GOLDBERGE SPEAKS
At a recent coaches conference we had the pleasure of listening to
Sports Psychologist Doctor Goldberge
He pointed out some interesting facts about coaching, parenting, and swimming.
Swimmers:
If swimming is like playing instead of like work, you will swim faster, and you will have a good time.
Don’t focus on beating other people, focus on improving yourself. You should be your biggest competitor.
If you want to be fast and do well, remember that it starts and ends in practice. If you work hard in practice then you
can do well and have fun at meets.
Parents:
Making the sport about rewards is a sure way to make it into a job. Small random rewards are ok but should come as
a surprise and not be the sole motivation of the swimmer to do well.
Parents should be supportive and not coach but
parent.
This means be supportive and loving of your children no matter what the outcome.
Don’t be focused on your child’s times or abilities. Let the coaches push for speed and technique while you support
and encourage them,
Having fun and enjoying swimming is key to your child’s success. Don’t turn swimming into an addition to school.
At meets especially, its better to talk about other things than to stress the children out about what they are about to
swim. They will stress themselves out plenty, even without help.
Coaches:
Help set goals for swimmers.
Push swimmers in practice but allow them to enjoy their time in swimming.
In coaching, like parenting, it’s better to teach by example and smiles. We all do better when we smile.
“Did you bring your smile today?”
So with this advice go out and have fun. We are all working together for success, and in order to do so we are
having fun.
NUTRITION
Recently it has come to our attention that some of the swimmers are hungry during practice. While difficult to
manage meals and play it is vital to swimmers to have healthy nutrition. Think how hungry you are after going
to a pool or beach toswim, and that is just to play! Swimming uses lots of energy and swimmers need to eat
lots of healthy food to be able to perform. A myth that is often believed is that no one should ever eat before
they swim by at least half an hour. While it is true that eating a large meal right before you swim may not
be good for you, it is good to eat small healthy snacks. At swim meets and during or before practice are
excellent times to have these snacks. Some healthy snacks include: vegetables,fruit, crackers
(such as wheat thins or other healthy kinds), small amount of cheese, and anything else that is healthy
and will provide good energy for swimming. Water is also avital thing to bring to practice; dehydration,
especially during the summer, can slow swimmers down. Even though there is
water, water, everywhere, swimmers are still working out and need something to drink.
So eat healthy, swim fast, and have fun!