An Investigation of Parents’ and Children’s Perceptions about Their Participation in a Community-Based Swim Team Program

Why are young swimmers smiling after two hours of intense, daily swim team practices filled with swimming countless laps and focusing on improving their various swimming strokes? What drives parents to willingly transport their children to and from their local YMCAs for swim team practices? Why are swim team participants willing, and even eager, to sit in steamy, hot swimming pool areas and watch or swim in competitive events that last for hours and hours? These are simply a few questions one might have when considering the amount of time, involvement, and commitment required while participating in a community-based YMCA swim team program. This study investigated the perceptions of parents and children about their participation in such a program