Redbacks Splash - 21st October 2008
Welcome to the first edtion of Redbacks Splash for this season.
It was great to see so many families returning this year and a big welcome to all the new families that have joined us this season.
The newsletter will contain informative articles for parents‚ tips for our swimmers‚ club news and information about upcoming carnivals.
As you are aware we cancelled last week's club night due to an approaching thunder storm. Under the rules of Queensland Swimming, we must cancel any swimming event if there is any lightning. Because it was only our second night we have decided to run last week's races INSTEAD of the ones scheduled for this week. So this Wednesday's club night will be the four sprint races(either 25m or 50m) in the four strokes, INSTEAD of the 2 sprint races and distance freestyle that was scheduled for 22nd October. This allows all swimmers to have established their sprint times (especially new swimmers).
Thank you to everyone for assisting us by registering BEFORE 6.20pm. In order for us to start on time (and finish on time), NO swimmers will be registered after 6.25pm.
Upcoming Carnivals
More information on upcoming carnivals and nomination forms can be found on our website.
Zoggs Brisbane Long Course Meet
This meet is on the 8–9 November 2008 at Chandler. Nominations to Amanda by Wednesday 22nd October 2008. PLEASE NOTE: This is an A-Grade meet. It is for our older more experienced swimmers. Our club can be fined if your child races at this meet and doesn’t swim at least the qualify time. ALSO – 12 years and under usually only means 10,11,12 year olds. Younger ones can swim but it is unlikely they will meet the qualify time.
Birkdale Breakers annual sprints
This meet is on the 2nd November 2008. Nominations closed.
Acacia Bayside
This meet is on the 22nd November 2008. Nominations to be submitted to Amanda by Tuesday 11th November 2008.
2008 Zoggs Queensland Championships
This meet is on the 13-19 December 2008. PLEASE NOTE: This is an A-Grade meet, 11yrs to open, 9/10 yrs relay only, strict qualifying times exist. It is for our older more experienced swimmers. Our club can be fined if your child races at this meet and doesn’t swim at least the qualify time. Nominations to be submitted to Amanda by Tuesday 18th November 2008.
'a bunch of fives'
Preparation is everything
5 tips for better results:
- Complete all your sets in training
- Do every start and turn in training like you would in a race
- Think about good stroke technique in training‚ so it comes naturally in a race
- Eat good food so your body has the right fuel to cope with training and perform in races
- Drink plenty of water always
Quote of the week
“Obstacles don’t have to stop you. If you run into a wall, don’t turn around and give up. Figure out how to climb it, go through it, or work around it.”
MATTHEW COWDREY (PARALYMPIC SWIMMING CHAMPION)
Meet Our Sponsors
The Ormiston Redbacks would like to thank the following businesses for their sponsorship of the club.
The survival of the club depends on our sponsors‚ so please support them when the opportunity arises.
Gold Medal Sponsors
Elders Cleveland
Silver Medal Sponsors
Colville Johnstone
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Bartley Burns
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Grandview Hotel
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POSITIVE PARENTING TIPS
(taken from Go Swim parent handbook‚ produced by Swimming Australia)
You can help your child enjoy swimming by:
- DEVELOPING AN "ATHLETES FIRST‚ WINNING SECOND" PERSPECTIVE
- BUILDING YOUR CHILD'S SELF-ESTEEM
- LETTING THE COACH‚ COACH
- HELPING AND ENCOURAGING YOUR CHILD IN SETTING REALISTIC GOALS
Developing an "Athletes first‚ winning second" perspective
Every decision parents make in supporting and directing their child in sport should be based on what is best for the child first and what may help the child win second. This perspective of athletes first‚ winning second can help some children achieve more than they would if they were consumed with the idea of winning. An obsession with winning can create a fear of failure‚ which may result in less than average performance and an upset child.
Building your child's self esteem
As a parent‚ you are one of the main influences in your child's life‚ and one of your most important roles is to build their self-esteem. A child with good self-esteem is more likely to be proud of their personal accomplishments‚ accept challenges and new tasks and also‚ help others. On the other hand‚ children who find their confidence through winning can go through some very hard times when they lose.
It is important that your child knows they can be successful without winning.
If your child is aiming to beat their personal best (PB) for a certain race‚ and they accomplish that‚ then they are successful regardless of what place they finish in.
As long as your child puts in their best effort‚ make them feel like a winner!
Let the Coach‚ coach
It is the coach's job to offer a child constructive criticism on their swimming. The parent's role is to support‚ encourage and recognise their child's efforts. If a parent attempts to coach their child‚ the child may get confused with conflicting information‚ and their coach may be unimpressed. It is equally important to never undermine the coach in front of the athlete‚ as this can be extremely harmful to the coach and athlete relationship‚ which is necessary for success.
Help and encourage your child in setting realistic goals
The competitive side of swimming is very important to the development of athletes and the sport of swimming. At a junior level‚ the most important factor is participation‚ effort and skill development. Beating their PB and learning a new skill are both examples of realistic and attainable goals for a junior swimmer.
Regardless of whether your child will win gold for Australia or whether they are equally happy competing at club events‚ the sport must be fun to maintain their interest.
Always ensure that your child has their PB recorded and that each time they race‚ this is what they are trying to beat rather than other people. PB recording ensures the focus is on individual improvement rather than purely on winning or losing. Your child may come 10th in a race‚ but if they beat their PB‚ they are a winner.
As parents we all want our children to love swimming and be in the sport for a lifetime‚ regardless of whether it is as a pool swimmer or whether they branch out into other avenues like water polo or surf lifesaving. Even after our children have finished their swimming careers‚ we want them to still love the sport recreationally.
It's important that we don't compare our children with others of the same age‚ because children progress at different rates as they develop physically and emotionally. And just as there are times when children can reach plateaus and improvement seems slow‚ there are also occasions when they can make rapid progress.
We can help mould our children's attitudes while also providing encouragement and being the chauffeur‚ nutritionist and the banker. One of the most important roles parents can play is to help their children establish a good rapport with the coach. A parent's job isn't easy‚ but if we do it well then our children's enjoyment of the sport will be our reward. Why Because we are our child's NUMBER ONE FAN!