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Positive Parenting

Being positive to support your child is critical to their development while swimming. Positive parenting includes

Being positive to support your child is critical to their development while swimming. Positive parenting includes

  • Your child needs your emotional, physical, and financial support. Be liberal in providing this support.
  • Support but do not push your child.
  • Be realistic in terms of expectations; factor in age and skill level; be aware of your child’s perception of your expectations.
  • Emphasise performance and effort, not just outcome. The athlete only has control over his/her performance. Define and measure success as giving maximal effort and as personal improvement.
  • Keep winning in perspective.
  • Do not bribe.
  • Give plenty of encouraging and rewarding statements. Criticize sparingly.
  • View swimming as an arena in which to teach your child about commitment, hard work and discipline.
  • Work to form an effective Coach-Athlete-Parent Triangle.