Your Role as Parents

Competitive swimming programs provide many benefits to young athletes, including self-discipline, good sportsmanship, and time management skills.  Competition allows the swimmer to experience success and to learn how to deal with defeat, while becoming healthy and physically fit.  As a parent, your major responsibility is to provide a stable, loving and supportive environment.  This positive environment will encourage your child to continue.  Show your interest by ensuring your child's attendance at practices, and by coming to swimming meets.

Parents are not participants on their child's team, but contribute to the success experienced by the child and the team.  Parents serve as role models and their children often emulate their attitudes.  Be aware of this and strive to be positive models.  Most importantly, show good sportsmanship at all times toward coaches, officials, opponents and teammates.

USA Swimming is a non-profit organization made up of very dedicated volunteers.  Interested parents donate their time, energy and expertise at every level from local swimming clubs to the national Board of Directors.  Your role as a volunteer is important to our sport.  You can be actively involved in your child's swimming program and can also be instrumental in strengthening swimming in the United States.  With a positive attitude and a willingness to lend a hand, you will also have a great impact on your child's athletic environment, and love of swimming.  If you are interested in becoming a volunteer, talk to your coach and/or president of the Iowa City Eels (ICE) Board.

Be enthusiastic and supportive

Remember that your child is the swimmer.  Children need to establish their own goals, and make their own progress towards them.  Be careful not to impose your own standards and goals.  Do not over burden your child with winning or achieving best times.  Learning about oneself while enjoying the sport is the most important part of the swimming experience.  The swimming environment encourages learning and fun, which will help your child develop a positive self-image.

Let the Coach, coach

The best way to help your child achieve goals and reduce the natural fear of failure is through positive reinforcement.  No one likes to make a mistake.  If your child does make one, remember that this is a learning experience.  Encourage your child's efforts and point out the positive things.  The coach is the only one qualified to judge a swimmer's performance and technique.  Your role is to provide support.

Are You a Pressure Parent?

The following survey has been taken from the Amateur Swimming Association of Great Britain.  If you answer yes to one or more of these questions, you may be in danger of pressuring your child.  It is important to remember that the parents' role is critical and should be supportive at all times to ensure a positive experience for your child.

1.      Is winning more important to you than it is to your child?

2.       When your child has a poor swim, is your disappointment obvious?

3.       Do you feel that you have to "psyche" your child up before competition?

4.       Do you feel that winning is the only way your child can enjoy the sport?

5.      Do you conduct "post mortems" immediately after competition or practice?

6.       Do you feel that you have to force your child to go to practice?

7.       Do you find yourself wanting to interfere during practice or competition thinking that you could do better?

8.       Do you find yourself disliking your child's opponents?

9.       Are your child's goals more important to you than they are to your child?