SAN DIEGO IMPERIAL

SWIMPOSIUM PARENTS

INTRODUCTION

SENIOR DIRECTOR, EDUCATION &

PROGRAMS

USA Swimming University -

LEARN

1

Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion

2

• Former athlete

• Collegiate Coach

• Age Group Coach

• Parent of Swimmers

• 15th year – USA Swimming

MJ TRUEX

WHAT IS USA SWIMMING?

• National Governing Body (NGB) for the sport of swimming in the United States.

• Select teams for international competition including the Olympic Games

• Promote the culture of swimming

• Create opportunities for swimmers and coaches to advance in the sport through

education, events and teams

OLYMPIC TRAINING CENTER

USA SWIMMING STRUCTURE

ZONES

LSCs

CLUBS

Athletes

4

59

3034

346,735

LSCS AND ZONES

WHAT’S AVAILABLE TO YOU?

Athlete • Safe Sport

• Camps

• IMX/IMR Program

• Deck Pass

• Social Media

• Diversity, Equity, &

Inclusion

• SWIMS

• SheLEADS, WeLEAD

Coach • Educational opportunities

o Clinics

o Camps- coaches track

o Consulting services

o Mentorship Programs

o Leadership Summit

Parent • Comprehensive

coaching requirements

• Swimposiums

• Growing Champions for

Life – Parent Ed

• Insurance

• Webinars and podcasts

• Bilingual materials

• ADM

• Model policies, templates,

recommended best

practices

• Webinars and podcasts

• Bilingual materials

• Club Portal

• ADM

AMERICAN DEVELOPMENT MODEL

• Explains an athlete’s

advancement through a

pathway supporting a healthy

sport experience based on

their physical, mental and

emotional level and potential

for growth

ADM – SWIMMING

Level 6

Level 5

Level 4

Level 3

Level 2

Level 1

Performance management

Emotional, psychological,

physical well being

Advanced training

Leadership roles

Time management

Challenging racing

distances

Dryland

Personal accountability

Beginning of journey

FUN

Multi-sport focus

More challenging tech concepts

Goal setting

Positive self-talk

Continued technical development

Nutrition

Sportsmanship

National Select Camp

National Junior Team

Zone

Select Camps

National Diversity

Select Camp

Zone Diversity Select Camps

LSC Select Camps

SAN DIEGO IMPERIAL

SWIMPOSIUM PARENT

PRESENTATION

PART 1: PARENT

ROLE

#1 RESPONSIBILITY

OF A SPORT PARENT

To provide a stable, loving and

supportive environment for your

child and reinforce the proper

values.

WHAT DO YOUR SWIMMERS WANT

FROM YOU?

•Your presence

•Your love

•Your support

WHAT THEY DON’T WANT

Critique Criticism Coaching

HOCKEY CANADA – IT’S JUST A GAME

HOCKEY CANADA – IT’S JUST A GAME

HOCKEY CANADA – IT’S JUST A GAME

ARE YOU A PRESSURE PARENT?

Is winning more important to you than it is

to your child?

Is your disappointment obvious?

Do you try to “psych-up” your child?

Do you let your child know how much you

sacrifice so he/she/they can swim?

Do you feel you have to force your child to

practice?

Do you ever think you could do better coaching

your child?

Do you ever dislike your child’s rival or the rival’s

parent?

Are your child’s goals your goals for your child?

Do you provide material rewards for

performance?

Do you conduct an analysis of the

meet/practice soon after it’s occurred, especially to determine what could

have been better?

WHAT STRESSES YOU AS A SPORT PARENT?

• Logistics – balancing

schedules

• Athlete Development – Are

they improving?

• Family time

• Child/Parent expectations

versus outcomes

• Sport time commitment

KEY TO BEING A GREAT SPORT PARENT

WHAT CAN A PARENT DO?

1. Emphasize FUN, ENJOYMENT, and INDIVIDUAL

IMPROVEMENT over winning and losing

2. Learn about, focus on, and respect the PROCESS –

recognize skill improvement and small victories

3. Take charge of ‘hidden training’

4. Volunteer and get involved with the team!

HAVE FUN & KEEP THINGS BALANCED

• Family

• Church

• Studies

• Friends

• Other Sports & Activities

Blame & Mistrust

Communication & Trust

UNDERSTAND THE PROCESS

REALITY

CULTIVATE GRIT

Grit is the ability to work hard for a long

period of time towards a goal; to persevere,

overcome, and keep moving in the face of

adversity, failure, rejection, and obstacles.

Angela Duckworth

GRIT & GROWTH MINDSET

CULTIVATE GRIT

Grit keeps you moving forward

through the sting of rejection, pain of

failure, and struggle with adversity.

GROWTH MINDSET

LONG TERM ATHLETE DEVELOPMENT

Vs.

• Ranked Top 16 (10) as a:

• 10 & Under Still Ranked as 17-18 11%

• 11-12 Still Ranked as 17-18 21%

• 13-14 Still Ranked as 17-18 36%

• 15-16 Still Ranked as 17-18 48%

• Moral of the story:

• A 10 & Under wonder can survive and thrive…

• But 50% of the top swimmers develop after Sophomore/Junior Year

in High School!

ENCOURAGE

• Dreams

• Process rather than outcome

goals

• Challenging but realistic goals

• Reinforcement of coach’s

emphasis

HELPING YOUR CHILD

AT PRACTICE

• Encourage “have fun, be a good

teammate, give your best today”.

• Encourage child to be self-reliant

• Interrupt practice ONLY in an

emergency

• Ask if he/she/they had fun or learned

anything new

• Listen to feelings your child expresses

• Signal or yell to your child

• Distract your child from the

coach

• Offer to fix equipment

• Speak to coach during

practice except in an

emergency

• Watch EVERY single practice

I LOVE TO WATCH YOU PLAY.

