{"id":145107,"date":"2015-07-20T09:00:35","date_gmt":"2015-07-20T16:00:35","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/?p=145107"},"modified":"2015-07-20T08:48:42","modified_gmt":"2015-07-20T15:48:42","slug":"being-the-coachs-kid-what-its-like-having-a-coach-for-a-parent","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/being-the-coachs-kid-what-its-like-having-a-coach-for-a-parent\/","title":{"rendered":"Being the Coach’s Kid: What It’s Like Having a Coach for a Parent"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Ashlee Weingarten, Swimming World Summer Intern<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to have a parent who doubled as a swim coach? The following are the stories of three swimmers who were willing to describe their relationship with their parent, who also happened to be their coach.<\/span><\/p>\n

Kim Lessard <\/strong>has been the head coach for Washington College in Chestertown, Maryland, for more than 25 years. In addition, she also coached Sho’men Aquatics, also based in Chestertown, where her two daughters swam. Although Kim coaches at the collegiate level, both of her daughters chose to continue their swimming career at Susquehanna University. Her youngest daughter, Kelsey Lessard<\/strong>, shared what having her mom as a coach meant to her:<\/span><\/p>\n

“My mom was never the crazy, obnoxious parent who hardly knew the sport. Having a mom who knew what she was talking about was a great feeling. She never pushed my sister and I into swimming and gave us the opportunity to try any sport we wanted. Of course, we always loved swimming the most! There were times that I didn’t want to listen to her at practice, and I was never allowed to miss a practice or meet, but in the end, those were only things that helped me become the swimmer I am today. At every big meet, I always look to her before checking the clock, because I love to see her reaction.”<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Lessard_Kim_Kelsey<\/a>

Photo Courtesy: Kelsey Lessard<\/p><\/div>\n

Jerry Foley<\/strong> is the head coach at Susquehanna University, as well as the head coach of Sunbury YMCA, in Pennsylvania. Jerry has two daughters who swam for him until leaving for college. Daughter\u00a0Caitlin Foley<\/strong>, who will be attending Kenyon University in the fall, says “having a parent as a coach obviously has its positives and negatives.” Although, she believes that the positives outweigh\u00a0 the negatives. The positives that come out of having a coach for a father made for a unique relationship between Jerry and Caitlin in the following ways:<\/span><\/p>\n