Why Choose Swimming?
One way of preparing for the competition of life is by participating in competitive sports. There are few, if any activities that can contribute so much to the well-rounded development of a person as swimming. How soon? How much? These are questions each parent has to face. Some choose a "sink or swim" attitude and do little to help, while others shield their children at every turn. Both are extremes and like most extremes are best avoided. Assuming that a parent wants to steer some sort of middle course, what role can competitive sports play in the emotional, social, and physical growth of an individual?
The general advantages to swimming include:
| 1. | It's a healthy thing to do! Ask any doctor and they will undoubtedly say that swimming is one of the best exercises for young and old bodies. |
| 2. | It is a low injury rate sport. |
| 3. | It is available to boys and girls of all ages. This is actually more important than it seems at first glance. Most other organized activities tend to segregate by age and sex. On a swim team, a ten year old girl can be just as important as a sixteen year old boy. Small boys and girls have equal rights on swim teams, too. |
| 4. | It encourages a more rounded social development. This is partly related to the above paragraph and swimming becomes a family type activity involving other swimmers, coaches, and parents. It leads to a much wider circle of friends. |
| 5. | It promotes self-organization and discipline. Children who choose to swim, generally organize their daily activities due to the tight schedule and this often shows up in the increased ability to focus on specific tasks. |
| 6. | In open meets, Juniors get a chance to swim in the same events as Seniors and Champions in a manner denied in other sports. |