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"YOUR
ATHLETE NEEDS YOU"
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Compiled by Late Shri Sandeep Divgikar
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It is
so easy to be a good age group parent for your athlete. Simply remember
that what the child needs is a parent. He has a coach, he has teammates,
and he has buddies. What he needs from you, is to be his parent and love
the dickens out of his imperfect little self !!
You can communicate and reinforce appropriate sports philosophy for your
child. At various ages, different amounts of interpretation is necessary.
Be sure that you and the coach are communicating and interpreting in the
same way, or you will have one confused child!
Let's look at this as a child might explain some philosophy to a set of
parents.
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| "Dear
Mummy and Daddy", |
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"Realise
that swimming is just one thing I do". I also study, spend time with
my friends, my family, (my boy - or girlfriend), play another sport, and
need some time to just 'goof around'. I'm not necessarily ready to be labelled
"a swimmer". |
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"Realise
that I am not perfect. I am like a rose, perfect in every stage, from bud
to flower, but not the same all the time. I am in a constantly developing
state. Appreciate the development (the process) … not the final product." |
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"
"Realise that I am not my swim. I am ME. My swim is just something
I did well or not-so-well. I need appreciation for me, not a swim. Some
days I will swim well, but be a pain in the butt. Other days, I will swim
awfully, but be a super person to be around! Which one do you want to reinforce?" |
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"Realise that I am still a young one … and don't see things with
the perspective that you do … and one of the things I need the most
help with is seeing clearly who I am. Coach says I need work in my Self-Image. |
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"Realise that I need to balance my goals. Hard enough to be a challenge,
but achievable in the near future." |
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"Realise that they are my goals, not yours. I can't commit myself to
your goals. I can commit myself to what I want and think I can do. I do
the work, so I set my own goals. |
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"But most of all, Mummy and Daddy, realise that I am swimming because
in some way, it is FUN FOR ME." |
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Sincerely,
Your Son Or Daughter who swims.
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