Swim Meet No. 3
The girls have been enjoying their morning practices each day and have continued to develop their skills and strokes. It is really neat to see their confidence build, friendships develop, and their abilities grow. I'm amazed at what they're able to do. The coaches are high school and college age. They are so incredible with all of the kids and work hard to vary the laps in the pool with different techniques using kick boards, relays, and lap work.
Riley has been very hard on herself as she's earned mainly participation ribbons and hadn't been in the top 3 of her heats. She felt like she wasn't doing well and felt defeated. We continued to encourage her and to let her know that while we were sure she felt this way, it wasn't the truth - our feelings don't often tell us that we are working hard and doing well, despite what our placement may be in a race. We swam as a family a few nights ago and raced each other in the pool for fun. Riley raced me and crushed me good. We talked about how she should just imagine that she's racing me when she does the swim meets because she looked so relaxed in the pool and she has more in her than she thinks. Not sure if she pictured this, and she didn't say she did, but whatever motivated her this week really worked.
She chose to do the butterfly and freestyle races this week. She has a nice butterfly stroke and an excellent freestyle. On her butterfly race, she was neck and neck with another girl and slowed down just a bit at the end. She earned a second place finish - go Riley!!
On her freestyle race, she crushed it!! She was at least a full body length ahead of the second place person and earned her first 1st place at a swim meet. She was so happy! We hugged her and gave her fist bumps. So very proud of her.
On her final race, she did a freestyle relay and did a great job. Her team earned 2nd place.
When we picked up her Gator coins (tokens that they earn throughout the week for coming to practice), she had an extra something in her folder. She was chosen by the coaches to earn a Gator Award for the week. This was to signify her hard work and her improvement shown. So very proud of her!!!
Julia had a fantastic week of swimming as well. She started with a Medley relay in which she swam butterfly. Her team earned 2nd place.
Then she had her freestyle race - what she calls her 'best stroke' - and definitely proved it was her strongest. As soon as she hit the water, she was on a mission. She crushed her competition to earn 1st place. One of the guys watching nearby yelled out "Wow! Look at her go!" She stood at the end of the pool when she finished as she watched the other girls still swimming in.
She competed in the breaststroke and earned 2nd place. Her coaches have been working with her on her kick because she keeps adding a little flutter kick between the 'frog kick' which actually slows her down.
Her final race was the freestyle relay and she swam amazing.
While I'm very proud of what the girls accomplished in their swimming, their support of each other and cheering truly made it special. Every time that Riley was swimming, Julia sat or stood at the end of Riley's lane to cheer her on. Every time Julia was swimming, Riley stood to cheer Julia on. I love that this is something that is a tangible way to think of each other and help each other.
Riley has been very hard on herself as she's earned mainly participation ribbons and hadn't been in the top 3 of her heats. She felt like she wasn't doing well and felt defeated. We continued to encourage her and to let her know that while we were sure she felt this way, it wasn't the truth - our feelings don't often tell us that we are working hard and doing well, despite what our placement may be in a race. We swam as a family a few nights ago and raced each other in the pool for fun. Riley raced me and crushed me good. We talked about how she should just imagine that she's racing me when she does the swim meets because she looked so relaxed in the pool and she has more in her than she thinks. Not sure if she pictured this, and she didn't say she did, but whatever motivated her this week really worked.
She chose to do the butterfly and freestyle races this week. She has a nice butterfly stroke and an excellent freestyle. On her butterfly race, she was neck and neck with another girl and slowed down just a bit at the end. She earned a second place finish - go Riley!!
On her freestyle race, she crushed it!! She was at least a full body length ahead of the second place person and earned her first 1st place at a swim meet. She was so happy! We hugged her and gave her fist bumps. So very proud of her.
On her final race, she did a freestyle relay and did a great job. Her team earned 2nd place.
When we picked up her Gator coins (tokens that they earn throughout the week for coming to practice), she had an extra something in her folder. She was chosen by the coaches to earn a Gator Award for the week. This was to signify her hard work and her improvement shown. So very proud of her!!!
Julia had a fantastic week of swimming as well. She started with a Medley relay in which she swam butterfly. Her team earned 2nd place.
Then she had her freestyle race - what she calls her 'best stroke' - and definitely proved it was her strongest. As soon as she hit the water, she was on a mission. She crushed her competition to earn 1st place. One of the guys watching nearby yelled out "Wow! Look at her go!" She stood at the end of the pool when she finished as she watched the other girls still swimming in.
She competed in the breaststroke and earned 2nd place. Her coaches have been working with her on her kick because she keeps adding a little flutter kick between the 'frog kick' which actually slows her down.
Her final race was the freestyle relay and she swam amazing.
While I'm very proud of what the girls accomplished in their swimming, their support of each other and cheering truly made it special. Every time that Riley was swimming, Julia sat or stood at the end of Riley's lane to cheer her on. Every time Julia was swimming, Riley stood to cheer Julia on. I love that this is something that is a tangible way to think of each other and help each other.
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