Just A Note... How Serious Are We?
We can't tell you how many times we've heard that people have not joined 'winter swimming', because it was (we are) SO SERIOUS. That statement, not clarified, is construed as negative in most people's eyes and, understandably so. Our response to someone who feels this way is this:
1 - If you are talking about the fact that we stress SAFETY to all members of NAC when they are in and around the pool, then YES we are very 'serious' about this matter.
2 - If you are talking about the fact that we stress sportsmanship in all aspects of life to all members of NAC, then YES we are very 'serious' about this matter.
3 - If you are talking about the fact that we stress our feelings that family & education take precedence over swimming then, YES we are very 'serious' about this matter.
4 - If you are talking about the fact that we stress technical knowledge about this sport to all members of NAC, then YES we are very 'serious' about this matter.
5 - If you are talking about the fact that we stress respect for other people's property and other people, themselves, then YES we are very 'serious' about this matter.
6 - If you are talking about the fact that we stress the need for parents to be involved in their children's activities, then YES we are very serious about this matter.
7 - If you are talking about the fact that we stress to our membership to have fun and enjoy their time in this sport, then YES we are very 'serious' about this matter.
8 - If you are talking about the fact that we stress a development of assets such as discipline, work ethic, dedication, responsibility & loyalty, then YES we are very serious about this sport.
Would you expect ANYTHING less of someone who you have left responsible for your children?
When you say, or hear someone else say that we are 'serious', why not clarify what we are serious about? When you hear someone say that we're serious, you could get the wrong pictures in your head. Pictures of coaches yelling at their athletes constantly, pushing kids to always win, pushing kids to do whatever it takes to get better, training kids twice a day at young ages and consistently pounding out abusive physical training just to produce well-trained athletes.
The word 'serious' probably scares off more new families than you could possibly imagine. We believe that most of the people who think that we are way too serious believe so because they see the end product that we produce and assume that the only way that these athletes achieved such tremendous success is because we are 'so serious'. WE ARE! Just not about the things that they probably think we are.
NAC offers much to our swimmers in the way of programming. What the team offers to our swimmers goes far beyond simple stroke instruction and physical training. NAC highly promotes academic achievement, sportsmanship and self-discipline. NAC, as with the sport of swimming, builds people... not just swimmers!
