improve her technique and she isn't able to process it into an improvement in her stroke.  However, when an olympian gives her advice or says something kind to her, she feels inspired to do better.  I think that there is value in meeting olympic swimmers and having positive role models.  My daughter was especially appreciative of Chloe Sutton's kindness and optimism.  I think that at 9 years old was too young for the Olympic Coach camp.  If she were to become more serious in the future then it's something I might consider again.





 

Short Course State Championships

At the beginning of the short course season, the swim coach asked the team to fill out a SMART Goals Sheet.  My daughter wrote that her goals were to qualify for the State Championships in February.  A swimmer needs "A" times to qualify to compete at the State Championship meet.  She achieved her goals of "A" times (bonus in 7 events).  She competed in 6 events and two relays.  The first day she was competing in 5 events.  The nerves were running high and the relays are such a great way to bond with other teammates and burn off some of the race jitters and anxiety.  On the second day she was focusing on trying to achieve a Regional time for the 50 free.  She didn't meet that goal but did get a bonus of a 10-year old "A" time in the 50 free.  For her first short course I am very proud of her!  I made this flier for her and she taped it to the wall next to her bed.  

First Short Course Season Coming to a Close

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.

More Than You Wanted to Know About Swimmers Ear

We are beginning the third month of short course season - November.  That means summer is over and fall is here.  In the Pacific Northwest the morning temperatures are 41 degrees.  My daughter thinks it's summer and gets dressed for school in a tank top and knee length sweatpants.  She has had two colds and two ear infections so far this season in the month of October.  Now that it is November, the time has fallen back an hour and swim practice ends at 6 or 7 pm when it is dark and cold.   

Swimmer's ear or its medical term otitis externa is an infection when water gets trapped in the ear canal.  Pain is the symptom.  This usually requires time off of school because of the pain and a trip to the doctor.  If there is an infection the doctor will usually prescribe a topical anti-biotic for 7 days.  This also means two days of no water/pool time.   

After the first ear infection, I told my daughter that she needed to dry out her ears after swim practice, wear warm clothes and put swimmers ear solution in her ear.  None of which she acted on after the pain went away.  After the second ear infection started, I had to have a talk with my daughter about her responsibility and swimmer's ear steps for prevention. 

I explored all remedies and preventions possible.  This is what I've come up with: 

Keep ears dry.  Avoid swimmers ear preemptively by removing water from the ear!

Dry ears after swimming with your towel.  Tip your head to the side to help water drain from your ear canal.

Use a blow dryer.  If you put the blow dryer on the lowest setting and hold it away from the ear it can help dry water in the ear.  (However, I found out that there are no blow dryers on the wall at the swim center, which I find strange.  I decided not to give a 9 year old a small blow dryer to use with the fears of hair getting caught in it or electrocuting herself by setting it in the sink.) 

If your child has a cold their ear canal can get inflamed and water gets easily trapped in the ear canal.  Sometimes the alcohol drops can't get through to the trapped water.   After hearing about ear wicks, I searched on the internet and found AfterSwim water removal.  My daughter likes these because there are no chemicals and no drying out the ear by alcohol that can cause irritation and dryness in the ear canal.  A pack of 20 was $5.99.  People, especially kids, shouldn't put anything in their ear especially if they can scratch or irritate the skin in the ear but these are safe in design. 

Erradicate Bacteria.

Drops.  Immediately put swimmer's ear drops in each ear after swim and shower.  I bought an over the counter drops at Walgreens called Swimmers Ear.  This will dry out the ear and kill any bacteria.

I also found a homemade recipe online.  Homemade drops are a mixture of 1 part white vinegar to 1 part rubbing alcohol.  I bought a dropper at Whole Foods and white vinegar but had to buy alcohol at Walgreens.  The alcohol promotes drying and the vinegar prevents the growth of bacteria and fungi that can cause swimmer's ear.

