How often should my swimmer attend practice?

The number of practices is established by the coaches to maximize the effectiveness of the program.  This also helps to maintain the level of development of each athlete.   By adhering to these guidelines, swimmers have a better chance of not only succeeding but continuing their interest in the sport of swimming.

If you have any questions about what is best for your swimmer, please ask your coach about what they suggest.

When will my swimmer be ready to move up to the next level in practices?

Swimmer's who start out with the novice group should be ready to move up to age group within 6-12 months, depending upon the number of practices attended and swimmer's ability.

It is important not to move a swimmer up from one level to the next too quickly.  The swimmer must build their confidence and knowledge and be ready for the next level.  However, it is also important not to hold a swimmer back when he/she is ready for the next level.

Feel free to talk to your swimmer's coach to find out when your swimmer might be ready for the next level.

At what age should swimmers start year-round swimming?

But this type of regimen is not for every swimmer.  When an athlete’s interest is strong enough to warrant training with a USA Team like the AGS, we suggest that they begin in either our Novice or Age Group Development programs.  This introduction to competitive training will ease the transition between the two different platforms.

Year-round swimming should generally be attempted only by athletes seven (7) years old and older.  Swimming should be fun, not a chore (they have enough chores to do outside of the pool!) 

If you have any questions about what is best for your swimmer, please ask your coach about what they suggest.

Why can't I go on the deck during practice?

Each coach is focused on performing their function correcting stroke and directing training.  Distractions must be minimized for the coach to maintain their attention on your athlete and all of the other swimmers in the pool. 

The coaches are certified in safety and are responsible for the security of the swimmers in the pool and on the deck.  Not only is there a safety issue but the distractions deter from every child in the program from getting their coach's total attention. 

Please consider this when you need to confer with your coach.   Coaches should only be contacted before or after practices on the pool deck.   If you want to have a more private conversation, we suggest that both of you agree to an alternate site or time to talk on the telephone.

Why are they doing
all those funny
looking drills?

Stroke drills are to separate specific movements in a stroke so that the athlete can master that movement without having to concentrate on the entire stroke at one time.  By repetitively mastering each movement through drills, the swimmer is able to put together these mastered movements into a more efficient stroke.

Drills are also a way to help diversify the practice.  They are used in conjunction to normal training as a "warm-down," or active recovery.   It also reminds the swimmers how to do their strokes correctly when they become fatigued.  By mastering these drills, they are helping to insure that they continue to improve in form and efficiency.

Why is stroke technique so important?

Another thing to consider is that most young adults are growing quickly and the brain sometimes has a problem with "updating" the knowledge that the body is bigger, the arms are longer, and the muscles are stronger.  By continually doing the drills and helping the child to adapt to their ever changing body, they are able to maintain speed and endurance needed for their races at meets.

Coaches also use the strategy of changing the drills as often as possible so that the athlete has to make a continuous effort to do the new stroke drill correctly.  This insures that they are actually thinking when doing the drills.   When the same drills are repeated over and over, the swimmer loses interest and does not perform the drill adequately even though it is a good drill that enhances the attributes for fast swimming.

What are realistic goals and how can my parents help me achieve these goals?

Goals are specific to each swimmer.  Goals for the season can be outlined at the beginning of the season with the expectation of altering those goals if the process either becomes more stagnant or more elevated.  Goals should be carefully thought out by the swimmer and coach.  Each swimmer (usually 11 years old and older) should write down these goals and discuss them with the coach to get their input.

These goals are usually planned for the end of the season swims but interim goals are also a consideration.  By planning steps to be achieved through the season, the athlete becomes more confident of their end-of-the-season goals.  And again, these can also be adjusted during the season to accommodate changes in training, physical conditioning, swimmer's mental intensity, etc.

Parents should support the swimmer in their acquisition of these projected accomplishments.   Athletes are more likely to achieve goals if they feel that their parents believe in what they are doing and that they can do what they set out to do.  Coaches have a lot of experience in helping to direct swimmers toward goals.  This is why it is important that the athlete and coach agree on goals and that the parents support those decisions.

If for some reason the parents do not agree with the goals, they should address these concerns with the coach without the swimmer being present.  This way, the coach can explain the reasoning behind the decisions and illuminate the parent as to their athlete's frame of mind while forging these goals.  The coach/swimmer relationship can therefore be maintained.

If you have any specific questions about goals and your swimmer, please contact your coach and set up a time to discuss your concerns.

How do I know what my potentials are as a swimmer?

