Parent / Swimmer Education
The following are articles that have been pulled from various competitive swimming sources. Many of these articles have been written and composed by some of the top professionals in the sport of competitive swimming, nutritionists, and various medical professionals. The Paducah Swim Team coaching staff encourages all parents and swimmers to reference this section on a monthly basis in order further the career of all PST swimmers. We will be posting articles on everything from nutrition to the mental aspect of swimming. If there is a topic you would like researched and posted please email Coach Greg at coachgreg@gmail.com . In addition you can visit the USA Swimming website for even more things to learn.   (SWIMMERS)  (PARENTS)
Articles	What to expect at swim Meets USA swim meets can be a great experience for both the swimmer and the family members. The swimmers especially like to attend the out-of-town meets because it is a fun time to be with family and friends. This article will give you some tips in advance to make your experience in your first meet even better.     (read more)
What to expect at swim Meets Importance of Self Confidence Nutrition Quick Tips The Parent/Athlete Relationship Fluids - Water vs Sports Drink Watching your Child at practice The Dark Side to Pride That is not it Real World Feedback	Importance of Self Confidence Have you said (or thought) any of the following in the past few months??? "I can’t do it," "They are much faster than me. I’ll come last," "I’m hopeless," "It’s just too hard."  You are not alone... (read more)
	Nutrition Quick Tips What should my child eat before practice? At meets? The best pre-practice, or pre-meet meal should contain primarily carbohydrates... (read more)
	The Parent/Athlete Relationship Competitive swimming programs provide many benefits to young athletes including selfdiscipline, good sportsmanship, and time management skills. As a parent, your major responsibility is to provide a stable, loving and supportive environment... (read more)
	Fluids - Water vs Sports Drink There are 2 reasons to drink fluids: (1) to stay hydrated, and (2) to provide the body with fuel. Regardless of age or length of workout, all swimmers need fluids during practice to stay hydrated... (read more)
	Watching Your Child at Swim Lessons or Swim Practice For over four years I watched my daughter swim under the direction of other coaches. I have also watched her at basketball practice and games, and dance, and figure skating.  I know the joy of watching her in these activities.  I also know and understand the overwhelming desire to direct.... (read more)
	The Dark Side to Pride So, what does this have to do with being a good swim parent? The point of my article is simply that too many of our finest young swimmers are being driven out of the sport by parents who mean well but push too hard. These parents are being seduced by the "Dark Side of the Force" -- uncontrolled parental pride. Some parents seem to forget that they're not in the water swimming the race... (read more)
	That is not it Last week, we had a Mom come to us and “inform us” that her 13-year-old aughter would be gone for two weeks vacation in late June, maybe another week after that. Her daughter was not much of an age-group swimmer, but she has some endurance capacity and comes regularly to workout at 5:30am and again at 5:30pm daily. She works hard, demonstrates little talent, but lots of determination. Her mother is not athletic and clearly does not value athletics. We expressed our dismay that she’d be missing for 2-3 weeks in the middle of the most important training of the summer. Her mother’s response... (read more)
	Real World Feedback I was thrilled to find the following article in USA Today on February 16. It validates one of the things I have been telling both parents and their athletes for decades now. Which is, that one of the things you will gain from swimming is a realistic view of your strengths and weaknesses in the world. And that you’ll grow strong in your conviction that you can overcome difficulties... (read more)