Be supportive.
A parent’s major responsibility is to provide a stable, loving, and supportive environment. This positive environment will encourage your child to continue. Parents can show their interest by ensuring their child’s attendance at practice and by coming to meets. The best way to help a child achieve his/her goals and reduce the natural fear of failure is through positive reinforcement. No one likes to make a mistake. If your child does make one, remember that he/she is still learning. Encourage his/her efforts and point out the things he/she did well. As long as he/she gave his/her best effort, you should make him/her feel like a winner. The coach is the only one qualified to judge a swimmers performance and technique. A parent’s role is to provide support.

Be a good role model.
Parents are not participants on their child’s team, but contribute to the success experienced by their child and his or her team. Parents serve as role models and their attitudes are often emulated by their children. Be aware of this and strive to be positive role models. Most importantly show good sportsmanship at all times toward coaches, officials, opponents and teammates.

Be a volunteer.
DMSF is a no-profit organization made up of very dedicated volunteers. Parents donate their time, energy and expertise at every level from volunteering at meets to serving as a board-of-directors. Without parent volunteers our club could not function; therefore, it is a required expectation that ALL parents volunteer at some level. A list of volunteer positions is provided in the back of our handbook.