Buffalo Boy's Blog

This weekend is our home meet and one of the most frustrating things as a coach is when parents feel as if they have to second guess or worse yet, down right tell you how to coach.

I have been involved in competitive swimming as a swimmer for 10+ years and as a coach now going on 8 years. Today, I was totally disrespected by not only a parent but also by a fellow coach on our club.

We were putting together relays and generally the fastest kids go into relays. Makes sense right? As a coach I am responsible for putting together the fastest group of kids to put them in the best possible place to succeed.

Well I did that, we discussed three relays, requiring 12 swimmers. Well as it turned out, 2 of my kids were not present which did not allow for the three relays. So one relay had to be taken out.

Most of you would agree as did our senior coach on the club with me that you swim your two fastest relays and the other kids will have to wait for their day. Well that didn't happen.

Instead, in front of multiple coaches and officials from other clubs and our senior age group coach (who by the way was on my side) the parent and the other coach on our club who coaches the group under mine made a scene on deck. Yelling in front of other coaches that this meet is fun and we should let the slower kids swim.

I had already changed our relays once and was not planning on doing it again. I argued the fact that the relays we had in place were our two best relays. Instead I was put down for that and was told that these kids were crying because they were left out.

I stated that they should have to earn their spot in the relay. Myself and every other coach worth their weight, puts kids in based on who has the fastest 50 freestyles. You don't make the cut you don't swim the relay. So I sat there embarassed for them making the scene and for myself that I was being so disrespected.

I have a level 4 certification throught the American Swim Coaches Association and here I am being talked to like I have no idea what Im doing.

So, I looked at them after their outburst and said fine, you change it, Im not dealing with it, and by they way, let the kids who deserve the spots know why you are changing it.

I had it in me to up and leave for the day at that point but I didn't for not wanting to let my kids down. A word of advice to any parents out there, let the coaches do the coaching. Kids need to learn that in any competitive sport they have to earn what they get and sometimes what is best for the team is what has to be done.

So for the rest of the day, when ever I got the chance myself and our seniors coach sat there and said oops a disqualification? oh well its all about the fun! who cares. (joking of course, but just within ear shot of the two who questioned me).

This meet while yes a very fun meet and kids do have to have fun, counts for Niagara District Championships. I am a true believer that if you are not there to better yourself, you should go home. I want to have fun with my swimmers as much as anyone in our club, but I also expect results and for them to focus on what they are doing, otherwise the time and effort that myself and they put into it is a waste of time.