1. LEAVE THE COACHING TO THE COACHES
The coaching staff wants every swimmer to become the best swimmer he or she can be. The Dynamo Swim Club has taken the responsibility of hiring coaches that have the swimmers best interests in mind. Please give them the respect and “space” they need to do their job effectively.
2. BE SUPPORTIVE OF THE COACHING STAFF
A good relationship between a swimmer and coach is imperative to positive results. When parents’ conflicting opinions interfere with this relationship, it makes the road a little rockier. If there are conflicts of opinion, please take it up with the coach at an appropriate time.
3. CODE OF SILENCE
When the coaches are in the process of running a practice, they ask that parents not speak with them or the swimmers, as this is disruptive to the practice session. Unless there is an emergency, please wait until the end of practice to strike up a conversation.
4. PARENTS AS SPECTATORS
As a parent of a swimmer, the best role you can play is #1 fan and supporter. Parents are more than welcome to watch their children practice but we do require that all parents stay off the deck unless there is an emergency.
5. ”WE ARE HERE TO SWIM”
Inappropriate behaviour from one swimmer detracts from the quality of practice for all other swimmers. We will ensure a safe training environment and do what we can to make swimming a good character developing activity. Please be responsible for your child’s behaviour before and after practice.
6. ENCOURAGE BUT DON’T PUSH
When swimmers hit a certain point in their swimming career, everything seems to come together. Coaches are alert to this and recognize it almost immediately. However, many of these sudden successes are merely stepping stones of a long path of work, swim, and more work. We encourage parents to be alert to age grouping conquest by not getting too over-excited or catching “Olympic Dramatis” every time your swimmer wins. Support and encourage your swimmer, but don’t emphasize that Olympic goal too prematurely.
7. PLATEAUS
Swimmers are often observed to improve steadily for a period of time and then reach a point where improvement in performance does not come as easily as it once did. Coaches refer to this as “hitting a plateau”. This is usually not an easy time for a swimmer, but with patience, motivation, encouragement, rest periods, etc., the swimmer seems to bounce back when they are good and ready. This happens to swimmers often and coaches recognize this, shrug it off and wait for a better day.
8. ”A DIAMOND IS A HUNK OF COAL THAT STUCK WITH IT”
Many of today’s elite swimmers didn’t start out that way. At the very beginning, many of them didn’t show much potential. However, after years of training, dedication and hard work they grew to become the elite swimmers they are today. Often swimmers who rise too quickly face more hardships than those swimmers who progress steadily. Many things in life take time and swimming is no exception.
9. “GROW WITH THE PROGRAM”
Our program is structured to provide for swimmers of varying levels of ability and effort. The degree of attention, time and financial commitment grows for swimmers as they near the top levels of training with the club. Because of their accomplishments, they demand more coaching time, need more counselling and require more training hours. We cannot expect a beginner to endure what senior level swimmers do. As each swimmer improves, he/she will be entitled to more.
10. HARD WORK IS ITS OWN REWARD
With the Dynamo Swim Club, our swimmers get a healthy dose of training. We will praise honest efforts and good sportsmanship. We ask a lot of our swimmers and expect them to make sacrifices and show the desire necessary to continually improve and become the best they can be.