A child's current potential has very little to do with their future potential.  The biggest influencing factor for a child is how much fun and enjoyment they get out of their activity.  If they are not happy with what they are doing, it doesn't matter how much "potential" they have if they quit the sport.

Youngsters come to swimming because they feel needed and wanted; they have a special bond with their teammates and coach; they enjoy swimming for the fun of it; and they are willing to give up their time to do this activity.

If these basic ingredients are achieved, the "potential" of a swimmer is greatly enhanced because they believe in themselves.  This attribute in itself is a very powerful motivator.  When a child is empowered to direct their own future, they become very self-confident and mature young adults.       

Parents:

Is my swimmer progressing normally?

These outside conditions include most prominently their coach and their parents.  If all factors are positive then, yes, your child is progressing normally.  If some parts of their development is not being met, then no.  There are so many factors to consider that it is difficult to accurately give any parent (or swimmer for that matter) an absolute answer. 

Coaches do their best to enrich the athletes in their program to the best of their ability.  Some programs prosper better than others because those coaches who understand that the more positives that can be included in a swimmer's agenda, then more positive results will ensue.

As parents, if you are the greatest supporter and comforter of your child, you are giving them the solid footing to stand on their own and become self-confident.  We all learn the most when we are open to change and feel confident in whatever we are doing.

How can I stay focused on continuing to do well when I have had a disappointing season?

When youngsters enter the swimming program, they are inundated with new information to help them swim faster.   This information is directly transferred to their times which drop dramatically over a period of time as they develop their stroke technique.

As a child grows older, they will notice that they do not do their best time every time that they swim an event.   The most experienced swimmers will only see drops in time once or twice a year when they are at their physical perfection and at a championship meet. 

Seasons that do not produce better times are usually ones where there have been a lot of changes.  These changes include: changes in training routine; changes in body composition (i.e. weight gain, weight loss, height increase, etc.); changes in stress levels (i.e. home life, school grades, etc.); or change in personal goals or evaluations.

Since many factors are involved in these disappointing seasons, it is usually difficult for a coach or parent to effectively speculate as to the "cause" of the season results.  Athletes who have been involved in a sport for longer periods of time will learn that these "slumps" are normal (undesirable, none the less) in their development.  If they are able to continue with the positive attitude that got them to the point at which they are now, then they will have a much better probability of continuing their success in future seasons.

Should I swim when I am sick?

1. Whenever you have a fever, don't come to practice.
2. If you are only affected by a cold that does not involve either an elevated temperature or a cough, it is acceptable to come to practice.

The general rule is that if it is neck up - it's OK to come to practice.  If it involves neck down, don't come to practice.

Warning signs of getting ill:

1. Bad breath (yes, it's true)
2. Headache
3. Body aches

Here are some tips on how to prevent yourself from getting sick:

1. Wash your hands regularly during the day (very important)
2. Don't put your fingers in you eyes, mouth or nose
3. Drink plenty of fluids
4. Get enough sleep

What is USA Swimming?

USA Swimming is the National Governing Body for the sport of swimming.  They administer competitive swimming in accordance with the Amateur Sports Act and provide programs and services for our members, supporters, affiliates and the interested public.  They value these members of the swimming community, and the staff and volunteers who serve them.  They are committed to excellence and the improvement of our sport.  Additional information can be found on their website.

How do I get noticed by colleges if I swim both high school and USA?

Times that are posted at major swim meets that include both high school state and USA competition (such as Sectionals) in both Swimming World Magazine and on internet sites such as United States Swimming homepage.  College coaches and their assistants constantly review these times and may sometimes contact the coach of a swimmer to find out about how the team trains and prepares.  They are not allowed to contact the swimmer or ask about certain swimmers because of NCAA (the governing body of college athletics) rules.

Sometimes coaches of swimmers will inform college coaches by calling or writing a letter to let them know of potential swimmer's abilities.  This is usually done when a swimmer is interested in a smaller college or university.  These colleges have fewer resources and rely on tips like these to recruit swimmers who may not be at the national level.

If an athlete is interested in finding out about what is available to them, the best thing to do is to start looking into many resources and gather as much information about colleges that they may be interested in attending.  After compiling this list, contact the coach at the college of their top choices and find out what is available.  Athletes who do not have national time standards may want to start at smaller colleges and find out what is available at those schools first.

It is a good idea to start looking when a swimmer is a junior in high school.  This will help them make better choices when they are a senior because they have more information and are prepared in their selection.