The CD is hosted by Deborah Phelps, a Baltimore county middle school principal and mother of swimmer and six-time Olympic gold medalist Michael Phelps.
“USA Swimming and USSA have created an exceptional resource for all parents,” Phelps said. “Having a voice with the many parents that view this CD will allow me to let them know that I think parenting is a very collaborative endeavor. When I reflect on my years of parenting, I always think of it as a triangular approach to my children’s lives that has been inclusive of the coach, the athlete and myself, the parent.”
While this guide will be especially beneficial to clubs, the fact that it is non-sports specific makes it a valuable tool for any organization at the start of an athlete’s career including clubs, youth teams, PTAs, high schools and more. This comprehensive guide will help any coach alleviate common issues with new parents coming into a sport.
“One of the best ways we can support our clubs at a grassroots level is to provide them with the resources to educate parents and volunteers on how to effectively support their children in their sport,” said Pat Hogan, USA Swimming Club Development Director.
“This CD offers a wealth of updated, relevant information from a multitude of sources that will be applicable for parents at all the different stages in their child’s experience in (their) sport, from the parent whose child is just learning to the parent whose child is competing on a national-level team. In the end, better-educated parents make for a better experience for youngsters in sports.”
Topics include information for parents on:
- Growth and development
- Physical well-being
- Nutrition
- Hydration
- Disordered eating
- Competition
- Training
- How to best balance and support your child
- How coaches and parents can work together
- How organizations can better work with parents
“’Successful Sports Parenting’ provides coaches, parents and administrators with practical, hands-on tools that they can use to help young athletes achieve their potential,” said David McCann, USSA Director of Educational Services. “The interactive, multi-media format of the CD sets it apart from your typical textbook or web site.”
The CD features more than 50 interviews with top coaches, athletes, parents and sports psychologists. Swimming interviewees include 1984 triple gold medalist Rowdy Gaines, Berkeley Aquatic Club coach Jim Wood and George Bruce, father of four swimmers including 2004 Olympian Caroline Bruce and more. Also available on the CD are flash presentations and more than 250 pages of background materials and handouts for coaches and clubs to use in organizational meetings and for planning.
“Parents are the greatest influence on their children, even when it is in the athletic arena,” said Cathy Sellers, USOC Coaching Manager. “Good parents, like good coaches, can make the sports experience one that is memorable and worth repeating. This CD guides parents and coaches through potential problem issues so that young athletes can enjoy their sport experience. Everyone becomes a winner.”
“Successful Sports Parenting” is endorsed, used and distributed by the U.S. Olympic Committee and 11 National Governing Bodies: USA Swimming, USSA, U.S. Tennis Association, USA Hockey, U.S. Speed Skating, U.S. Rowing, USA Water Polo, U.S. Curling, U.S. Figure Skating, USA Diving and U.S. Synchronized Swimming. The CD is avaialbe at Successful Sports Parenting.
About USA Swimming: As the National Governing Body for competitive swimming in the United States, USA Swimming formulates the rules, implements policies and procedures, conducts national championships, disseminates safety and sports medicine information and selects athletes to represent the United States in international competition. USA Swimming has more than 300,000 members nationwide and sanctions more than 7,000 events each year. For more information, visit www.usaswimming.org.
About USSA: The U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association (USSA) is the national governing body for Olympic skiing and snowboarding. USSA manages year-round nationwide development and elite programs – including the national teams – in six distinctly different Olympic sports: alpine, cross country, freestyle, nordic combined, ski jumping and snowboarding, as well as two Paralympic sports – disabled alpine and disabled cross country. USSA is based in Park City, Utah. For more information, visit www.usskiteam.com, www.ussnowboarding.com and www.ussa.org.
