4 Thoughts for Swim Parents When Teams Fracture

By: Elizabeth Wickham

One of my toughest times as a swim parent was when parents decided to start a new team. I have intense team loyalty and with my glass-half-full attitude, I’d like people to work together to make improvements rather than divide. I don’t think team fractures happen too often, but when it does, there can be chaos and drama for months.

Why do teams split up and new ones form? Sometimes it’s parents or an assistant coach driving the split. Not very often do kids demand a new team. When was the last time you heard a swimmer say, “Mom and Dad, I’m really unhappy with the coaching on my team and I don’t feel like I’m making the progress I should. Do you mind getting a team charter, renting pool space, creating a team logo, ordering new equipment and hiring a coach? Oh, and by the way, do you mind setting up a 501c3 and spearheading fundraising?”

No. That doesn’t happen. If your child is unhappy, find out why. Make an appointment with the coach and have a conversation. If you see something that needs to be changed, then bring it up to the coach or board. Sitting on the deck expressing unhappiness with other parents won’t work out well. By addressing any issues, getting more involved, and volunteering expertise, you may see improvements.

Here are four thoughts about teams splitting up:

One

Is it in the children’s best interest?

Starting a team to satiate an adult’s ego isn’t the correct reason to split from an existing team. A lot of negativity and rationalizing happen if the decision is driven by a coach or parent with their own agenda. Make sure there’s a valid reason and things can’t be worked out before starting a new team. If your team offers a safe environment, good coaching and your child has friends, then why leave?

Two

Competition can be a good thing.

If a new team does start up, act like a grown up. I’ve seen a lot of bad behavior on both sides and not just one person or team is to blame. Acknowledge there will be hurt feelings and emotions may run high. The existing team can’t be complacent and competition will push them to pursue excellence.

Three

Will your children understand?

If you opt to start a new team, you are involving your children in drama. Why are they no longer swimming with their friends who they’ve bonded with over the years? It’s going to be impossible to shield them from comments, hard feelings, and that awkward moment when they come face to face with their former teammates. Also, switching coaches and coaching styles may interrupt their progress.

Four

Can your community support another team?

If you live in a high population area of more than a million families, then you probably have enough swimmers to support a team. In small towns, it’s a struggle for one or two teams to exist. There aren’t enough families to support high-level professional coaches, and there could be a shortage of lane space. Make sure homework is done first and work through the numbers. It’s a monumental task, and very often new teams struggle and hurt the other team in the process. We want what’s best for our children and swimming.

Have you been through a team split? What were the problems or positives you experienced?

Elizabeth Wickham volunteered for 14 years on her kids’ club team as board member, fundraiser, newsletter editor and “Mrs. meet manager.” She’s a writer with a bachelor of arts degree in editorial journalism from the University of Washington with a long career in public relations, marketing and advertising. Her stories have appeared in newspapers and magazines including the Los Angeles Times, Orange County Parenting and Ladybug. You can read more parenting tips on her blog.

AB