Mike's Mailbag: Negativity on the Deck

Mike's Mailbag: Negativity on the Deck
By Mike Gustafson//Correspondent
 
Dear Mike,

I am an age group swimmer who has been having issues with a difficult coach recently. I love swimming, I’ve been doing it as long as I can remember and it’s always been a part of who I am. Unfortunately, this coach has turned swimming into a negative experience the past few years. He brings a negative atmosphere to our team, and has been the cause of many of our best swimmers leaving the sport. He does not allow me to participate in other hobbies that I enjoy, and I feel like I’m wasting the best years of my life. I’ve always had hope that this phase will pass, but his negative attitude continues and is turning the sport I love into a nightmare. Switching clubs is not an option, as there are no other teams nearby. For a long time now I’ve been debating quitting the sport I love just to get away from the coach, and to pursue other dreams. Is this the right thing for me to do?

Thanks a lot,
Confused and Frustrated Swimmer