slow starts in summer swim league

Question
My 9 year daughter is consistently the last one to dive in during her races.  While she does quite well, she always is swimming catch-up to her competitors.  How can we help her improve her start?

Answer
Nancy,
Hmmm.  This could come from many things.  I too had slow starts.  Coaches had me do reaction-based games.  Remember that game where you hold your hands out with your palms up while another person put their palms on top of yours?  The idea is to slap the other person's hand before the other person pulls their hands away.  This is a good game to help with reaction times.  I know it's more of a violent game, but it does help.

Try to improve your daughters reaction times.  Play games that will get her thinking and involved with you where she needs to respond quickly.  Your daughter might not truly understand what it means to "have her head in the game" at this point. She still is very young.  Most kids at that age are good because they are coordinated and not because they work harder in practice.

I would just play some games with her that work on her reaction times.  Also, try explaining to her about the importance of this.  Making her a part of the process can truly enable her and make her feel good.  It might just be that she doesn't know why she is slow off the starts and doesn't try because she thinks she will be last off the blocks no matter what.

I know I have rambled on in this email.  Just work with her on her reactions.  If this is still a major issue in a few years (once puberty arrives), then I would change your approach.  However, this is typically just a motivation-based issue.  Either way, play some games with her and encourage her to "attack" her starts.  Remind her that she is a lioness and needs to pounce into the water like Nala did in the Lion King.

Best of luck.
Eric