Parent/Guardian Responsibilities

Parent/Guardian Responsibilities

To have a successful program there must be understanding and cooperation among parents/guardians, swimmers, and coaches. The progress your swimmer makes depends on these relationships. It is human nature, however, for a parent/guardian to lose some of their ability to remain objective in matters concerning their children. The following guidelines will help you keep perspective and allow your child to reach their full potential.

1. The greatest contribution you can make to your swimmers progress is to be a loving, supportive parent/guardian. We have reprinted The Ten Commandments for Parents of Athletic Children in this handbook; please take the time to read it as it provides very useful and sound advice.
2. Please read and familiarize yourself with the Terms and Conditions for Participation on the Wahoo Swim Team, which needs to be signed upon registering your swimmer.
3. A large percentage of our funds needed to run this team is generated from hosting meets here at our YMCA. One of the commitments you are making when you join the swim team is to assist as needed for all swim meets. We expect that you will volunteer your time during our home and away meets as needed. At away meets we will be asked to supply a certain number of volunteers for timing.
4. Please make every effort to have swimmers on time for practices and swim meets. Warm ups are a very important part of both workouts and races.
5. We expect all swimmers to attend all dual meets, if able. If a swimmer becomes ill please be sure to notify Coach Maruti as soon as possible. Swimmers should sign up for any dual meets on the team website by the Wednesday leading up to the meet. This will give the coaches ample time to select their events. If your swimmer chooses to compete in an invitational meet, please make sure they are registered by the entry deadline. Any meet fees associated with invitational meets will be charged to your credit card on file with the Newport County YMCA.
6. A strong relationship between swimmer and coach is very important and produces the best results. When a parent/guardian interferes with opinions on how the swimmer should swim or train, it causes considerable confusion as to whom the swimmer should listen. If you have any concerns regarding coaching or training, please contact Coach Maruti directly.
7. The coach’s job is to teach competitive swimming techniques, motivate, and constructively adjust swimmers performance. Your job as parents/guardians is to support, love, and encourage your children to do their best. Both of our jobs are equally important for a successful swim season.
8. Because 10 and unders are learning how to move their bodies in new and different ways, they tend to have a slower learning curve than older athletes. This is normal! Please have patience and continue to motivate them. At some point, they will “get it.” Patience will allow them to learn to LOVE the sport and minimize swimmer frustration. When we modify a child's stroke, they may see periods of slower swim times. This is also normal in the progression of the sport. Please don’t worry.
9. As a swimmer, it is impossible to achieve your personal best every time you swim. The best athletes in the world add time or plateau during the season. Simply continue to support and love and all will be fine.
10. When a swimmer “ages-up” to the next age group, they can be overwhelmed by the increase in the distances races are. They may be going from coming in the top every race to near or at the bottom. This is also a normal transgression within the sport. As coaches, we will prepare all of our athletes for the distances they will encounter.

Problem with a Coach?

One of the most common swim team communication gaps is that some parents/guardians seem to feel more comfortable discussing their disagreements over coaching philosophy with other parents rather than taking them directly to the Head Coach. Not only will the problem never be resolved, but also new problems can arise. Here are some ways for parents to raise concerns with a coach:

1. Remember that both you as well as the coaching staff have your child's best interest in mind. The coach’s approach may differ from yours. The important thing is to maintain an open and constructive line of communication with Coach Maruti. Please ask questions if you have them.
2. Keep in mind that the coach must balance what is best for your child with the needs of the rest of the team or training group.
3. If your child swims for an assistant coach, please discuss any and all concerns with Coach Maruti, so that he can make any necessary adjustments.
4. If another parent comes to you with any complaints about the coach’s performance or policies, feel free to listen, but encourage them to speak directly to Coach Maruti. This is the only way to resolve the problem. Please do NOT add your opinion to what they are discussing, as this does NOT help solve the problem at hand.