Parents Meeting

John began swimming on recreation swim league teams in the summer of 1989 when he was turning 5 years old. He began year-round swimming with the Dynamo Swim Club in the fall of 1995 when he was entering the fifth grade.

At the beginning of each year the Dynamo coach would have a meeting with the parents. The purpose of the meeting was to teach new parents, and remind old parents, of their responsibilities. We were reminded that the parent’s responsibility was to pay the club dues, to give their swimmer unwavering support, and to stay out of the way. The coach’s responsibility was to coach. By John’s eighth year with Dynamo I think I had the spiel memorized.

This sounds quite simple, but there were all too many parents who thought they were coaches and/or did a poor job of paying their dues; thus the need for an annual meeting with the parents. If the parents could just listen and follow the advice of the professional coaches, the parents and their swimmer would be oh so ever happier.

We were told never to judge our son’s races. We were to ask him how it went and let him judge himself. It was possible to win a race, but be unhappy with the time. It was possible to set a personal record, but be displeased because it was slower than expected. It was also possible to swim a slow time and yet be proud of it because of the heavy training load preceding the race and lack of rest. It was possible to finish last, but be proud of a great time. John was swimming to meet his own expectations; he did not need the additional burden of our expectations as well.

Somehow we knew most of this before joining the Dynamo Swim Club. I think we knew it from Ann and John’s participation on the rec league team at Hanarry West the previous six years. The parents at Hanarry West were excellent role models for us. They were all so very positive and supportive of their kids. Winning wasn’t as important as having fun. Improved times at any stroke or distance was a cause for celebration. The team won plenty of swim meets, but nobody seriously cared.