Written by Club Swimmers (albeit the under 18yrs) here in the UK were super excited to have the Covid restrictions lifted back in April and none so more than I. A year on the sofa researching areas in coaching I previously did not have the time for, I was ready to start executing some new ideas particularly with those in the ‘learning to race’ stage of their swimming career.
Within only a few weeks of being back at the pool, the excitement of swimming and coaching again was quickly quashed by the mean curve ball of education. My performance swimmers’ eagerness rapidly turned into anxiety.
Early on in my coaching career I headed up a University Team ( I like to start at the top) and was always frustrated when swimmers failed to show up to train and the nonsensical 2-3 months end of the last semester ban (when exams would typically take place) on University sports clubs being able to operate. Until my assistant coach told me: ‘Astrid parents will be more frustrated than you if their child graduates with a PHD in swimming’ … and what is wrong with that I ask – does an ‘ology’ give you time management skills; team-building skills; strength to self-motivate; be a role model; learn how to goal set; learn your strengths; know how to build on your weaknesses?
Over the last 6 weeks – even though we have minimal practice times (given the restrictions still in place) the performance squads have still struggled to come to practice. Why? the dam education system. Nowadays it is an overkill of exams and lengthily assignments often with badly thought out timelines from the teaching staff. Some schools will even ‘lock’ their students in for 6-8wks and banish all extra circular activity just so their students focus wholly on their exams. The whole idea that students need to have a degree from the ‘right’ University’ or need to have a bag load of exams all with grade A+ to be ‘successful’ in life is deeply ingrained in our education system and as a result I witness every year more and more of my swimmer literally breaking down with anxiety and sadness written all over their faces – and swimmers are a tough bunch. Nowadays I spend more time outside of the pool coaching our new future on how to cope by interweaving the mental skills swimmers need to be good at racing into their everyday lives.
The last year has definitely flagged up the issue of many having their mental being badly affected when physical activity was limited. The role of sport and how it affects our well being has been documented time and time again, but what has not been widely articulated as well is Sport’s ability in providing a great environment for building character, which is needed to be successful.
Being successful does not come from having a piece of paper that you mount on the wall or my case stuffed somewhere in a drawer. Successful is born out of the freedom to go do want you want in your life armed with the skills; knowledge and confidence necessary to fulfil your ambitions. By limiting the time of being able to engage in Sports to an age group that need this the most – we are limiting the life lessons that they need to follow their right path in life. I say it is time to put the Coach Carter theory to bed: achieving a certain grade to gain a place at University. Yes our youth need an education, but not one that limits their growth of character and just places a high ceiling on academic knowledge.