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| Supporting your Athlete |
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The VAC swimming program provides many benefits to young athletes including self-discipline, good sportsmanship, and time management skills. Competition allows the swimmer to experience success and to learn how to treat success and failure as two sides of the same coin, while becoming healthy and physically fit.
As a parent, your major responsibility is to provide a stable, loving and supportive environment. This positive environment will encourage your child to continue. Show your interest by ensuring your child's attendance at practices, by coming to swimming meets and volunteering for your club at swim meets, or by participating in fundraising, etc.
Parents contribute to the success experienced by the child and the team. Parents serve as role models and their children emulate their attitudes. Be aware of this and strive to be positive role models. Most importantly, show good sportsmanship toward coaches, officials, opponents and teammates. Remember that you are teaching your child at all times.
Be Enthusiastic and Supportive!
Learning about oneself while enjoying the sport is the most important part of the swimming experience. The swimming environment encourages learning and fun, which will help your child develop a positive self-image.
Remember that your child is the swimmer. Children need to learn to establish their own goals, and make their own progress towards them.
Be careful to steer away from over burdening your child with winning or achieving best times - or imposing your own standards and goals. Let them know that first they are the child you love, and second, a swimmer. It is important that your swimmer knows that your love is unconditional whether they swim well or not, and ask only that they give their best effort.
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