10 Guiding Principles for Swim Parents

1. Support your swimmer’s journey — not your expectations.

Swimming is your child’s sport, not yours. Progress looks different for every athlete, and comparing your child to others can take the joy out of it. Let them own their journey, celebrate their growth, and enjoy the process of improvement.

2. Keep it fun. Always.

After every practice or meet, the most important question is: “Did you have fun?” If it’s not fun, they won’t want to stick with it. Your role is to make the experience positive and pressure-free.

3. Leave the coaching to the coaches.

We’re lucky to have professional coaches who guide our athletes through technical skills, strategy, and development. Your role is to love, encourage, and be a safe, supportive presence—not to analyze races or give swimming tips.

4. Stay positive at meets.

Meets are exciting, emotional, and sometimes challenging. Be a positive voice from the stands. Let coaches correct mistakes and keep the energy uplifting. Cheering is encouraged—criticism is not.

5. Respect your swimmer’s nerves.

First meets, tough events, and new challenges can feel overwhelming. Fear is normal. Support your swimmer through it without pressure or judgment—your belief in them means everything.

6. Be kind to volunteers.

Timers and officials are often parents just like you, giving their time to help the meet run smoothly. If you’re not ready to volunteer, that’s okay—but please offer grace and appreciation to those who are.

7. Respect the coach-swimmer relationship.

The connection between a swimmer and their coach is special and essential to their success. If you have questions or concerns, reach out respectfully—but avoid criticizing the coach in front of your child.

8. Commit to your team.

Every team has its own identity and community. Constantly switching teams can be disruptive and often does more harm than good. Growth takes time—trust the process and invest in your team’s culture.

9. Help your swimmer focus on goals beyond medals.

Winning is great, but effort, growth, and resilience are the real victories. Swimmers who focus on their own goals, not just outcomes, build the mindset and character that lead to long-term success—in and out of the pool.

10. Keep perspective—Olympic dreams are rare, but life lessons are guaranteed.

Only a tiny percentage of swimmers ever make it to the Olympics. But every swimmer gains discipline, confidence, fitness, friendships, and life skills that last far beyond their swim career. That’s the real win.

RUSH  participates locally in Austin, TX. and surrounding cities. We attempt to provide challenging and success-oriented situations for swimmers of all abilities. The following policies outline our philosophy about competition:

• We emphasize competition with oneself.
• Swim meets are the best way for coaches and swimmers to evaluate individual progress within the season. 
• The individual's improvement is our primary objective.
• Sportsmanlike behavior is of equal importance to improved performance.
• Team spirit, respect for officials and opponents, determined effort, and mature attitudes are examples of behavior valued and praised by the coaching staff.
• Swimmers are taught to set realistic yet challenging goals for meets and to relate those goals in practice in an effort to direct their training efforts.
• *Swimmers are encouraged to compete in all swimming events and strokes. This policy promotes versatility and encourages swimmers to explore their potential in the wide range of events offered in Swimming.

We feel that it is essential to swim each stroke correctly. Our training program is based on "proper swimming technique all the time" (swimming drills at 99% effort are 100% wrong). A variety of drills are incorporated throughout the practice to increase the swimmers cardio-respiratory endurance and to develop good mechanics.

When coaches see thunderstorms in the area around the club they will cancel practice by 2:00pm. If thunderstorms might develop in the area the coaches will continually check the radar during practice to keep the kids safe. Coaches may cancel practice at anytime if thunder and lightning is apparent at the pool. 

When the coaches see a forecasted temperature of 33 degrees at any time between 4pm and 6pm practice will be canceled. We will make the call by 2:00 pm that day. This is to keep the kids safe on deck, and to prevent any mishaps in driving to or from practice, as Great Hills is a very hilly and windy area.

During the Holidays and all year around we want to welcome all swimmers to participate in the RUSH swim team. Any visiting family members, high school swimmers on break or someone just wanting to try us out!

Drop In Swimmers are welcome to swim with RUSH. Fee is $15.00 per day or $40 per week, paid to coach on deck as a representative for the Club.  

During the first 10 minutes of practice the coach on deck will evaluate the swimmer to ensure they are practicing in their appropriate class time. Parents please be sure to stay for the first 10 minutes of practice to fill out a wavier form for your swimmer.

Please email swim coach at swimcoach@greathillscc.org to enroll a swimmer in our drop in program.