I am involved, with others, as coach with a swim team. Today we brought a team to a competition and they swam their hearts out. Some were at their very first competition. Ranging in age from eight to fourteen they were a mixed bag of emotions, and personalities.
There was the very serious, hanging on every word sort of child. Determined to please and very competitive. As the day passed they blossomed into children who learned to lighten up a little, to enjoy the race and accept the outcome.
There was the very excited child, who didn’t really worry about how well they did, or how high the diving blocks 
were, or even what event they were swimming. As the day passed they tuned in a little better and began to want to compete and be as fast as others.
There was the child who lacked confidence. Who was unaware they were good swimmers. By the end of the day they wore the biggest smile and a new swimmer was born.
There was the child who had never won before. Disappointment at galas was the norm. By the end of the day they had got the result they deserved. Never giving up, and continuing to train hard, had at last paid off.
There was the child who is the very best at all they do. At the end of the day they learned that we cannot win all the time, but to lose having given your all is not a bad thing.
There was such a mixed bag of children in my little group today. All different, all learning their own lessons. As a coach I love to watch as they evolve over the course of a day.
They came to compete. Some to win, others to improve, all to enjoy the gala. However I have learned over time that while some will win, winning isn’t everything. Success cannot and should not always be measured by the number of medals taken home. For even those who do not bring home a medal take home something much more valuable, that cannot be taught in any school.
As we all headed home, I was content. They had swam brilliantly and pushed through their fears and fought their nerves. They had battled and won, and many had smiled through disappointment. They had sat as a team and cheered each other on, enjoying and not resenting friends successes. But above all they had all learned a very important lesson.
Yes they had learned winning is what they aspire to, but that winning isn’t everything.
My thoughts on a page. 
I admire a child or any other person who can lose gracefully.
oh I agree. And watching young children coping with defeat is fascinating. Most of them are very good about it, but just need their loss acknowledged and their efforts praised.
Important lesson to learn. Great post, tric.
Thanks. So many lessons learned, by myself as much as the swimmers.
Excellent blog post. Those are great lessons to learn … even when we grow older.
Yes I agree. It is watching these young children that I realise how many lessons I learned over the years, and the value of competition and effort in life.
Absolutely lovely. Please coach parents as well. 😉
I do think most parents learn by watching their children in these situations. Swimming is an individual sport and each parent must face up to the fact that their child is not always the winner. It was a great day.
This is so true. Everyone emits different emotions, and it’s lovely!
Yes. These children all came to swim, but each was very different, as were the lessons they learned.
Learning is a continuous process and an inevitable part of everbody’s life, irrespective of your age. The children are lucky enough to have learnt their lessons at the right age. 🙂
I loved watching my girls swim with their team, and enjoyed the supportive enviornment created by the coaches, swimmers, and families.
When a team is managed well swimming is a real joy. The atmosphere, the competition, the winning and losing. I love it and I think they all had a great day, regardless of their successes.
and you are an amazing teacher. they learned lifelong lessons today, about who they each have the potential to be. nothing at all to do with winning, you are right. wonderful, coach tric.
I do think the coaches and parents dictate the pressure and expectations. I am very lucky to be involved with equally dedicated coaches and great parents. As a result the swimmers were able to really enjoy their big day out.
yes,tric, it makes all the difference in the world. and those kids are lucky to have all of you supporting them.
being active
~
such
wonderful
lessons
Yes, real lessons.
I agree sport is not just about winning.
(I posted similar thought today)
I loved your post I’ll post a link here in case anyone wants to check it out. http://meeshamishmash.wordpress.com/2014/02/23/the-boys-with-long-shorts/
Thank you
There is good news
http://www.mid-day.com/articles/MID-DAY-Impact-Help-pours-in-for-St-Catherine-kids/15116066
Truly important indeed! I have seen a child get into a total crying frenzy because of not being number one at an event, and that was a sad sight! It made me wonder if that child was being put down when her accomplishments weren’t what the parents expected.
Maybe, but sometimes children have very high expectations and first or nothing is all they want. Sport is a great way of teaching them that no one wins all the time, and how to deal with losing.