For Parents
How to Set Short Course Season Goals for Your Swimmer
Short course season is underway. Use last season's times, official cuts, and Gophin Compare → Seasons to set goals you can actually check.
September 11, 2026 · 3 minKeep reading
← Back to the blog
Category
For Parents
Articles to help you make sharper decisions about this topic.
Explore categories
Select to filter posts
For Parents
She Was the Fastest 15-Year-Old in the World. Here Is What Her Career Teaches Swim Parents
At 15 she broke a world record, then finished 7th at the Olympics. What Allison Higson's career teaches parents about tracking a young swimmer.
May 25, 2026 · 7 minKeep reading
For Parents
Swim Meet Recovery: A Parent's Guide for After Championships
What actually happens to your swimmer's body after a championship meet, and how to help them recover in 24, 48, and 72 hours without overdoing it.
May 7, 2026 · 8 minKeep reading
For Parents
Swim Taper Explained: A Parent's Guide to Championship Prep
Your swimmer is training less and feels more tired. That is the taper. A plain-language guide to what it is, why it works, and how to support it.
May 7, 2026 · 8 minKeep reading
For Parents
Swim Meet Psych Sheets Explained: A Parent's Guide
What is a psych sheet, how is it different from a heat sheet, and what should you actually do with it before a swim meet? Plain-English breakdown.
May 7, 2026 · 8 minKeep reading
For Parents
Swim Meet Packing Checklist: What Every Parent Needs
A real packing list for an all-day swim meet, from a parent who has forgotten goggles, snacks, and once a swimsuit. Save it before the next meet.
May 7, 2026 · 6 minKeep reading
For Parents
Swimmer's Shoulder: A Parent's Prevention Guide
Shoulder pain is the most common complaint in age group swimming, and teens get it most. The early signs, the real risk factors, and what actually helps prevent it.
May 7, 2026 · 8 minKeep reading
For Parents
Growth Spurts and Swim Performance: A Parent's Guide
Why young swimmers often plateau or slow down during growth spurts, what the research actually shows, and how to talk to your swimmer about it.
May 7, 2026 · 9 minKeep reading
For Parents
Understanding Swim Meet Results: A Parent's Crash Course
Confused by swim meet results? This plain-English guide explains times, splits, DQs, and what it all means for your child's swimming progress.
February 5, 2026 · 5 minKeep reading
For Parents
Seed Time, PB and NT in Swimming: What They Mean
What is a seed time? What does PB, PR or NT mean on a heat sheet? Plain-English answers for swim parents, a season example, and how to see your swimmer's best times.
September 22, 2026 · 6 minKeep reading
For Parents
How to Find Lost Swim Meet Results and Old Swim Times
Official meet times are never really lost. Where to look in the USA Swimming and Swimming Canada databases, why a time can be missing, and how to keep them all.
February 13, 2026 · 5 minKeep reading
For Parents
Your Child's First Swim Meet: What Every Parent Needs to Know
Everything you need to know before your child's first swim meet, what to bring, how heat sheets work, and how to actually enjoy the day.
June 12, 2024 · 5 minKeep reading
For Parents
How to Be a Supportive Swim Parent (Without Being 'That' Parent)
The line between support and pressure is thinner than you think. Here's how to stay on the right side.
August 5, 2024 · 7 minKeep reading
For Parents
How to Read a Heat Sheet (Without Losing Your Mind)
Heat sheets look like a spreadsheet had a panic attack. Here's how to decode them in five minutes.
September 27, 2024 · 5 minKeep reading
For Parents
The Real Cost of Competitive Swimming (And Is It Worth It?)
Club fees, meet entries, gas money, hotel rooms. We break down what competitive swimming really costs, and why families keep saying yes.
June 25, 2025 · 6 minKeep reading
For Parents
Club Swimming vs Recreational: When to Make the Switch
Your child loves the water. But is club swimming the right move? Here's how to know when they're ready, and what to expect.
September 5, 2025 · 6 minKeep reading
For Parents
Morning Practice at 5 AM: How to Make It Work for Your Family
The alarm at 4:45 AM. Breakfast in the dark. Empty streets. Here's how swim families make early mornings work, and why it's worth it.
November 3, 2024 · 6 minKeep reading
For Parents
How Age Group Swim Records Help Parents Track Progress
A Canadian record that lasted 35 years, then fell twice in under three. What age group records tell parents, and why time standards are the better yardstick for your own child.
May 11, 2026 · 6 minKeep reading