Swim Parent Struggles: 3 Tips to keep your Swimmers motivated in the New Year

The New Year is both equally an exciting and overwhelming time for everyone. For Swim Parents and their swimmers alike. For the swimmer it is a chance to set new goals and targets, create resolutions and continue to work hard. However, not everyone can keep resolutions. It is hard with the overwhelming pressure to change in the new year to find the motivation to stick out all of those things we, and our swimmers, promised we would regularly do.

So, here are 3 tips on how to keep your swimmer motivated in the New Year:

1. Discuss any resolutions they have made with them

Writing resolutions down and promising to do them to yourself is one thing, but sometimes verbalising the self-promises made can help bring them to life. Gently suggest a discussion with them. Not all swimmers will have new years resolutions, which is perfectly fine too, but if they do, why not have a chat? Ask them what their goals are and what they are planning on doing to achieve them this year.

Listening is more important than talking or giving advice – these are their resolutions, remember. Just remind them that the most important thing is trying their best, whether they last the year, or a week.

2. Celebrate their past achievements

Even though in the chaotic world of swimming everything is literally go, go, go, it won’t hurt to reflect. Sit down with your swimmer, or chat whilst on the go, and reflect on something they achieved last year. Maybe they beat a PB, nailed a technique they’ve been struggling with or maybe they just consistently tried their best. Reminding your swimmer how capable they are, and that they’ve already done incredible things, is a nice way to remind them that they can continue to do great things.

Anyway, when does a little praise hurt now and then?

3. Cheer them on – but give them space

It’s always nice to be supportive and a cheerleader for your swimmer. It’s important to keep their morale up as much as possible. However, one of the best ways to help your swimmer keep motivation in the new year is to give them space. They know themselves and their swimming abilities better than anyone… yes, even you, swim parent.

Give them room to breathe and find their own motivation. If they seem like they are struggling, sometimes you just have to let them. They may discover a way to self-motivate which can be a useful tool for the future.

You can still cheer them on but learning doesn’t happen without experience.

We hope all of the swim parents and swimmers alike had an incredible new year! Happy swimming!