Mineral oil ear drops such as garlic oil and tea tree oil are good home remedies.  I bought these at Whole Foods.

Mullein Garlic Pure Ear Oil.  Garlic is antibacterial and anti-inflammatory.  There is a home made recipe where olive oil is used and fresh garlic soaks in the oil overnight as an alternative. 

NutriBiotic Tea Tree Oil ear drops for irritation.  Grapeseed Extract and Tea Tree Oil are an excellent topical treatment for ear aches and swimmer's ear. This soothing, antiseptic formula helps ease pain and soothe itchy, irritated skin. 

Nutrition.  During an ear infection there are foods recommended to boost immune system health such as spinach, oranges, lemons, broccoli, brussel sprouts, squash and sweet potatoes.  (Foods high in vitamin C, vitamin D3 and echinacea, omega 3 foods such as fish).  Foods to avoid during an ear infection are sugar, dairy, processed foods and foods high in toxins.

Essential Oils.  Rubbing basil oil behind the ears and at the bottoms of the feet can speed healing of ear infections.  I have an almond oil that I use for massage as a carrier oil and then I add the basil essential oil, mix and put a small amount on the bottom of the feet.    

First Short Course Season

Registration for the 2015-2016 swim season began in August at our club.  Our club has a new head coach and he has made some changes in the structure of the club.  As parents we were anxiously waiting to find out what that meant.  In mid-August I found that the club was slightly restructured by age instead of named groups.  My daughter falls in the 10&U group.  I also found out that my daughter had been moved to a new squad called "black."  The new squad would meet about 6 days a week.  The practices would be longer and the demand would be higher.  My daughter was elated.  I was not.

We started the short course season on the new squad.  These girls swim faster and at higher volume.  My daughter wanted to keep up with the girls in the new squad.  She started to swim faster and after each practice she was exhausted.  I noticed that her technique has started to suffer.  Because my daughter wanted to swim at the same speed as others on the new squad she started to move her arms faster.  She increased her stroke rate which meant the stroke length decreased.  The ultimate goal is to increase one and maintain the other.  The new squad also uses different swim aids like snorkels in their training.  My daughter cannot figure out how to breath and is constantly lifting her head.  It is frustrating to watch my daughter struggle and I just felt totally helpless.

The only way to channel my frustration was to do something for myself.  I decided to sign up for Masters Swim in Oregon.  I have been an open water freestyle swimmer (in a wet suit) which is totally different than swimming in a pool. I do not know how to do flip turns, butterfly, or breast stroke. I have a lot to learn.  Masters Swimming offers so much for adults as their motto is "Encouraging Adults to Swim,"  They send helpful articles in a newsletter if you sign up.  https://www.usms.org/  I read an article about setting goals for the season.  I made some goals of my own.  My goals are to take lessons to learn how to do flip turns, butterfly and breast stroke.  I would also like to swim with the masters swim group at the local community center.

Time Standards

My daughter competed in a total of six swim meets during the Long Course season from April, 2015 ending on July 31, 2015.  I was not informed by the coaches about championship meets or A and B times when we started nor did I did know to ask.   This is the email that was sent to the team right before the championship meet in late May 2015.  **For the Mt Hood meets in June: all 8&unders will swim in the C meet (6/13-14 Sat&Sun only-indoor SCY).  9&10 year olds will swim in the Age Group Meet (6/12-14 Fri thru Sun-outdoor LCM) IF they have 4 or more qualifying times for the meet (OSI 9 year old B times).  When I found out that my daughter did not make the qualifying B times for the long course championship meet, I quickly realized that there is something more than just swimming on a team.  She was at a "C" meet that was going on inside in a small pool with a small group of girls while many of her friends were swimming in the outside pool in the sunshine that was olympic size, really nice and packed full of people.  Luckily my daughter was with a great group of girls who all had so much fun teasing the coach, laughing and playing together.  At the meets to follow, I started to talk to other parents and they were discussing A times.  I also heard the term State.  After the long course championships at the beginning of summer a few of my daughters' teammates were moved into another squad called "Storm."  My daughter really wanted to get onto Storm.  I was not that excited about this idea because I heard that the workouts are six days a week.  I told her that she would probably need to get "A" times to get moved.  Although many of the girls who were moved did not have "A" times.  I'm not exactly sure of the criteria to get moved to another squad.  I looked up Oregon Swimming and found the 9 year old "A" times.  There is a lot of information to sort through because much of it does not apply to your child until they are ready and need it. 

