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How to Help Your Child With Pre-Race Anxiety
Nerves before a race are normal, even for the fastest swimmers. What to say, a breathing routine that works on deck, and when to talk to the coach.
August 22, 2024 · 4 minKeep reading
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How Much Sleep Does a Young Swimmer Really Need?
Kids 6–12 need 9–12 hours and teens 8–10. In a small Stanford study, swimmers who slept 10 hours cut 0.51 s off a 15 m sprint. How to fit it around early practice.
September 10, 2024 · 5 minKeep reading
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What Should My Swimmer Eat Before a Meet?
Timing, carbs, hydration, and the golden rule: never try new food on race day. A practical nutrition guide for swim families.
January 28, 2025 · 4 minKeep reading
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What to Say After a Bad Race (And What Not to Say)
Your first instinct after a tough race is to fix it. But the best response is simpler than you think: 'I love watching you swim.'
March 12, 2025 · 4 minKeep reading
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7 Life Skills Kids Learn From Competitive Swimming
Goal setting, resilience, time management, and five more skills that follow your child far beyond the pool deck.
March 28, 2025 · 5 minKeep reading
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Your Stress Is Contagious: How Parent Anxiety Affects Swimmers
Kids notice a parent's meet-day nerves more than we think. What the research says about pressure and support, and how to manage your own stress at swim meets.
April 15, 2025 · 5 minKeep reading
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5 Signs Your Young Swimmer Is Burning Out
Burnout can push a young swimmer out of a sport they loved. Here are the five warning signs and what you can do before it's too late.
May 20, 2025 · 5 minKeep reading
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The Plateau Is Normal: Keeping Your Swimmer Motivated
In the late teens, improvement shrinks to 1–2% a year. Plateaus aren't failure, they're biology. Here's how to keep going.
June 8, 2025 · 7 minKeep reading
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Hydration Guide for Competitive Swimmers
Yes, swimmers dehydrate in the pool. A simple weigh-in shows how much your swimmer loses, plus what to drink and a meet-day hydration plan.
July 14, 2025 · 6 minKeep reading
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Does Swimming Help Kids in School? What the Research Says
Active kids tend to do better in school, and early swim lessons are linked to early-learning gains. What the research shows, what it does not, and what to do if grades slip.
July 30, 2025 · 4 minKeep reading
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How Swimming Builds Discipline That Lasts a Lifetime
Showing up at 5 AM, finishing sets you hate, getting back in after a bad race. The discipline swimmers build follows them everywhere.
October 15, 2024 · 5 minKeep reading
Community
Why Swimming Is a Great First Sport for Kids
Water safety, low joint impact, full-body exercise and no bench. Why swimming is a strong first sport, even if your child never races.
November 22, 2024 · 6 minKeep reading