Success In Athletics
Many parents wonder what differentiates the great athlete from the average
one, and whether their kids have what it takes to be great athletes. We’ll
let Dr. Jack Daniels, an exercise physiologist at State University of New
York at Cortland, and an influential figure in developing the U.S. Swimming
Sports Medicine Program, enlighten us.
“There are really only four ingredients for success in athletics. One is
genetic ability. Some genetic differences are easy to see (7-foot-plus
Kareem Abdul Jabbar’s basketball endowments), while others are physiological
and internal differences that can’t be seen. In America we have a hard time
accepting those differences and we think that everyone who trains hard
enough can be a champion.
The second thing besides genetic ability is intrinsic motivation. If you
have a seven-footer and the coach wants him to play baseball, but he wants
to be an artist, you won’t get too much basketball out of him.
The third ingredient is opportunity – providing our athletes with good
facilities, good weather, and competition against good athletes.
The final ingredient is direction. Direction means a good coach and a good
program to follow.
Direction is the area where parents and coaches really have an opportunity
to help the athlete. With the fragmented nature of our national swimming
community, we have to put aside our personal concerns and desires and focus
our efforts on helping our athletes attain their potential. Here is the
part age group coaches can play:
* Teaching outstanding biomechanics to build the base for all future
swimming successes and fulfillment. Stroke education in both learn-to-swim,
novice, and advanced age group programs must be primary.
* Teaching values that reflect the best of our sport. Swimmers must be
educated in their own careers, positive image building of themselves as
athletes and people, and on their part in the national swimming effort.
Values and attitudes again shape the future for our sport.
* Provide the aerobic training base from which science tells us great
athletes develop.
* Educate parents, our athletes’ primary support system, to the needs of
their athletes. Swimming careers are lifelong pursuits, and parents of
young athletes need a vision of the rewards attainable by their youngster.
The high school coach can also contribute by recognizing the needs of both
the elite and developing athlete in their programs, and by instilling in
their athletes the knowledge that good swimming demands near year-round
participation in YMCA, USS, or community programs. The high school coach
also needs to cooperate with the club coach to ensure a coherent individual
training and competition schedule for each athlete.”