Here's what I think I've learned so far:

A common misconception is that the championship meets are called "state" championships.  These meets are open to registered Oregon Swimming Swimmers and Oregon Swimming does not only encompass the State of Oregon.  Oregon swimming includes SW Washington and excludes Eastern Oregon counties. 

Oregon Swimming hosts several championship meets a year during short course and long course seasons. During the short course season, the 10 and Under Championships are usually held the second weekend of February, open to all swimmers who meet the qualifying standard (during the qualifying period of February 1 of the previous year until the entry deadline) . During the Long Course season, Oregon holds the 10 and Under Championships during the second weekend of July for swimmers who meet the qualifying standard during the qualifying period July 1 of the previous year until the entry deadline.  Oregon swimming publishes a list of time standards can be found at:  http://www.oregonswimming.org/standards.  If your child has a birthday, than they need to meet the qualifying time standard for the age that they will be on the day of the championship meet. 

After the "C" meet, I printed out the 9 year old "A" times for my daughter.  During the summer, the workouts were 90 minutes on Tuesdays in an outdoor pool.  The other workouts were about an hour instead of the usual 45 minutes.  Because of these extra workouts, and my daughter's determination, she did get an "A" time in the butterfly.  She ended the long course season in a really positive way.  

Swimming Has Its Ups and Downs

I was talking to a parent in the stands tonight and she was telling me that her son is on Olympic Way in the Gold squad.  She also said that he really wants to get onto the competitive squad.  I know how she feels because I was in her place a year ago with my daughter.

The coaches generally discourage parents from coaching their kids and comparing their kids to other swimmers who are faster.   The focus should be on technique.  I remember the coach sent out an article in one the weekly newsletters that was about the ups and downs of swimming.

"MY TIP OF THE WEEK IS TO SLOW DOWN, LET GO AND ENJOY THE PROCESS...

Don’t compare your swimmer with teammates or competitors. They make progress in separate events and they grow and mature at different times. Why on earth compare your swimmer’s 50 free to her teammates and wonder why your swimmer isn’t as fast? It’s okay for your child to be competitive and push themselves by racing teammates — but parents — stay out of it!"  http://swimswam.com/one-tip-swim-parents-enjoy-process/

When my daughter was moved to the competitive squad Thunder, my response was to put away old ribbons that my daughter had received.  I wanted to be a good parent and direct her focus to technique and support my daughter through the ups and downs.  I boxed up all the ribbons.  My daughter's response was to tell me "Mom, you aren't proud of me."  I explained that I am proud of her even if she doesn't get ribbons.  She insisted that I hang all of her ribbons on the wall so that she can see them because she is proud of her hard work.  I wasn't even sure how to hang swim ribbons and I put them in frames.

At the swim meets to follow in long course, I cheered as loud as I could for my daughter so that she knew how proud I am of her.  (More on parent ettiquette later...).

On July 14, 2015, we received an email from the coach that "Cadence got an A time in the 50 fly. and Cadence had 100% best times.  I am so proud of my daughter's hard work.  She isn't always going to get a ribbon or place in the top.  She isn't fast in all the strokes.  I will continue to support  her and follow her lead.  The kids on her swim team are some of the hardest working kids I know.  They swim five days a week.  Their dedication is remarkable.

- Proud Swim Mom

old CYO ribbons

The "wall of ribbons"