sahm99 Posted May 12, 2012 Share Posted May 12, 2012 Our older three (12/10/8) are involved in competitive swimming. Ds is good (improving remarkably as time passes), the girls are very, very, very good (at the top in our "smallish country";)). If it was for them, they would be in the pool every day. I have always insisted on them doing other activities, besides swimming, but we are coming to a point where I am wondering how much longer to keep going... They will all keep up their instrument, that is non-negotionable. But I am wondering about ballet (for the girls, once a week) and judo (all three, once to twice a week). I find it regrettable, to "specialize" at their age, and am not sure if I feel comfortable having their whole free time revolve around one activity. On the other hand, that is exactly what they enjoy... They do like judo and dance, but if given a choice, they would rather opt for more time in the water. How, and when, do you decide to jump in both feet into an activity or hobby for your child, to the point of almost exclusivity? My kids are dreaming of the 2020 Olympics...while I want to make sure we keep an equilibrium...:tongue_smilie: Btw, for the time being the girls are training 4 times 2+ hours. Ds is training 5 times 2+ hours. We will soon need to make a decision about next year... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChristyB in TN Posted May 12, 2012 Share Posted May 12, 2012 We did it when mine were younger. My oldest ds (now in college) swam 2 1/2 hours a day, 6 days a week and when he was 15 he started the 2 x a day practices. It was hard for all of us and consumed all of our free time. He was at the top of his game and it gave him so much! He was able to own the "athlete" identity that was so important to him. During a high school state championship meet I watched him get out of the pool rubbing his shoulder and with a terrible, painful look on his face. I took him to a specialist and the news broke my heart. Tendons were tearing away from bone, tears in muscle, etc. He decided against surgery and to take a break from swimming to see what it felt like to NOT swim. His sister was a fantastic swimmer, she didn't want to do it anymore, either. Suddenly, we had so much free time!!!! I am so happy we did it and that we dedicated so much to it. My kids are still athletic and now run distance. Swimming gave them a lot of confidence and the understanding of how to work hard toward a goal. They know what if feels like to work hard and lose and to work hard and win. They feel it was a significant part of their childhood and they are very proud of it. They are also happy not to be getting up for 2xday practices all summer!!!!:D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LMA Posted May 12, 2012 Share Posted May 12, 2012 You have to be careful with wearing out the body. Doing other activities keeps the body in balance. Every athlete also does "off-field" training and other activities such as ballet can be considered such. There are gymnasts I know who are candidates for knee replacements from over-training. My friend's son only did baseball year round as a pitcher. At 15 he had rotator cuff surgery and pins in one elbow and both wrists. He no other off-field activities. He was devastated as the injuries ended his dreams of professional baseball. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hillfarm Posted May 12, 2012 Share Posted May 12, 2012 Would it help any to travel to a moderately distant city and observe the practices of other swim teams - to see first hand that there are many very, very good swimmers? It can be a tremendous boost and motivator to be a big fish in a small pond, but I think they also need to have information about just how tough it is in the quite large pond that leads to the Olympics. As a parent, as long as you were pleasd with the morals and character traits that your dc are learning in swimming, I think it would be fine to continue it. However, if it reached a point where everyone else in the family was going to have to make huge sacrifices to support one or two members, I would draw the line there. It's one thing to sacrifice one's own life for a goal. It is entirely another matter to ask others to sacrifice their lives for a goal not even their own. (I am talking about an all-encompassing, long term sacrifice here, not giving up one weekend here or there.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snickelfritz Posted May 12, 2012 Share Posted May 12, 2012 Ours is soccer. We make case-by-case decisions on extra activities. I do think that cross training and keeping other interests is important, but we don't have time for more big commitments. They both cheer (non-competitive and for coaches who also have soccer girls.). The girls keep a list of things they want to try over the summer, when the soccer schedule is lighter. One is trying ice skating and one is trying horseback riding. Each time they try something, they keep coming back to soccer. In your specific case, I would be tempted to drop the dance and let them fit in Judo classes, as your schedule allows. With them all swimming and doing Judo, your schedule might be a little easier. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MamaT Posted May 12, 2012 Share Posted May 12, 2012 We had to stop everything else when training hours made it impossible. My 12yo dd trains at least 24 hours a week as a level 10 gymnast. It it all-consuming for her. I probably would never have started gymnastics if I knew how good she was going to be. Sounds terrible, I know. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Desert Rat Posted May 12, 2012 Share Posted May 12, 2012 My dh has an age for you. He thinks 14 is the age to start specializing. That's when he did, but he still had 2 sports- soccer and swimming. At that point his family lived close enough to the school that he took care of getting to all his practices. His mom still made it to every game, though. I'm amazed! She had 4 kids, plus steps. He does agree that if you swim, you start to look very top-heavy. It's why he liked soccer, too. He was much more balanced. FWIW, he still does play soccer once a week and he's 38. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clementine Posted May 12, 2012 Share Posted May 12, 2012 We had to have our kids make their choice of ONE sport when practice times overlapped each other. As soon as they could no longer make all practices on time and not leave early for another sport's practice or game/meet, they had to choose. It's tough. One of mine took 3 months to make the final decision. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DianeW88 Posted May 12, 2012 Share Posted May 12, 2012 We did it with my dd and ballet starting at age 11. That's all she did and she did it all the time. It paid off for her, so I don't regret it. Some kids just have an exceptional talent mixed with drive and passion, and I believe, as a parent, you need to do all you can to support that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Debbie in OR Posted May 12, 2012 Share Posted May 12, 2012 My ds 13 is a competitive freestyle skier and soccer player. He has been skiing since age 3; soccer since age 6. This spring soccer season was the first time he has ever complained about soccer games because they are on Saturday when the mountain still has snow on it :). So we decided, mutually, that this clarified what his passion is and will be dropping soccer (well, spring soccer...he will still do fall soccer as it doesn't interfere). I agree with a pp that waiting until around 13/14 is a good time to see where their real passion lies and then focus on that. If that is what they were created to do and what their sphere of influence will be in, then i don't see any reason to not put the lion's share of their energy there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sahm99 Posted May 12, 2012 Author Share Posted May 12, 2012 Thank you for your replies - I share your opinion! At our kids' club they can come to practice between 4 and 7 times (6 for the girls) per week. All three kids would love to go to every single of these offered trainings, which would then pretty much exclude any other physical activity. Alternatively, I could put a limit on the number of swim trainings to leave a day or two for ballet and/or judo... (just like I did this year) The coach is fine with any decision we take - obviously he shares the kids' view of "the more the better".:tongue_smilie: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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