News Taffy

In keeping with last week’s theme on girls and sports, this week I’m promoting swimming as a great sport for girls of every age. I talked with Jon David Williford, head coach of the Jets Aquatic Club here in Jonesboro. I’m going to summarize his thoughts plus add a few of my own since my daughter has participated on the Jets team since she was 8.

Jon David:

Swimming is a great fit for girls because they can set their own goals. They can be as competitive as they want to be with an eye towards college swimming or national swim meets or they can use it as a great way to stay in good physical shape. Swimming is a lifelong sport and is great for joints and lean muscle growth and development.

Swimming differs from other sports in that boys and girls of the same age practice together and grow up supporting each other. You attend competitions as a team but each race is about the individual. Girls make lifelong friends in this sport, many of whom they keep in touch with throughout life.

The main challenge I face in coaching girls is getting them to believe they are capable of achieving a time or making it through a practice set. The majority of girls are intrinsic motivators and need the coach to believe in them. When they feel the coach’s support, they train and race better.

My Perspective:

Swimming is mainly about the individual’s achievement. First, there is no pressure to compete until the swimmer is ready, unlike other sports. The swimmer and her family decide which meets and how many to attend. The coach encourages each swimmer to set a time goal that is achievable but the focus is not on winning the race, though of course, that is a great feeling. After each event, the swimmer gets feedback from the coach in a constructive manner. Swimmers who have achieved a personal best time are always recognized after each meet. At first, some girls feel they’ve failed if they don’t win races but gradually they come to recognize the progress they make towards the goals they set for themselves with input and encouragement from the coach.

Another aspect of swim meets that I find refreshing is that you don’t see as much of the ugly side of sports in which parents coach from the sidelines, fights break out or the other team boos your team, etc. Instead, parents cheer for every swimmer regardless of which team they are on and everyone enjoys watching a good close race. The kids on the team really do cheer one another on and help each other through disappointments as well. My daughter has made friends across the state and mentors younger swimmers occasionally.

There are many opportunities to join a swim team in this area. Jonesboro has a year-round swim team, the Jets Aquatic Club which also sponsors a summer swim league and a swim lesson program. Valley View and Jonesboro High Schools both have swim teams but the season runs November through February. There are other AAU or summer swim leagues in Paragould, Pocahontas and other surrounding towns. The AAU season starts in May; for more information or to register go to http://www.jonesborojets.com/Home.jsp?team=asjjst.