WHAT TO SAY/ASK AFTER A POOR SWIM

“What did the coach say?”

“Well, remember to work on that in practice with your coach.”

“I liked ____.” (your effort, your start, turn, stroke – SOMETHING

POSITIVE!)

“I am disappointed FOR you.” (not ‘in’ you or your performance).”

“That’s not like you. I’m sure you will do better next time.”

“At least you learned something, so that makes it a successful swim.”

“I love watching you race. I love you!”

“Be sure to drink lots of water.”

WHAT TO SAY/ASK AFTER A GOOD SWIM

“What did the coach say?”

“Well, remember to work on that in practice with your coach.”

“I liked ____.” (your effort, your start, turn, stroke – SOMETHING

POSITIVE!)

“I am disappointed FOR you.” (not ‘in’ you or your performance).”

“That’s not like you. I’m sure you will do better next time.”

“At least you learned something, so that makes it a successful swim.”

“I love watching you race. I love you!”

“Be sure to drink lots of water.”

REMEMBER,

SAN DIEGO IMPERIAL

SWIMPOSIUM PARENT

PRESENTATION

PART 2:

GROWTH &

DEVELOPMENT

WHY KIDS SWIM

1. Enjoy/Fun

2. Be With Friends

3. Fitness

4. Compete

5. Improve

6. Meet New People

SOURCES OF FUN

• Being with friends

• Getting in shape

• Coach encourages me

• Being known as a good swimmer

• Winning races

• Varied workouts

• Cheering for each other

• Coming togethers as a team

• Relays

• Improving

UNDERSTANDING GROWTH & DEVELOPMENT

• There is a predictable pattern of

physical growth but the rate of

growth varies.

• Biological age = Chronological

age +/- 3 years

• +/- 2.5”

• +/- 5 lbs

GENERAL GUIDELINES

Age Skills and Training Objective Commitment

7-9 Stroke technique, Aerobic Development,

kicking, fun, intro to dryland

2-3 x per week

30-45 minutes

9-11 Technique, Aerobic Development,

coordination, athleticism, all events,

kicking, swim practice skills, self-

management and independence, basic

dryland movements

2-4 x per week

45-90 minutes

Other sports

Low pressure

competition

Age Skills and Training Objective Commitment

11-14 Technique, Aerobic Endurance, all

strokes, all events, dryland (body

weight), low intensity intervals,

kicking, competition skills, 200 IM,

200/500 free

4-6 x per week

90-120 minutes

Year-round

Other sports, but

attendance

expectations

13-18 Technique, Aerobic Endurance,

core body conditioning, med balls

& free weights, training based,

anaerobic threshold & speed

development, 400 IM/mid distance

free

6-10 per week

90-120 minutes

Long Course

Commitment to

swimming

TECHNIQUE IS KING!

EARLY VS LATE MATURERS

EARLY:

• Receive significant early

success

• Receive excessive recognition

• Develop poor practice habits

• Become frustrated with

plateaus/less success later

EARLY VS LATE MATURERS

LATE

• Have a low perceived

competence level

• Can be discouraged by lack of

recognition

• Quit too soon

HOW OLD ARE THESE BOYS?

WHAT PERFORMANCE FACTORS DOES THIS INFLUENCE?

• Coordination

• Flexibility

• Reaction Time

• Balance

• Endurance

• Body Composition

• Self Esteem

• Strength

AVERAGE AGES TO ACHIEVE FIRST CUT

RESOURCES

• Talk to you coach

• Talk to other parents on your team who have gone through the process

• usaswimming.org/parents

• Changing the Game Project – John O’Sullivan

• Angela Duckworth – GRIT

• Mindset – Carol Dweck

• USADA.org (True Sport)

SAN DIEGO IMPERIAL

SWIMPOSIUM PARENT

PRESENTATION

PART 3:

NUTRITION

THE 24/7/365 ATHLETE

COMPETE IN THE KITCHEN

NUTRITION FOUNDATIONS

normal

sugar

level

THE BASICS

RECOVERY NUTRITION : 10-30 MIN

RECOVERY

Rehydrate with FLUIDS & ELECTROLYTES

Water or Sports Drinks (3 cups/pound lost)

Replenish muscle glycogen stores with CARBOHYDRATES

Fresh/Dried Fruit, Breads (w/Peanut Butter and/or Jelly), Sports Drinks/Bars

Repair & Regenerate muscle tissue with high quality PROTEIN

Dairy Products, Recovery Mix (w/whey, soy, casein protein)

Reinforce your immune system with ANTIOXIDANTS

Apples/Bananas/Oranges, Spinach, Carrots, Peppers

SAMPLE RECOVERY

FOODS

• Chocolate milk

• Sports drinks

• Turkey sandwich

• Trail mix (nuts/dried fruit)

• Meal replacement drinks

• Bagel with pbj

• Fresh fruit

• Homemade fruit smoothie

• Granola or breakfast bars

• Pita hummus

• Cheese & Apples

DEHYDRATION : THE FACTS

• Water delivers and flushes nutrients throughout the

body

• Even slight dehydration changes how the body works

• Increased heart rate and blood pressure

• Blood volume is reduced

• Focus and attitude are also affected

HOW MUCH & WHEN

PRACTICE:

>16oz of water 30-90 minutes before

4-8oz of water every 15 minutes during practice

DURING THE DAY

16-20 oz of water first thing in the morning

ELECTROLYTES 90+ MINUTES

STIMULANT DRINKS

CLEAN SPORT

SLEEP

HOW MUCH SLEEP?