Err on the side of FUN

We coaches come to practice with the goal that swimmers learn something, and we tend to talk too much in our attempt to teach.  However, with young swimmers especially, we should remember that if we err on the side of practice being more "fun", the kids will return, and we will get another chance to teach them some more.  Less talking, more doing.  That's my goal this season.

About 8 years ago, a high school girl complained to me "Swimming isn't any fun. All you want to do is win."  First of all, she said this when I caught her hiding in the locker room when she should have been at morning practice.  Second, it has never been true that all I cared about was winning.  (And third, this swimmer has since matured and would probably be appalled at herself if she heard this story again.)

Actually, winning IS fun.  And so is trying your best and improving and learning.  And doing it with your friends on a team.  And getting in shape.  And doing different things every day.  The USA Swimming Parent Swimposium presentation at the November HOD (see the link to this off the landerswimclub.org website) has a list of what kids say makes swimming fun for them:

• Being with friends
• Coach compliments and encourages me
• Being known as a good swimmer
• Winning races
• Getting in shape
• Varied workouts
• Relays where team comes together
• Feelings of accomplishment
• Cheering for each other/coming together as a team
• Trying to improve my times; Being on a team

Often, when kids leave swimming, they return to it later.  We want kids to get the fundamentals of swimming, and we also want them to experience a wide range of physical and athletic activities, from dance and gymnastics to baseball, soccer, football, basketball, wrestling, skiing, volleyball, track, rodeo, music, drama, scouts, camping, bowling... so many other choices to explore!  So often, we see kids who swam with us when they were young, go off to do other things, and then come back to swimming successfully in middle school and high school.

Here's another interesting list from the symposium presentation.  We can do our best to make things fun, and kids and families may still choose other activities.

Why Kids Quit?
1. Takes Too Much Time 18%
2. Coach Was Negative 15%
3. Enjoy Other Activities More 15%
4. Swimming Was Boring 9%
5. Lack Of Fun 8%
6. Parents’ Emphasis On Winning 6%