When Your Child is Disqualified
From News for Swim Parents
Published by The American Swimming Coaches Association
5101 NW 21 Ave., Suite 200
Fort Lauderdale FL 33309
Concern: I've noticed that when some of our team's swimmers are
disqualified the coach does not approach the official to question the
call while at other times she confronts the official immediately.
There appears to be favoritism.
Response: If this is a case of favoritism we certainly do not
condone this type of coach behavior. We recommend a direct, but
polite discussion with the coach at a time when everyone has had some
time and distance from the situation.
If not favoritism, then the following may explain your coaches behavior:
The coach observed the infraction, was not surprised by the infraction,
noted it, and talked with the swimmer about it. Coaches work with
their swimmers every day and know each individual's difficulties with
technique and tendency for mistakes. Coaches continually work with
their athletes helping them to improve technique and correct mistakes
but the results are rarely instantaneous. Swimmers take time to
improve technique and eliminate mistakes. Coaches will enter a
marginally legal swimmer in an event so that the swimmer gains
experience. If the swimmer is disqualified, the coach uses it as a
learning situation for the athlete.
In some sports it is expected that there be a confrontation between
coach and official with every call but that has not been our way in
swimming.
When there is a confrontation it is generally over a judgment call made
by the official for an infraction that the athlete does not have a
history of making, and, in the eyes of the coach, was not a good call.
In this case the coach will usually ask the official for a clarification
of the call and the specific rule broken. The coach will also ask
the official if he was in a proper position to make such a call.
