Part One:
I can't remember exactly when, but I heard our USA Swimming National Team Director speak at a conference about the stages swimmers go through during their careers. As I've coached over the years, I found what he said to be quite true.
Phase One: 10 & Unders
The 10 & under swimmers are the ones that swim for Mum & Dad. After a race the first person they want to see is M&D. They want to please them and want them to support their efforts.
This is very important in their development. Parents must be aware that everything you say to them about their performance sticks with them a life time. From my point of view, its interesting asking the Senior level swimmers about their 10 & Under experiences. Most don't talk about winning, etc. they talk about Mum & Dad and what was said to them in the car, or at the dinner table. I'm happy to say it is mostly positive :)
As a Coach the 10 & Unders are probably the most challenging (and most FUN). They often do great things in practice, perfect strokes, perfect turns, but when they get in a competition, that ALL goes! There minds are made up that I'm going to get to the other end of the pool as fast as I can. I don't care what it looks like.
10 & Unders MUST be "taught", coached a little and "not trained". I have often thought that we should call the coach a teacher, because that is their role. We do that in our swim school.
10 & Unders need the basics, a solid foundation of technique in all strokes, turns and starts. They need to have a FUN! learning atmosphere in which to accomplish these goals.
Every year the RAYS staff evaluate and adjust our athlete development plan. During the summer months we will be doing the same and changes will be made to help us stay Georgia's Finest Swim Team.
