Maximum training hours for youngsters

Question
Hi There
What is the maximum hours a 9 year old and 11 year old should spend training a week? The 9 yr old is more active with other sports as well.  The 11 yr old is less active with other sport.  I dont want my daughters to over train and hate their swimming.  They train for 1hr at a time, 3-4 times a week.  (Roughly 2km per session).
Many thanks
Andrea

Answer
Andrea,
I have answered questions similar to this before.  I am always happy to talk about this issue.

Right now I think that there are so many children and parents that are more focused on sports than actually being youngsters.  I am not a teacher, psychologist, or parent.  I am a coach and an HR professional.  I just find it so upsetting when parents, coaches, and swimmers push themselves too hard to achieve a goal.  Yes, it does take determination and dedication to achieve athletic goals, but these goals can be pursued later in their adolescence.

I am a firm believer in having youngsters 12 and under enjoy their childhood.  Sports should be fun for them.  Social skill should be emphasized during this time.  I believe in making swimming fun for these age groups.  If swimming becomes like a job for them early on, they will burn-out and/or lose valuable social skills that are important.

If a swimmer (or any athlete) is going to make it to a national or international level, they can start dedicating themselves in their teens.  It's not too late at that point.

I hope that this gives you some indication of how I feel on this subject.

That being said, I don't feel that your children are necessarily swimming too much.  I was swimming 3-4 times per week as a 9 year old.  However, when I turned 12 years old, I was swimming about 7 times per week (including morning work outs).  I think that was too much.

Let your gut instinct guide you on this, but also listen to your children.  Remember that sports are about instilling social skills just as much as competition.  I can't tell you how to raise your children or what is too much.  I can say that this is something to be wary of.

Your statement of not wanting them to "hate" swimming is key.  Talk to them about what THEY want.  I think you are on the right track.  The fact that you asked this question is a good sign in my book.  Keep this question in mind.

I hope that this helps.
Best of luck.
Eric