What type of parent are you? Parents of swimmers
I believe that the parents of swimmers are really wonderful. They sacrifice, they encourage, they cheer in the stands doing everything they can to give help where needed. So let's look at the different ones types of parents who tirelessly stand outside the pools supporting the little swimmers.
The loud parent
Have you heard that parent yelling into the stands encouraging and giving instructions? You would recognize him by his voice, from the moment he even pulls into the swimming pool parking lot. He can't stop shouting: "Come on!", "Let's go!", "Louder!", "strong".
The pacing parent
This type of parent cannot stand still for a moment. Outside the pool he paces alongside the child while he swims. When he is in the seats he sometimes sits, sometimes stands up, and very often goes up and down the stairs.
The organizer
If you want to know the time for anything swimming, ask this type of parent. He can time, register members, and note down orders for team uniforms at the same time, while having a quick chat with you.
The anxious parent
He is always there at least 1 hour before the meetings start, waiting impatiently and anxiously looking at the boards until his child's name is announced.
The invisible parent
He's the parent you've never seen, not in practice, not in a meeting. He is always very busy and his children usually move around with the parents of other children.
The parent coach
You will notice this type of parent before or after every match talking to his child about breathing, technique, etc. He knows everything about the sport and is the only one who knows how the child will have the desired success.
The dissatisfied parent
He grumbles even at successes. His expectations are so high, his child can never make him smile.
The comparing parent
He has memorized his child's times and constantly compares them to the times of other children in the group, or to the times of swimmers from other years, which he also remembers in minute detail.
The parent reader
He constantly has his face hidden behind a book. He will ignore you if you try to open a conversation with him. His body language says, "Stay away."
The laughing parent
This type of parent has a great time accompanying their child to the pool. He is always the soul of the group that forms and you can hear his laughter from far away. Next to him, you will definitely be filled with positive energy.
The parent is a former athlete or coach in the sport their child follows.
Things get a little difficult there.
It is the parent who unquestionably knows the subject, has a perception of what his child really assimilates or not during his lesson with the coach.
There, on the one hand, the parent should avoid the entanglements and mistakes of the parent who compares, who walks, the unsatisfied, the stressed..., on the other hand, the coach should deal with his work and planning in a highly professional manner in order to facilitate the psychology and limit the reactions of this kind of parent…
Difficult but not impossible
Saltamanikas Nikolas
TEFAA graduate
Specialty Swimming
Coach for many years in well-known Nautical Clubs in all swimming categories
nikos.saltamanikas@gmail.com
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